It has been 3 years since we last travelled as a family. My children were a lot smaller then. They used to be all dependent on me and my husband. We usually do not have a Yaya who travels with us. I had to buy their food, decide on where to go, prepare their clothes, prepare water and snacks for the day. My husband is usually in-charge of luggage and logistics. We had 4 children below 12 years old in tow, with my husband leading the pack. I walk in the back with the youngest, always counting if we have the correct number of kids with us.
This year, we took the bullet and decided to fly to Japan for winter. The experience was refreshing. We only had one whiney kid. All the rest were independent and helped along the way. They all had places to go, apart from the usual spots. One wanted to visit a car factory. The other one wanted to visit the Pokemon Center. I can delegate laundry duty and other chores. We have teenage boys who know how to navigate the city. Carrying just a tiny belt bag with my wallet and passport was unfamiliar territory.
I no longer had to do everything. My eldest was assisting me, making sure I do not slip on the icy road. I had children who offer to carry shopping bags. They buy their own food. I can tell them to go to the convenience store to get some water and snacks. We can leave them in the hotel room so the adults can go out at night. Shopping is cheaper because we get to avail of promos for bulk purchases, specially at Adidas or Nike. I give them a budget and they take care of their own spending money.
Traveling is now easier, physically and mentally. There are still some adjustments to make, like being more open to local food, more aware of cultural differences and being more responsible. But, I think there still time to work on those.
I can't wait to take them to more places.
Comments