Finding Balance + Growth Outside Your Comfort Zone

She Who Wanders

Nov 23

9 Questions with Tara from The Classroom Less Traveled

Say hello to Tara! A fun-loving, adventure mom of three, Tara’s passionate about experiencing the world up-close while giving her kids a broad world-view and a deep understanding of other people and cultures. In the face of the pandemic, she and her husband gave their family the learning experience of a lifetime, taking them around the U.S., staying in both airbnbs (during the week) and roughing it in their family van (on the weekends). Exploring here and other countries around the world, she’s passionate about balancing her kids’ passions/activities alongside family bonding and travel, inspiring other families to know they can do both too. Tara is an inspiration to live life on your own terms and never settle for less than you can dream or envision.

Q: When and how was your passion for travel ignited?

Growing up, I loved hearing stories of how my parents met (my dad went to the Philippines for Peace Corps and met my mom). I dreamed of having travel stories and adventures like theirs. After college, my husband and I served in the Peace Corps in Mozambique and since then we have made travel and learning about our world a priority.

Q: What kind of travel have you done and what kind do you love to do the most?

Any type of travel is really exciting, but I especially love international travel. Learning about new countries, customs, and languages keeps you so present in the moment and every experience seems like a new magical page you are turning. I’ve also noticed when traveling internationally people are so warm toward families and it helps break down any language barrier. Because we are such a globalized world now, we can use more compassion and traveling abroad just connects how similar we all are.

Q: The Great Wanderlust is all about moms stepping outside of the box and diving deeper in both travel and in life! The mission is to inspire mamas and families to feel fully alive through adventure and exploration! What is your great wanderlust? What most makes you come to life?

This comes with a balance. Find good connections and things you love to do for you, and also take a step out of your comfort zone because that is where growth will happen. If you’re comfortable and stagnant then there is not much growth or magic.

Q: Watching your family travel full-time the last couple of years was so exciting! What was the greatest challenge of full-time travel and what was the greatest reward?

The greatest challenge was community. We knew our full time travel had a time limit of two years so we wanted to do as much as we could. This led to amazing experiences and feeling like we got to do it all, but it also was at a pace that was hard to connect with people and have a community. There was one bit of travel where we spent 3 months in O’ahu and my son played baseball so we were able to meet some people during a longer stay.

On the other hand the lack of community made our family super close and we were able to experience things we wouldn’t normally get to do. Looking back it has been the greatest experience of my life and I’d have to speak for my family as well.

Q: Do you think travel has had a big impact on your kids’ worldview and/or habits and behaviors? If so, how?

Absolutely! I think they have a better understanding for what life is like for people not only in the US, but around the world. Their opportunities to meet people from all over the world and see that the language of smile and play is the same no matter where you are.Whatever barrier is there with adults is non-existent with kids and that’s why I love traveling with them and seeing it through a young lens. I remember when we were in Brazil for the World Cup with my then 3 year old and he was playing soccer with kids everywhere we went. Visiting family in the Philippines and Honduras was beautiful as the kids seamlessly adapted to new places and hanging with new people, yet knew they were safe and loved. We ate dinner with a Costa Rican family who spoke no English but the kids wanted to stay really late playing while I shared broken Spanish stories about parenthood.

Q: Looking ahead 5 years, how do you see travel being incorporated into your family’s life as your kids get older? How will you balance giving them connection and involvement in activities at home and also still have travel and adventure be part of your life and family culture? Any tips or ideas?

I would love to see our family serve more when we travel. Whether it’s disaster relief or helping out at local schools, I find that Seva brings so much joy and gratitude. I also know that as our kids get into their teen ages they may not want to travel as much with us so we will try to bring friends along and have them help plan trips they want to take.

After taking time off of activities for a couple of years, I’m not as worried if they miss a game or even a season of whatever because traveling can bring up some new interests, too. This is why starting to travel with your kids young is so important because the balance is what you want to do. If you wait until they are older there will always be something, but if they are already used to that lifestyle, then that’s just what the priority becomes in the family.

Q: Where are you off to next and what are you most looking forward to about it?

Europe for the summer! I am looking forward to eating the food, experiencing all of the sites, campervanning through different countries, and getting to create more memories with my family! I also spent a summer in Europe with my aunt and my husband spent a lot of time traveling to Europe as a kid so I’m excited that we’ll get to revisit those places with our kids.

Q: Whate else would you like to share with other mamas relating to travel or life?

Just do what you love or what you think you will love while you can. Just start somewhere. If you want to see what camper van life is like go rent one. If you want to start hiking with your family, start short and bring the treats. A little bribe won’t hurt any! Listen to your intuition and manifest your dreams as specifically as possible. The more you can envision what you want, the more baby steps you can take toward that goal.