3 Reasons to Travel With Kids (even if they won’t remember it!)

Words for the Wanderer

It wasn’t until our oldest set of twins were 18 months old that we decided to jump the border and explore a new country with them in tow.  Jon was working with a client who lived in Peru, so it seemed like the perfect chance to combine work and play while staying in a similar time zone and not having a super long flight.  Being an overplanner (at the time) and having Linc and Viv on a schedule from the day they left the NICU as little 4 pounders, I was a little nervous. But having LOVED exploring the world before kids we decided to jump in with both feet.

It was an eye-opening couple of weeks and a real turning point for our confidence in traveling internationally with kids.  We walked the streets like locals and admired the powerful Pacific surf from Lima.  We tried local restaurants hidden up secret staircases and met lots of locals who were enamored by our “meiosis” (twins in Spanish:).  We explored the city square with our double stroller + meandered through the markets, soaking in the culture at every turn.  We tasted Lima and a week later - Trujillo -  and were forever changed by the colorful + friendly ethos of this South American spot.

All the fears I had of not knowing what Linc and Viv would eat, how we’d find diapers (spoiler: kids in other countries wear diapers too;) and whether they’d contract some mysterious illness were dispelled. I fell hard in love with seeing the world through our tiny travelers’ eyes.

However, it was because of that trip that I was made vividly aware of some beliefs held by (no doubt) well meaning people over why you really shouldn’t travel with young kids.  Now that we’ve traveled with not one, but two sets of twins to the other side of the world and back, I have (most importantly!) learned not to take advice or be bothered by the opinions of those who have never done what we’re passionate about doing!  And also - there’s no point in trying to change their minds haha.

So what was the top unsolicited opinion we were graced with when traveling with small kids?

It’s pointless - they won’t remember it!

There are so many reasons why traveling with kids is so worth it, and every time we experience a new place with them, the list just gets longer.  Here are a few of our top favorites!

1. They may not remember it, but we will.

Sure, there is something to be said for adult only trips, but there is nothing that beats seeing our kids absorbed in other cultures, people and places.  The wonder in their eyes and excitement when they experience new tastes, smells, sounds of a new language, exotic animals and so much more is one of my greatest joys.   Selfishly, I want those memories and moments for Jon + I.  Dipping their tiny toes in the ocean or seeing them gaze out the window as the plane rises further and further from the tiny cars below leaves me breathless. I could never imagine not having these experiences with them.  It’s fun and rewarding in a whole new way now that they’re older and more aware, but even when they were babies and toddlers it was unforgettable for us.

2. They may not actually remember it…but all four of my kids THINK they remember parts of every place they’ve traveled. And they actually remember a lot more than we realize.

Just this week, we watched videos of our time hanging with monkeys on the beaches of Thailand and playing with hermit crabs in the tidepools of Costa Rica. The stories of our family travels are woven throughout our life like the colorful strands of a Turkish rug. They’ll tell you about tasting Thai street food, seeing whales spew air just yards from our boat, smelling flowers in the markets of Chiang Mai and buying a tiny Peruvian dress from the sweetest women at the Peruvian market.  They’ve heard the stories and flipped through photos so many times, it feels real to them even if they don’t actually remember it. They are impacted by the experiences either way.

3. A one-year-old won’t remember celebrating his/her birthday, but somehow I still see pinterest style birthdays gracing the pages of social media nearly every day, don’t you?

How is it any different? Why do we do these things when our kids are young?  Because the experience bonds us together and builds + shapes our children into the people they’re becoming. Even if they won’t remember it five years down the road, these experiences play a part in shaping their worldview and who they’re becoming.  They also create strong family connections and bring us joy to see our kids experience moments in their lives.  Traveling takes that and expands it times a million because when we’re traveling, we’re fully present and our senses are on high alert.  It’s nearly euphoric.

So what do you think?  If you were debating whether it’s worth it to take your kids, did I convince you? Have you had any of these experiences when traveling with your kids? What would you add to this list?

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