Take That Trip!
While we are not traveling these days due to COVID, I am reminded how travel is such a gift, and I will admit, I miss that opportunity to just plan a trip and to get away. I am going to be honest, while I love to travel, it also wreaks havoc with my anxiety. To this day, I do not like leaving my kids—I don’t mind the time away from them, that is not it, it is my fear of something happening to us or them (hello anxiety, hello fear, you can STFU and get out of my head now)! Family travel, on the other hand, is my jam, I love love love when Guyer 5 is on a trip, I love it when my babies are all with me, I am fully content, fully excited, and I did not leave a piece of my heart at home, my people are with me and as long as it is everyone, I am so excited and happy to travel.
When my kids were little, Charlie & I did travel without them and had some incredible opportunities to see ‘some' of the world. It was always so hard on me, I would be in full anxiety mode, and I dreaded leaving. I would put a pretend smile on my face that I was so happy to go, and yes, I was excited and happy to go, but I also felt this sickness in my stomach, and worry of something happening. And yes, for the record, I think of the worst-case scenario (how can I be this person that works on my mindset but lets my mind jump to the irrational thoughts and absolute panic and fear). I always power through, I typically put a smile on my face, gulp my fear, and know that once I arrive at my destination I am fine, and I settle in and most of the time have a blast! Recently, my father in law dropped off a folder of “Pam Stuff”, with many sweet documents that my mother in law saved on things that I had given her or she had collected. Included were two multi-page documents of us traveling, and directions on the kid’s schedules, routines and the coverage plan of baby sitters and care. “Pam & Charlie While in Hawaii” and the other “Pam & Charlie while in London”—it was such a treat to go back and see all the work that went in to being away and the amazing tribe of people that made it possible. I had to laugh at my instructions on the kids and how to feed them, the importance of their schedule and routine (man, I was a stickler about their routine, and while I worked a lot, I really put so much of my heart and soul into our family life.
Take that Trip! As I reviewed these documents, I remember that in spite of my anxiety of leaving my kids and traveling, I still did it, and Charlie and I still made time for it as a couple. I was fortunate to have earned so many trips with my company that we got to travel to Hawaii at least 7 or 8 times (one time bringing the kids), we also had several trips to Europe, one incredible trip that I earned and the other times were me meeting Charlie while he was away on business, I am so very glad we took each and every one of these trips.
When they were young, in addition to Hawaii, we did trips to London, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona/Lisbon and each of these getaways was amazing! My favorite was Paris, it was part of my 40th birthday celebration and we had a blast. More recently, we visited Dublin, while Charlie was on business in Barcelona, I met him in Dublin (which was this Irish girl’s first time there). Ironically it was a snowstorm and the city was shut down, so we spent our time at the local pubs, and yes, most nights at the Temple Bar, it was a blast!
Over the past few years, we have wanted to go to Italy, in fact, it was supposed to be a trip for my 50th birthday, but my Mom was sick and it was not the summer to have travel plans. We keep saying we are going to go and waited as Kaili is going to study abroad, but now all of that is canceled and uncertain, so most likely she may not have this experience while at college. If she is not able to go, we have some other ideas, which we will need to be patient and flexible with.
So, while none of us can really make big travel plans these days, what we can do is dream, we can also plan (even if we can’t plan dates), we can save, earn and prepare so that when the time is right (which it never is anyway), you can create those memories, have those moments and Just Do It! I know it is not easy, especially when they are little, but it is so worth it. Interestingly enough, we traveled more when they were little as a couple than we do now. It is harder as they get older for other reasons, and the timing is never good (and that is exactly why you should take the trip)!
I am looking forward to the time we can travel again. I am looking forward to the next family vacation and travel which is my absolute favorite (because I stress less w/my people being with me).
We can’t book the actual trip, but what we can do is travel in our mind, dream in our hearts and put pen to paper what travel we would like to do as a family, what travel we would like to do as a couple and perhaps even what travel we will do by ourselves. Where do you want to go? What do you want to see? What trip can you plan, can you work towards, and can you make a reality when we get through this lockdown? Before you know it, it will be time to pack your suitcase and discover more of the world and the destinations you dream of.
Happy Travels!
XO