The Importance Of Traveling With Kids

If our recent trip back to the UK has taught me anything it is that people are afraid to travel with kids. I can't even tell you how many comments I received from people about how brave we were to take our kids so far. While it isn't bravery - we don't have a choice, if we want to see family we have to travel, and we would travel even if we didn't - I really had to think about why people have this fear.

I started traveling internationally at a very young age. I am pretty certain my parents took us into Canada when I was around 2. My parents came from small towns, and my dad decided he wanted to see the World. We have just been lucky enough to tag along. As he has been to something like 90 countries I would say he has done pretty well in fulfilling this goal.

By the time I was 9 I had added in Mexico, Japan, China and Hong Kong; by 10 France and Spain; by 14 I had been to South America as well. It took me longer to get to Africa and Australia, but at this point I have been to over 60 countries. Lee and I have been to 18 together in 7 years. I went to 6 alone when I was pregnant with Finn. Travel is absolutely a huge priority for us.

So when we had kids we decided this wasn't going to stop us. Slow us down? Sure. But it wouldn't stop us. Both of our kids had passports by 2 months, and both have 2 passports each. Yet every time we book a trip I get a mixed bag of reactions, from how brave we are to how crazy we are to how do we possibly do it.

Here's the thing. Flying is fearful for parents. I get that. Of course it is, because you have legions of grown men and women who make it that way. You have blogs and message boards dedicated to discussing how horrible it is to share the same air space with a little person. You have articles talking about why parents are scared of flying, and airlines are banning kids in first class. You have other people who talk about why travel is important to them as well, but we all recognize people just don't like families who travel.

The thing is, the last time I checked no airline guarantees a quiet, peaceful flight from point A to point B. What they do guarantee is getting you safely from point A to point B. You don't get to dictate who is on the flight any more than I do (To the man snoring loudly the whole flight I am looking at you. Or to the woman doused in perfume? I am side eyeing you as well. Perhaps the passenger who is so big they can't comfortably fit in their seat thinks they are exempt from judgment? Nope.) Kids can fly. Kids should fly.

I have talked about this before. See, when we travel we have a lot of stuff. I admit it. Bags and stroller and car seats and more bags. I actually walked out of customs in Manchester, Lila on my front, Finn in the stroller, stroller covered in carry-on bags, pulling a luggage cart. A woman hit her husband and said "Blimey me, look at that woman!" Yes, please look at me. I enjoy being a spectacle for you. Do you think I enjoy traveling this way? I can guarantee you that my days of one suitcase and my purse are long behind me and I miss them tremendously.

It starts at the gate. As we walk up we get the once over from everyone sitting there, and I can sense them thinking please don't let them sit near us. Please. Then as we board everyone watches as we harangue both kids, all our bags and the stroller down the jetway. They tut at the amount of bags we have, not once thinking that perhaps we wouldn't have so many if we didn't have to account for every possible situation that could arise, to keep the kids happy so we keep everyone on the plane happy. Hunger? We have food! Vomit? We have extra shirts for all of us! Boredom? Ipad, Leappad, books, cars, coloring books! Thirst? Water, lots of water! On the off chance our kids fall asleep? Well, maybe we have room for a magazine or two for each of us, but don't count on it.

I have read blogs and comments where people say families shouldn't travel until kids can behave. Guess what? My kids are incredible travelers. Really good. But every child - and every adult for that matter - is one trip away from having a bad day. You can't predict it. We shouldn't have to. But should we have to account for it? Sure. This explains the 10 carry on bags.

Which brings me back to my original point. Why do we go through all this? Why do we spend the time and the money to travel? I promise it isn't to annoy our fellow passengers. In fact I am pretty sure no one hates the act of actually traveling with kids more than their parents.

But once we are there? It is awesome. We get to show our kids other countries. Other places. They can learn and explore and grow and see that their world is not the only world out there. Don't be afraid to travel. Don't fear your fellow passengers. Don't fear the flight. You will get through it. You will never see those people again.

And your kids will thank you for it someday. I know I did.