Why we've chosen to keep traveling as our family grows.
One of the things I hear most often when it comes to traveling with little ones is, "But they won't even remember it!" And you know what? They're probably right LOL ANYWAYYY, My nine-month-old isn't going to remember his first trip to Paris, and my four-year-old probably won't remember every little detail of our adventures through Europe.
But here's the thing.
I will.
I'll remember watching my daughter experience places I'd once dreamed of visiting. I'll remember pushing our babies through beautiful European streets, stopping for pastries, and laughing with my husband over the absolute circus that is traveling with two children. And I think that's worth something, too.
Childhood Doesn't Have to Be Put on Hold
Before becoming a mom, I loved traveling. Exploring new cities, experiencing different cultures, admiring architecture, and finding beauty in places I'd never been. And when we started having children, I didn't want that part of our lives to disappear. Of course, traveling looks different now. There's more luggage, more planning, more snacks, and significantly less sleeping in. But I've learned that children don't have to be an interruption to the things we love. They can become part of them. We don't need to wait for some magical age when traveling suddenly becomes effortless. Because, spoiler alert, I don't think that age exists. We're Not Just Making Memories. We're Building Wonder.
One of my favorite things about traveling with Aria is watching her curiosity come alive. New languages, different foods, unfamiliar streets, beautiful buildings, and experiences that look nothing like our everyday life back home. Even if she doesn't remember every destination, she's experiencing the world beyond what she knows. And as a homeschooling mama, I find that especially beautiful. The world is one big classroom, and sometimes the most meaningful lessons happen outside of a workbook. I want my children to grow up curious, appreciative of other cultures, and excited to discover the beauty of God's creation. Not because we need to visit every country, but because there's so much to learn when we step outside what's familiar.
But Let's Not Romanticize Everything
Listen, I love a beautiful travel montage as much as the next girl. But behind every dreamy video of our family strolling through Paris is a mother who probably packed seventeen snacks, changed a diaper in a questionable location, and negotiated with a four-year-old over something completely irrational. We've dealt with exhaustion, disrupted routines, and even sickness while traveling. It's not always glamorous. Sometimes you're looking at the Eiffel Tower, and sometimes you're desperately looking for a bathroom. Both can happen within the same five minutes. But I think that's part of the adventure.
I've learned to hold my expectations loosely, plan intentionally, and leave plenty of room for the unexpected.
The Memories Are for Us, Too... Something I've been thinking about lately is how often we measure childhood experiences by whether our children will remember them. But motherhood is part of our story, too.
These are years of our lives that we'll never get back. I don't want to spend them waiting for the next season before allowing myself to enjoy the one God has placed me in.
And that doesn't mean everyone needs to book an international flight with a baby. Travel is a privilege, and every family has different circumstances, priorities, and budgets. Sometimes adventure looks like exploring another country. Other times, it's a weekend road trip or discovering somewhere new in your own city. The destination isn't nearly as important as the intention behind it.
So, Will They Remember? Maybe not every detail. But I hope they'll grow up knowing that adventure was part of our family culture. That we made room for curiosity, togetherness, and experiencing new things. That their parents didn't stop living when they became parents. Our lives simply became fuller. And one day, when we look back at photographs of tiny hands holding croissants in Paris or little feet touching the Mediterranean Sea, I'll remember. I'll remember how small they were, how beautiful those moments felt, and how grateful I was to experience them together. Because childhood is fleeting, and so is this season of motherhood. They might not remember every trip, but I'll never forget getting to experience the world with them.
And that, to me, is reason enough to go.
With love,
Coco*
