Traveling With Kids

Since I am alone in the hotel room (Pat and the kids are at a Cusco Futbol game), I have a little time to do some contemplative writing. So, here’s my topic: Why would we choose to travel with the kids? Many people we know ask us this. My question is Why Not???? It is so fun to look at places through the eyes of our growing kids. It is also cool to be able to show them places that they have studied and learned about first hand – not just in books! Also, all the places we choose to go are places that I want to see, and NOW, not when the kids are gone and we are retired. I hope Alex and Rachel will take their own kids traveling as much as they can. Traveling changes people, for the better I think. When we travel, far away, or to see our families, it becomes apparent how little we actually need from our house. We don’t need a lot of clothing, the kids don’t need toys (electronic ones included). We don’t even need TV!!!! We just need a sense of humor (things DO go wrong), a sense of adventure and above all flexibility. It also shows us how tiring all the organized activities like sports, classes, lessons and meetings can be. I love the freedom from “scheduling”. Maybe that’s why once we finish a trip, no matter how big or little, I start planning another. See, the question really should be – “Why not travel with the kids?”