In My Mom Era

People think traveling with five kids, all under the age of 10, mind you, is equivalent to the 9th circle of hell, LOL, but I think it’s a way to let the kids know that LIVING in this world we’re blessed with is so much more important than getting a headache over the ugliness of traveling with five kids.

Skipping naps is one of the BEST things we’ve done for our kids on these trips over the years, because it’s conditioned them to be used to long car rides. They still get naps, because they sleep in the car, but if we let naps dictate vacations, we’d NEVER go anywhere. Which, for some, is the point LOL but that’s not how we roll!

Seven People Changes the Math

I mean, let’s be real, five kids is SEVEN people, not including our pets. We have to remember seven people’s favorite items that MUST come along for the trip, toys/goodies to keep the kids entertained that aren’t just handing them a tablet all day, and if you have a PICKY eater? Forget it, lol, all hell will break loose.

Then there’s the logistical part itself… seven people in a vehicle that reportedly seats eight, with 3 car seats. I promise you, that vehicle no longer seats 8, because if we’re going more than 2 hours away from home, the extra seat is also included in the storage aspect for said travel.

Plus, hotels for 7 people – you’re immediately looking at 2 rooms, minimum. Which then turns into, ok, which one of us gets which kids?
Honestly, looking at our travel history makes me question my life choices sometimes.

But They Won’t Remember It!

The number of times people have said, “They’re not going to remember the trip(s) anyway. Why bother? It’s a waste of money.” That just makes me want to scream. I’m not dense; I KNOW they won’t remember every detail, every detour, or every burger they ate. But NEITHER WILL I. Really think about all the trips you’ve been on – can you recall all of it? I can’t.

That’s the whole point: it’s not about each aspect of the trips, it’s the ones that turn into memories and stories you bring home that you retell for the rest of your life.

Mine? I took all of my kids to the Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood in October, NOT realizing it would be snowing/freezing when we got there. No one had coats, the twins were only a little over a year old so they had to be carried in, while snow got stuck in their hair. I won’t forget that particular snafu!! Did it ruin the vacation? HELL no, lol, we shook our heads at our stupidity, got those babies inside, and had a FANTASTIC brunch in the Cascade Dining Room!!

None of the littles are going to remember that like we will. They’ll remember because I can show them a photo and say, “Look what we did when you were still just BABIES!” But actually remembering? No. And that’s OK. Because what else do we have in this beautiful life if we don’t appreciate the world around us at every opportunity.

I can’t TELL the kids how absolutely stunning it is to see a mountain range in real life for the first time.

You have to BE there.

You can’t imagine the grandeur of the Cliffs of Moher without BEING there. Our world is full of incredible, breathtaking, indescribable places we have to view and appreciate. And we don’t do it nearly enough, especially with little kids.

I took Declan and Tristan to Virginia Beach, VA, in May of 2023 – right before Nora was born that July. Dec was just 6 years old, and T was 5. The water was FRIGID and those boys had the absolute BEST time playing in that surf! They were freezing, and cuddling together under a beach blanket, but they refused to leave LOL!

THAT is why it’s worth it to go places with your kids! Can you remember the last time you went somewhere and just enjoyed for the sake of doing something new and experiencing something for the first time? Those moments are rare, and so special. So we go, and bring the family, because those are some moments we can’t anticipate before. ❤️

Find What Works for YOUR Family

There are practicalities with any vacation, and the biggest one for OUR family is taking long breaks. Not just 5 minutes at the gas/rest station breaks, but “there’s a restaurant and a playground within 5 minutes of each other off this exit – let’s go” and stay for an hour or two.

That may not work for every family, and that’s ok, just make sure you find something that does work for your family! Because once you find the trick to keeping the little kids happy and contentish, your trips will be exponentially better. For you and your kids.

Our kids have been all over the place – Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Oregon, Colorado, Kansas, Arkansas and even the LAST BLOCKBUSTER STANDING! (That was a trip!!)

Honestly, they’re more well-traveled than I ever was before I turned about 20/21! I LOVE that for them – I love that at school near the end of each school year, the boys have taken to telling their friends that they’re “probably going to Oregon and Colorado over the summer because mom wants to.” HAHA, I mean, they’re not wrong!

When I’m meeting new moms or experienced mom’s, or grandmas and they broach the topic of travel with me, but hesitate because of the kids, I’m immediately like, JUST GO! You won’t regret it, and then launch into a ten mnute story about one, or 5, of the trips we’ve taken with the kids.

My kids are just getting started with their travels, and I hope I’m around long enough to see the places THEY want to make it to as they get older and their interests change ❤️.

Stick around, we’re nowhere near done.

Kelly