I smile when I think of all the mothers across the world awake at all hours of the night- taking full advantage of the quiet, uninterrupted time when the rest of the family sleeps. This time is filled with a variety of tasks and maybe even a bit of relaxing (well – not usually). Motherhood demands sacrifice. Sure it is filled with rewarding moments- but let’s be honest about the other part of it. I notice that the word mother includes the word “other” instead of “me”. And that is true of so many aspects of parenting.
 I look at how this has applied to my passion in life – travel. My husband and I were world travelers before we met. Then we joined our “itineraries in life” and decided we better make a “list” of places we wanted to visit before we had kids, since so many people told us we wouldn’t travel once we became parents. So we made the list. Fun, exotic and adventurous – the list was my security blanket ensuring that life was still about “me” or now “us”.
Thailand, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Australia – we lived for our next trip. And that trip meant freedom to me.
As I was preparing for a trip to Japan and Singapore- the unthinkable happened. A positive pregnancy test. For most people married 7 years, this would have been a natural progression. But I hadn’t finished my list! With an international trip in my near future, I realized something. I already was a parent! As a pregnant woman – this baby would be accompanying me to Japan, stopping in China, and going on to Singapore.
Then it hit me.
I was soon going to be the passenger that nobody wanted on the plane.Â
And I didn’t want to be that passenger – the one with the screaming baby or tantrum throwing toddler!
Yet, I was not going to give up travel for children. And I was committed to this baby from the moment I discovered I was pregnant.
So the long nights of research began. Could I travel when I was pregnant? Was it safe? What could I eat? Were there any precautions I should take while flying? What if I needed medical attention while overseas? Was sushi off limits?!?
And then for the future trips -
Should I buy a seat for my infant? What stroller was the best to travel with? Could I breastfeed on the plane? Does my baby need a passport? How do you get a baby to sit for a passport photo? What should I bring in the carry on? Oh my – how do you get through security with all the “stuff” and a baby?
I began to look up my old contacts at the airlines (I used to fly multiple times per month commuting to Mayo Clinic in MN as a CA nurse). I called Vicki, the airline gate agent here in Sacramento. I asked her for any little tip to make it easier to fly with a baby or toddler. I asked her what parents did that drove her and the other gate agents crazy? I then asked her for her contacts who were flight attendants – and asked similar questions. What did parents bring on flights that seemed to work well to keep kids happy? What advice did they have for new parents? This led me to pediatricians – asking what I needed to know about taking a child on an airplane. I wanted to know the reason for ear pain and what I could do to help a screaming baby? I then asked parents who traveled with kids what their best tips were – what the best products were and if they enjoyed traveling with their kids?
One piece of advice cemented my future.
One couple said, “Don’t listen to those who tell you that you can’t/won’t travel with kids. You CAN travel with kids – AND enjoy it. However, it is a different kind of trip and this is what you will have to prepare for. As for those who are negative about traveling with kids- you will find that those same people do not travel themselves!”
And that is exactly how my life as a traveling parent began. With these tips, experience, and preparation – I can tell you that my husband and I have enjoyed every single trip that we have taken with our son who was born almost 4 years ago. In fact, we enjoy it so much that I have chosen to make it my career!
With all my research and experience, I discovered so many little details and products that make it easier, more convenient and safer to travel with children. I decided long ago to make a difference for other parents who also were unwilling to give up their “list” but were overwhelmed by the many changes the addition of kids added to travel.
With this information- I began parenthood.
As a mother, I was not willing to give up my passion for travel. Instead I learned to mold it to fit my role as a mother. What is amazing about this “adventure” is how it led me to what I believe is my calling in life. Combining my roles of a mother, nurse, and traveler- I now meet with travel experts, inventors of travel products and services, medical organizations, media, and attend travel shows as well as teach travel classes to help parents and grandparents to prepare for successful travel with young children.
The best realization came when I realized that traveling with a child does not limit us – it instead has made our travel more meaningful as we meet more local people.Â
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The Italian gelato workers who called my son by name and the waiter who blew bubbles in the pizzeria to the delight of my 2 year old son- these people are one step past exploring the museums and tourists sights of a foreign country.Â
 
Becoming familiar with Italian baby food or German diaper cream has led to some great finds! I also never realized what great parks there are in Heidelberg, Germany or Vienna, Austria or how much fun it can be to explore Hyde Park in London with a toddler.Â
Traveling with children forced us to slow down and really immerse ourselves in the culture- we lived daily life there and had access to the culture on a personal, family level.Â
On this Mother’s Day – I am thankful for the opportunity to explore the world with this new, unique perspective. Yes, there is sacrifice to motherhood. However, through this sacrifice I was blessed with the keys to a richer, more fascinating level of travel I had been unaware of prior to parenthood.
Happy Mother’s Day -
May your parenting journey be blessed with enriching experiences and a unique outlook on the opportunities motherhood is presenting you!
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