Been There. Done That.
I love traveling with young children. Sure, there are some complications. When you travel with your kids, you need to find ways to accommodate their need for sleep, their need to run, their need for food that does not have tentacles.
It’s worth it, though. In some places, there are clear and obvious benefits, like in Paris where local custom dictates that you automatically jump the queue if you have a child in a travel stroller. But even when we have to wait in line like everyone else, I enjoy traveling with little ones, and this is why.
Last winter, while our family was living in London, we took a great trip to the English countryside. We tracked wild horses in the New Forest and collected sea shells on the Christchurch beaches. We got a bit of culture visiting the cathedral and city of Salisbury and we ate terrifically at the local pubs.
We even did the touristy thing and visited Stonehenge, which interested and awed me far more than I’d anticipated.
And throughout all of this fun, we were treated to the newest word in my daughter’s vocabulary, repeated endlessly at each stop along the way.
“BO-RING.”
Apparently, 6 is the new 16 where family outings are concerned because seemingly overnight, our engaged and interested travel companion had morphed into a pre-pre-pre-teen. Everything was boring and lame and unworthy of her excitement.
We were boring and lame and unworthy of her excitement for suggesting any of these activities, not to mention how boring and lame we were for daring to show our own (gasp) enthusiasm.
The child was 6. Six.
We nipped the “boring” thing in the bud, thankyouverymuch. But we won’t be able to hold it off forever (ask my mother how I know this). So I try not to complain about the minor hassles of traveling with young kids. Sure, it will be nice when my children can carry their own bags on the road. But this little teenage preview reminded me that maturity will just bring with it a different type of baggage.
I schlep Polly Pockets and coloring books when I travel, yes. I have missed out on some great local meals and more than a few important landmarks because my kids were along for the ride.
But when their “been there, done that” days are fully upon us, I will have the satisfaction of knowing that my children have already been there, done that — and I have caught them in the act of loving the journey.
November 18th, 2008 | by Rebecca Tompkins 9 comments
1. Kristy Hall on November 19th, 2008
Wow. It happens that fast? Thanks for the warning!
I think you might just have clinched my argument for waiting to do the really awesome / exotic spots until Murphy gets a little older so he truly can’t say he’s been there and done that! The only remaining question – can Mom and Dad hold off that long?
Love the pics of your daughter – she’s adorable.
2. Catherine on November 19th, 2008
Say it isn’t so! My little girl turns six on Friday – I was hoping to have a few more years of delight and wonder from her as I show her planet. But alas, I can see signs of that pre-teen ennui already. Thanks for the heads-up.
3. Claire on November 19th, 2008
We went to Iceland with our 2 boys at 7 and 11. We were there only 8 days, and trying to cover a lot of ground. our smartest investment was the dvd player that plugs in to the cigarett lighter, has dual screens (so each kid can watch something different) and hangs over the back of each front seat. The kids did overdose on Simpsons episodes (and one watched less because he got carsick with too much watching) but when we did a 6 hour trek through lava encrusted terrain that looked basically the same, it was a lifesaver. And it gave them that time to chill so we could be back at the tourism thing when we got to our next stop.
4. Jennifer M. on November 19th, 2008
I remember those Polly Pocket/Pretty Pony days… Thanks for the amusing post. :)
5. Barbara on November 19th, 2008
Hysterical post. I actually took my kids there too (ended up in Bath) they still complain about the day I drug them out to see some dumb rocks. They did like Bath though.
6. TravelswithBaby on November 19th, 2008
I was so proud when my daughter’s preschool was studying Asia last year and she arrived with a photo of her riding an elephant in Thailand to share with the class. She’s 7 months old in the photo but insists she remembers being there. I think it’s safe to say it’s more exciting to her now than it was at the time! At this point, I feel pretty lucky that any motel along the freeway with a swimming pool is pretty exciting stuff… but I wonder how long it will last?
7. Carolina on November 19th, 2008
Sometimes it’s good to know you’re not alone…
I have a 7 year old going on 17 as well.
It does remind me of the torture I put my parents through on our family travels, when I was young. Payback time.
8. Jenny on November 19th, 2008
Awww the kid makes such a cute pouty face!
9. soultravelers3 on November 20th, 2008
Oh my! Very funny, but I am really grateful we have not run into this on our world tour yet ( which started when my child was 5 and now she is 8).
Do nip the “boring” in the bud as pouty face is cute at 6, but not what one wants to cultivate. I don’t think this has to happen at all and I love that an older child actually gets much more out of travel than a baby or toddler because they will remember it.
9 Responses to “Been There. Done That.”