Travel with Kids

If you are a parent and you have travelled with children, you will understand when I wonder whether going on a vacation with a baby can really be considered a vacation. The other day I made the decision to visit some friends out of town. It wasn't an easy decision. On the one hand there is the opportunity to see my friends and their children, to shop a little, and eat out at good restaurants. On the other hand, is it really going to be any fun doing all that with an 18-month old? I had made the trip in the fall when my son was 13 months old. As could be expected, it was a very different kind of trip than those I took, back in my baby-free days. I had to cart along a stroller, car seat, diapers, and lots of snacks. I had to plan my days around naps and early bedtimes. I worried that the passengers on the plane were going to hate me. My son didn't sleep well and so neither did I. It was in no way restful. And yet, it was a lot of fun. What I discovered is that while travelling with a baby is not relaxing, it is invigorating. What I have always loved about travel is the chance to explore, to meet new people and have new experiences. In a sense, babies are constantly travelling. Everything they do is new, every day is a chance to explore new places and things. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is hard for me to take the time and energy to really use all my senses and experience the world the way my son does. But when we travel together it is the perfect opportunity to see things anew, to learn new things, and to take in every minute with the intensity and enthusiasm that only a toddler can muster on a daily basis. I know that when I come back I will probably be in need of a real vacation. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to this trip. I may not get the chance to attend the theatre or wander through art galleries but there will be learning of a whole other kind going on.