Traveling Might Not Leave Lasting Memories For Young Children But It Affects Their Hearts

Nov 13, 2018 by apost team

My son will likely not remember his first experience with the ocean. He will not have a conscious memory of the shock he experienced when the cool water touched his toes. He will not recall the moment that shock changed to joy and the smile that enveloped his face.

The lack of memory he will experience regarding these events is inconsequential. The larger issue is how the experiences will benefit him. What will my children learn from the experience? And in what ways will the experiences affect our hearts long after being absent from our memories.

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I have learned that traveling with your children, like many things involving parents, is well worth any complications. It is important to remember, however, that travel with small children is a trip and not a vacation.

When I travel with my two young children, I understand that rest and relaxation will be scarce commodities. First, the planning and packing process can take as much time as the trip itself. Next, all normal rest and sleep patterns are nonexistent until we return home. And of course, one child will always save their teething experience for the first sign of a trip.

Despite these problems, the moment I watch the light in my toddler's eyes upon discovering new scenery validates the decision to take the trip.

Travel was a major ingredient in the relationship I shared with my husband before we decided to have children. We have hiked mountains together, slept in tents under an open sky, and embarked on spontaneous road trips for the heck of it. Many of the shared experiences in our relationship center around the 'yes' we both say to adventures of all types.

The grandest adventure we have taken together is the decision to have children. This decision meant some of the backcountry exploration and spontaneous road trips would be put on hold.

We had to decide as a couple what we would hold on to and what would be let go to fulfill our new roles as parents. Although we could no longer take part in 'extreme' travel as we did before, we were committed to attempts at traveling with our kids.

Getaways now challenge us in a different way. An example is when my toddler decides that wakeup time for the family is five in the morning because he is ready to explore new territory. Another is when my husband and I make extensive plans for a trip only to find our children have ideas of their own.

Our current travel experience is much different than in the past but my husband and I still get to recenter ourselves. We get away from the distractions of home and get to focus ourselves and our family. This time allows us to remember what is truly important in our lives. And while I must admit we do not return home feeling rested from our trips now, we are mentally and emotionally rejuvenated.

My husband and I do not fail to remember most of the trips we take now are for our children. They are too young to later remember the details of the trips. However, the experiences will give them reference points located in their subconscious minds. Even the struggle for them to sit still during a flight is teaching them the value of patience.

I also know that when my children are unsure about trying something new in life they are developing a sense of boldness that will benefit them later.

So it is true that my vacations are no longer vacations in the truest sense of the word. But I believe that the fruits these trips will bear in the lives of my children are a much larger benefit.

How do you feel about traveling with children? Do you agree that it benefits the family? Send this article to your friends with kids. They may be inspired by these thoughts about traveling with children.