Traveling Family Posts | Living Outside of the Box

Not Everyone Can Travel

Posted by livingoutsideofthebox on Mar 28, 2012 in Featured, Traveling Family Posts |

It’s true, not everyone can travel.

“What?!” you say, “I thought that’s the whole point? Blogging to show the world that anyone and any family can manage a life of excitement and travel adventures?”

No, the truth is that the majority of people in the world will never have the opportunity to travel beyond their neighboring city or village, not to mention their neighboring state or country. There are some situations that may disqualify you from traveling, or at least make it a lot more difficult for you to manage a life of travel:

-You make less than $1 a day

-You don’t know how to read or speak

-You are on life-support

I’m sure there are a few other factors that may make you disqualified for travel…but whenever I was tempted to write something like “you don’t have legs”, I was reminded that there are certainly people out there that are traveling with many physical or financial challenges–and that hasn’t stopped them.

Okay, now it sounds like almost anyone CAN travel.

But the real question is…does the world want YOU as a traveler?

Should you be a representative of the elite travelers of the world? Maybe not?

First…check to see if any of these apply to you:

-You believe that your way is the right way, and the only way.

-You believe that toilet paper should only be flushed down a toilet. Anything else is “icky!”

-You believe that french fries and chicken nuggets are an absolute dietary necessity.

-You want your children to never see poverty.

-Your hotel needs to come with a toilet seat and hot water.

-You think everyone should speak English.

-You think that an all-inclusive resort is truly “experiencing” a locale.

If any of these apply to you, please do us all a favor and travel only through the Discovery Channel. We don’t need any more privileged travelers out there jeering at the locals throughout the world, undermining their culture and ancient knowledge, and acting holier-than-thou.

Hopefully you can say, “these don’t apply to me!”

I realize it’s still likely you might be thinking, “I don’t have the money or flexibility to travel!”

Stop for a minute, and let’s get realistic. Are you reading this on a computer YOU own (or your credit card owns)? If so, this immediately makes you more qualified to travel than a HUGE percentage of the world population.

You have been given educational opportunities that others can only dream of, and you’ve lived in a land of abundance that has told you that you can become anything you want. ANYTHING.

Do you realize how freakin’ blessed you are?!!

The problem is…traveling families like ours are constantly bombarded with condescending comments from others, and we get a bit annoyed hearing how “lucky” we are, how others “wish” they could do it, and how they simply “can’t afford” to travel as much as we do. We look at these people and try to prevent ourselves from rolling our eyes.

FACT: You do not have to be rich or independently wealthy to travel the world. Many families travel the world for less than $30,000 a year. When’s the last time your family’s expenditures were that low?

FACT: Funding your travels takes creativity. Obviously, going to a 9-5 hour job is not going to allow you to take a paid vacation for 1 year or more. Many traveling families are headed up by entrepreneurs who aren’t afraid to try something new and difficult, and they’re also not afraid to fail before succeeding.

FACT: Traveling is a trade-off. Many travelers give up that”secure” bank-owned home, so they can experience the world, receive life-long lessons, and show their children the various ways people live throughout the world.

FACT: If “wishers” quit consuming new electronics, eating out weekly, driving fancy cars, and redecorating/remodeling their homes for every season….they would magically FIND that extra money to travel more. MUCH more.

FACT: Traveling families are flexible. They do not require 5-star hotels, American-quality restaurants, and expensive tours to prove that they have truly experienced a locale. They often “live like locals”.

FACT: Traveling is a job, too. Despite all of its beauty, it’s not all fun-and-games day in and day out. It often includes sickness, fights, restlessness, and weariness…just like “normal” life, elsewhere.

In general, traveling is not for sissies.

Chances are, YOU can do it, but you first have to be willing to change your priorities.

So, stop making excuses for yourself, and make it happen!!

And while you’re getting prepared and motivated, check out these other fantastic posts by Traveling Families about almost anyone can travel!

Only the Very Special, Lucky, Rich, and Perfect (Like Me) Can Travel – Nomadic Family

Anyone can travel – Bohemian Travelers

Diet shouldn’t stop you from travelling - Livin’ on the Road

Our Path to Becoming Lucky Enough to Travel – A King’s Life

If Anyone Can Travel Why Don’t You? – Walkingon Travels

Anyone can do this! – Experiential Family

You Have to Be Special Like Us to Travel - Discover Share Inspire

True Story: Single mother from Bushwick, Brooklyn, funds long-term trip without having to sell a kidney – Break Out of Bushwick

Anyone Can Travel, Just Let Go – Minor Diversion

Don’t Be Jealous of Our Travels! Be Happy for Us and Know That You Can Make it Happen Too! - Grow in Grace Life

Anyone Can Travel…Just Find Your Way - Experiential Family

Pity, Envy, and why anyone can travel - Family Trek

Travel – Possible? - Wandering Photographer

Even Solo Mamas on Government Handouts Can Travel – Solo Mama Travels

A Family Travel Lifestyle – Little Aussie Travelers

How do you travel with children?

Posted by livingoutsideofthebox on Feb 15, 2012 in Featured, Road Tripping It, Traveling Family Posts |

22 comments

It is a question I get a lot. We haven’t spent much time flying or doing “quick” travel around the world. However, we have logged a LOT of miles in our van with children in tow. I can’t tell you how many parents tell us they can’t go on a 4 hour road trip with their children, not to mention one of our month-long road treks where we hit up 4,000 miles. My simple answer is usually that “the kids do pretty well, considering”! My children are not perfect little angels (nor am I), but we’ve learned a few things on our treks.

However, online group of traveling families recently came across a CNN post about how to travel with children. All of us read the article, and moaned about the terrible advice that the author dished out. I can’t even justify including the link, because it seems wrong to send any traffic to that article. Nevertheless, today this group of bloggers is setting out on a task to disprove her silly advice.

First off, I would like to note that the link to her blog post in the address bar nicknamed the article: “hard-truth-about-traveling-kids-its-hell”. Seems like this is how she originally titled article, which generated the URL, and when she finalized the article she prettied up the title a bit, removing the “hell” bit. But now you know how she really felt. Wow, I’m sensing she had had a recent rough time. Do you want to take travel advice from someone who says traveling with kids is hell? Umm…I certainly don’t!

So, today, we family travel bloggers are going to set a few things straight.

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Myth #1. The younger the child, the bigger the suitcase

”Young children are happiest with what they already know. So the favorite stuffed giraffe that takes up a third of the suitcase is brought along, as is an entire library of “Dr Seuss and Eric Carle” books…”

Fact #1. The younger the child, the lighter you can pack

Seriously, the only reason a youngster might have a bigger suitcase is because you are lugging around some extra diapers. A child does not need a security item (or 20) to conquer a new environment. What kid doesn’t find joy in a little doo-dad found along the journey (whether is is a rock from the ground, or a $1 item you just purchased)? I used to let my girls take a Tupperware full of toys, but on our last month-long road trip I allowed them exactly 2 toys each (not counting a few books and coloring books that I packed). The van stayed cleaner, I was less stressed, and the girls didn’t seem to even notice the difference.

Little people=small clothes=smaller suitcase.

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Myth #2. The younger the child, the harder it is to get over jet lag+

“Kids will sleep when they’re tired and be up when they’re not. So your young child may be raring to go at 3 a.m., just when your dose of melatonin has kicked in, and of course promptly fall fast asleep when you arrive at Disneyland.”

Truth #2: Kids are just as flexible as you expect them to be

If you’ve forced them into an inflexible naptime/bedtime routine their entire lives, then yes, you probably will struggle. If you’ve helped them establish a routine that can be varied in hours and time of day, then you are set! Don’t know what I mean? Read On Becoming Baby Wise. I’m a die-hard fan (with 3 flexible, great-sleepers to show for it)!

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Myth #3. Travel to a destination that serves French fries

“Do not attempt to travel to a place where there isn’t kid-friendly food. This seemingly small detail is essential for a successful holiday with young children. French fries, nuggets, pizza and the like will save your holiday.”

Truth #3: Kids (and adults) need opportunities to expand their food palettes

For the love! Are you kidding me???!!! Again–inflexible children come from inflexible parents (or perhaps too flexible of parents, in this case). Have you really raised your child on a diet of french fries and chicken nuggets? I can happily admit that my 6 year old despises french fries (the 4 year old has my weakness…I love fries!). But that’s not the point…the point is, if your children never have the opportunity to try something new, they will never develop a taste for anything but sodium-soaked junk. Who would have guessed my kids would love Mexican tamales, pozole, or cucumbers drenched in lemon and chili? Not me! But if I’d asked/allowed them to stick with the same-ole, then we’d still be stuck at Square #1.

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Myth #4. You can’t have too much inflight entertainment for young children

“If you wonder why parents of young kids travel with five pieces of luggage, it’s because three of those five bulging bags are filled with toys, books, games and gadgets lest junior gets bored for more than a second and all hell breaks loose.”

Truth #4: Plug them in, and they’ll unplug

I’ll admit, I enjoy the short breaks I can get from putting my children in front of a movie. Do I think that’s the only way to travel? No. In fact, we own a set of dual-DVD players that strap to the seats in the back of our van. Half the time I “accidentally” forget to bring them on our trips. The other half of the time I hide them under the seat, hoping the kids don’t ask about them. Why? Because I’ve noticed that they get more demanding when I set up a move for them (i.e. “I don’t want to watch that movie!” or “Mom! The movie stopped!” or “Can we watch something else?” or “she’s kicking the DVD player”, etc)! However, if I can busy my children with other activities (coloring, playing make-believe, making up stories, etc), then they are often less likely to complain and cause me even more stress.

In addition, I am completely turned off by young (or old) children buried in hand-held video games. That’s a great way to disconnect them from any new experience. How many times have I seen my nephews oblivious to their surrounds–buried in their games? I think the house could be on fire, and they wouldn’t look up.

Perhaps this disdain of video games stems from watching my younger brother glue himself to video games on end as a child? We ended up friends later in life…but there were some rough years in between when we couldn’t connect. Why? Because he was connected elsewhere.

**If you allow your children to plug them into something else, that means they are unplugging from you and their surroundings.**

This may mean that while you are checking out an amazing sight at your destination, little Junior will be wishing that he was playing his video game, again. Start them on the right path when they are young! Wake them up to their surroundings, and draw the line! In this day and age when parents are allowing their children to be constantly connected (or rather, “disconnected), it is time to step it up and offer your child a lifetime gift–the gift of discovery.

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Myth #5. Strollers are as much a bane as a boon

So you end up only going as far as your young child can walk (to the nearest restaurant that serves French fries and back); or as far as you can carry them in your strap-on carrier (yes the Wat-of-500-steep-steps is too much); or you spend most of your holiday by the hotel’s baby pool.

Truth #5: Teach your kids to be good walkers, and sightseeing can be fun!

The temptation to pack a stroller may be great, particularly if you have a wee-one under 2 1/2 years old, and you’re going to a stroller-friendly destination. If you really must pack one, don’t pack the mother-of-all-strollers that can transform into a small vehicle. If you must pack a stroller, pack an umbrella stroller! However, if your kids are still babies…pack the backpack, instead. The babies will get a better view, stay put, and you’ll get some exercise! If your kid is a lazy 4 year old (as mine is) then this may be the time to teach them to buck up and walk. Saying it doesn’t make it easy (or make me an expert, as is apparent from my previous posts)…but it is the end goal! Do you think the pioneers stroller their kids across the plains? I don’t think so…

In truth, most parents (including us) haven’t figured out the magic formula to the perfect travel experience with children. It will always have its ups and downs, because children (and adults) always have their ups and downs. However, going into a trip with the attitude that your children are going to ruin it for you is certainly not going to help the experience go smoothly. Parents who are flexible can raise flexible children, and flexibility is the key to enjoyable travel!