July 30, 2013 @ 4:20 PM

 

Wondering the streets of London with my children has reinforced my belief that traveling is the best education I can offer my children. Showing them the things they’ve learned about in school, teaching them how to navigate a new city, learning about the cultural differences and the exchange rates, it’s all part of an education that can’t be thought in the classroom. We also get to spend a lot of time together as a family which has allowed us to learn each other’s likes and dislikes. This is not a trip to Disney World where everything I do is for them. We travel as a team and everyone needs to pull their weight. You can’t hog the computer, be cranky or drag your feet. You can’t get lost either! They have been great at being part of the team. Everyday spend together with them in an unfamiliar environment has given me the chance to learn about their character and personality and see how their mind works. While it’s a little bit more challenging to travel with children instead of adults, I’ve become good at it. I always have a snack and a plan B. I learned that one museum is enough and that stopping at a playground is a necessity. I now have enough patience to let them roll down the hill and enough planning experience that I research ice cream shops before venturing out. Our travels together have given me the most cherished memories and I hope they feel the same way. Living in new places with different people, cultures and expectations will hopefully sharpen our perspective of ourselves and deepen our understanding of others.