We don’t give kids enough credit. I feel like a lot of times we think we can’t do something because we’re concerned with how our kid will handle a situation, but in reality kids are extremely resilient and adaptable. We count them out before even attempting something out of OUR comfort zone. We assume something may not work because our child is too young, picky or shy but never actually try. I am 100% guilty of this. I get anxiety about new situations that are out of my control which has nothing really to do with Lucas and more about me. If you do something alone versus with a child, the task will most likely be more challenging with the child. However, just because something is more challenging doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
While in Antigua we did a hike up the inactive volcano Acatenango to watch the active volcano, Fuego, erupt. It was hard and challenging but it was something Sebastian and I wanted to do so we made it happen. It took additional planning and supplies which meant we needed to pay extra for a “private” sleeping space and hire a porter to carry up one of our bags. In most situations there’s a work around, so you can still do the things you want to do. However, you may not be able to do everything. Lucas was too young to do some of the activities in certain countries (we rode horses in Mexico but not in Costa Rica due to required insurance and Lucas’ age) so we ended up not doing the activity. Scuba diving became a challenge with Lucas but in one instance since we were leaving from shore, I was able to go diving while Sebastian watched Lucas and then we switched. It takes a little more planning but get creative if it’s something you really want to do, plus…babysitters do exist in other countries 🙂
Traveling with kids is possible and I feel like people think they can’t travel because they have small children. We have more travel experience in overlanding with Lucas so that’s the viewpoint I can offer, but we definitely lucked out with Lucas in that he drives pretty well and adapts easily to new environments. Obviously all kids aren’t the same and some may be easier to travel with than others but in reality you just have to work with your child’s strengths. We try to limit driving to 5 hours max. If Lucas is riding well on a particular day than we might drive more than planned. That’s the beauty about traveling without a schedule, you do what works best for you. If your kid is having a meltdown get out of the car, eat something and run around a little. Toys and snacks are always a must and when those don’t work an iPad works great too. I installed Netflix on my iPad and downloaded a few episodes of Cocomelon for those necessary times when I needed a distraction for Lucas. Remember that traveling with kids is possible, it’s not gonna be the same as if you’re traveling alone or with your partner but the experiences you get to share with them makes any additional challenges 100% worth it! if you travel for a week, a month or a year, the time spent together creating memories is priceless. So don’t avoid traveling because it might be harder for you, do it because it’s not only going to enrich your kid’s life but yours too!! Have faith in your child. They are way more capable than you think and you’ll never know how capable unless you give them the opportunity to show you. There will be hard days but I promise you the good days outweigh the bad ones. These are the “good old days” so remember to embrace them and make lasting memories…for all of you! Happy traveling!