Having Kids
I have been thinking about writing this post for awhile, but there is always something else that seems more important than to just write about this old and yet lasting personal thought. The optimal time to write this post was probably 12-13 years back, when my older daughter was a toddler or just born. She is 13 now and taller than her mom, and uses phrases like: "you are weaponizing your pseudo-disability!" I kid you not, she used that in the car on the way back home from her art class! My point is, writing a post about how I felt like when she was born and what we did with her immediately after is long gone. She is a liberal independant lady who will vote the democractic ticket when her time arrives (I kid you not! Her own words!).
Yet, I haven't written that post. And yet, when I look at her and her sister I still feel like it was yesterday that Lia was born, and I was totally clueless! Then we had Trisha and I had more clues, but mosty I leaned parenting from the kids :)
I like dinosaur comics a lot. Please click on the source to visit their twitter feed. The four panels above perfectly summarized one of our key feelings after having Lia, our first child. As many of you know, my wife and I we are both geoscientists. We were class mates in college, so we know each other for decades, and we are both outdoorsy people. The trouble was, lot of our immediate friends, as we were finishing grad school and starting work, were very task oriented and indoor/office focused. Some of them had kids already at the time, and we were told that after kids life changes a lot (which is true), and it is unlikely we will be able to travel as much as we were before (not true). However, at the time we were clueless, and felt sort of like the dino couple here.
We quickly found out that reality in unique for each individuals. Our kids were healthy and extremely travel friendly just like us. So we did everything with them, just like we did before. Dare I say, we did more, because, first we could and wanted to show ourselves that we could.
They said Santorini is a "couples place". They don't like kids there. Also it is steep terrains there and it is impossible to push a stroller. We said, we will see about that!
This is 2013, I walked down and up the ancient trail to Fira with Lia at my back. We mostly carried backpacks on this trip, so there was not strollers and no roller bags. In fact even today that remains a best practice for a Santorini trip.
We walked everywhere on that island. Those 7 days in Santorini changed a lot in our life. The impact was so much, that 10 years later we did the same trip again, but this time with two daughters.
This is during 2022
We took them everywhere. We camped at Moraine Park with Lia before she learned walking. Then went back there on her 5-year birthday to celebrate at the campground, when Trisha was only 6 months old.
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| 2012 | 2016 |
The point of all this writing is simple: yes it is possible to travel extensively with young kids. Not only it is possible, but traveling with young kids can be a truly enriching experience, filled with moments of pure joy and wonder. As they explore new places and encounter different cultures, children's imaginations ignite, and their sense of curiosity grows. Witnessing their excitement as they discover new sights, sounds, and tastes is a heartwarming sight. The shared experiences create lasting memories that will be cherished for years to come.
Moreover, traveling with young children can foster a sense of adventure and independence. As they navigate unfamiliar environments and overcome challenges, they develop problem-solving skills and build resilience. These experiences can also help to broaden their horizons and foster a greater appreciation for diversity. I can say this 13 years later, as my older recently came back from a 18 days trip from Japan over the summer with her school friends, without mom and dad. Also this is in fact a second such trip for Lia (the first one was Italy).
