The Apparent End of My Traveling Days
It’s been some time since I’ve updated this blog. COVID has taken its toll on my traveling adventures, as it has for most of us. But beyond that, I also became pregnant with my first child (Hello, COVID baby!). So we’ve been keeping our adventures a little more low key and way more local, while we’re letting this bun cook in the oven.
Matt and I intentionally waited to have children until later in life (Read: When I’m of “Advanced Maternal Age” according to every physician I have seen. Rude.). We wanted to be sure that we were ready for the challenge and would be financially, emotionally, and mentally ready bring our kiddo on as many adventures as possible. We want him to see and experience the world!
Surrounded by people who know my love of and deep experience with travel, I comfortably shared our desires to travel early and often with Baby Sprout (the temporary name we have given our unborn child). I spoke about the research I had done, knowing that it won’t be easy or the same as it was pre-baby, but that it’s such an important part of how we want to raise our child. However, rather than being greeted by support and helpful advice, I was largely told I was crazy and that it was impossible. I was even told by one friend that it’s “a fine delusion to live with…for now”.
Since then, I have also been told many things I “cannot” do and things I “must” do once I’m a mother.
Under NO circumstances, will I be able to:
- Ever have anything for myself
- Ever travel without the child guilt-free (especially for work!)
- Ever travel with the child and be sane
- Ever have anything in my house that isn’t covered in toys, snot, and / or poop
If I want to be a halfway decent mother, I MUST:
- Have a play room: an entire room of my house dedicated to just toys. Note: This apparently cannot be the nursery.
- Prepare myself to not want to go back to work. Note: My amazing husband being a stay-at-home dad will apparently not be enough.
It’s as though everything people have known about me for the first 35 years of my life has ceased to exist as I grow this tiny human inside me. 🤔
My Take:
I don’t believe in telling people what they can’t do or what they have to do. Is it going to be hard as hell to bring Baby Sprout on international adventures? Will I miss him when I’m getting back to traveling for work? I’m sure! I have no qualms admitting that I have never done this before and I can only imagine how hard it will be. That’s why I want some advice and helpful tips!
But impossible? F-no. People do it. All. The. Time.
So, something that might prove to be more useful moving forward… having experienced parents support new parents with helpful advice, listening to their individual dreams, and cheering them on for doing things they may not choose to do themselves.
In the meantime…
Matt and I are preparing some epic adventures for Baby Sprout:
- Year 1: Chicago, California, and Florida
- Year 2: Europe or Asia
I’m sure there will be exhaustion and tears (his and ours). But I’m also sure that we’ll figure it out together, and experience the wonder and difficulties that come with travel.
Oh, and no…I will not be having a play room. 😉