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Keep Dreaming About Your Next Adventure!
Are you trying to pinpoint the perfect age to travel with your kids? LOL, the idea of waiting for them to appreciate travel seems a bit ridiculous, doesn’t it?
Traveling with toddlers can be chaotic, and school-age kids can test your patience too. I’ve traveled extensively with my own children, starting from when they were just babies. I took trips during every maternity leave because staying in one place for too long isn’t my style. Traveling with little ones demands a lot of planning, adaptability, and an offbeat sense of humor. I recall pushing a stroller with a newborn and a toddler through Disney World while friends would say, “I’ll wait until mine are older.” I understand that sentiment, but for me, the thrill of travel was worth it.
I made it a point to take my kids on journeys every year from the time they were born—not just to Disney, but also to visit grandparents and even an unforgettable trip to Australia. Trust me, you can manage a 17-hour flight with kids just like a two-hour one—with plenty of snacks and screen time!
Despite the chaos, nothing ever truly broke my spirit. Not the sleepless nights in a Stockholm hotel with a jet-lagged one-year-old, nor my toddler’s epic sit-in with a snowman in Vermont. However, the real challenge came when my teenagers, who are supposedly “old enough to appreciate” travel, transformed into total brats during an incredible trip to Europe.
In Dublin, we explored ancient sites and even caught a glimpse of a rainbow. However, just as we were en route to a coveted dinner reservation, my kids decided they were done with sightseeing and wanted to retreat to the hotel. I lost my cool and accused them of being ungrateful. “How often are we in Dublin?” I exclaimed, only to realize later that they simply wanted to chill at the hotel, especially if there was a pool involved.
I had allowed my own desires for a nice dinner to cloud my judgment. If I could rewind time, I would have opted to order burgers for them at the hotel and enjoyed that lovely meal out with just my husband.
Three years later, I learned an important lesson—despite their behavior at the time, my kids reminisce about that trip fondly. They express how much they love Ireland, while my husband and I exchange puzzled looks, wondering if we were on the same vacation. When my son talks about how “cool” Trinity College was, I remember him looking bored in every photo from that day. Yet, the memories he holds are entirely different from the reality of that moment.
This insight helped me comfort a friend recently whose teenage son acted out during a long-planned family trip. “Don’t worry,” I told her, “he’ll remember this trip differently than you think.”
As I prepared for another UK adventure with my somewhat moody son—this time without my daughter—I decided to let him have more freedom. If he wanted to nap (which was often), I let him. When he preferred to lounge in the hotel with his laptop, I didn’t push the issue. Surprisingly, he occasionally joined me for walks, and I let him “lead” the way, even if it often meant him striding ahead as if he didn’t know me. We shared a lot of laughs, especially when he labeled Nottingham Castle as “trash.”
I’ve come to realize that if you can share a laugh with your teenager instead of insisting on their gratitude, the experience becomes much more enjoyable. My kids truly appreciate every trip we take, even if they won’t verbally express it. Just like I didn’t thank my own mother for the wonderful experiences until I was older.
I cherish the simplicity of travel with babies, where even a hotel fountain can be the highlight of their vacation. I love my nieces, ages 6 and 8, who will drag me to the nearest playground no matter where we are. And now, I can find joy in my son, age 16, making quirky observations about the British Museum. His sense of appreciation might not look like traditional gratitude, but I see it in the way he snaps photos to share with friends. Making new memories with your kids is always worth it.
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