- I moved from California to Germany while pregnant with my second child.
- My children are now 8, 5 and 3 years old and traveling with them was not pleasant.
- I had to adjust my expectations and plan trips that everyone could enjoy.
When I moved from California to Germany, four months pregnant with my second child, I fantasized about the places my husband and I would take our children—swimming in the Greek islands, exploring the rugged mountains of Slovenia, and attending plays. in London’s West End. .
My cravings were fueled by travel influencers on Instagram extolling the virtues of traveling with little ones.
I have changed my approach to holidays
I had to change my approach. I looked for kids-themed getaways nearby that worked for the whole family. It was the trip to Kassel, a stop on Germany’s fairytale road and home of the Brothers Grimm. It was a week in Leipzig – the zoo was a hit, the Bach Museum not so much.
I had to give up trying to get my kids to explore the world and just let them enjoy it.
For our August holiday, we took a three-hour train ride to a place where the local art scene was displayed in the craft room. Culinary offerings consisted of a bratwurst and ice cream stand. In other words, we went to a family camp.
Because I lowered my expectations of what we could do and let my kids just be kids, it was the best fun we’ve had together at a party.