Today a young guy (early 30’s or so) came by to pick up a Burley bicycle trailer we had for sale. He saw the RV and asked if it was ours. We told him we owned it and we planned to hit the road and show our kids something different. He was very excited and opened up to us about his childhood experiences.
He told us that during the summers when he was a child, his father would pack him and his siblings into a VW van and go on extended camping trips. He said that those were the best days of his life and that the trips really brought his family closer together. He added that he hopes to do the same thing with his children one day.
I found his words to be very inspiring. Every now and then I get panicky thinking that I am making the wrong decision and that my kids will not enjoy our adventure. However, speaking to someone who had a similar experience when they were a child has really renewed my commitment. I understand that things may be a little rocky at first, but my hope is that some day when they are grown my children will think of this time as the best days of their lives.
June 19th, 2008 at 1:11 am
I spent every summer as a child traveling the US with my parents and 3 siblings. We lived in Southern California and traveled to Northern Maine every year. We took about 6 weeks every year and we drove through every one of the lower 48 states at least once during my childhood. It was by FAR the best experience of my life and each and every one of us children are VERY thankful to our parents for providing us with the chance to see so much of this beautiful country. The shared experiences were wonderful and probably played a big part in making us into the close knit family we are.
June 20th, 2008 at 9:43 am
That’s so great to hear! I love these stories. They give me hope that rather than psychologically damaging our children, we are going to be creating lifelong memories for them to share with their children.
Thanks so much for sharing that wonderful story.
January 1st, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I just responded to an older post, but am compelled to respond to this one as well…
When I was a kid, and my father was in the Army, we lived in (what was then) West Germany. During my father’s time off we would travel throughout various parts of Europe, most often by train, and see some wondrous sights.
There are pictures of me in hideous red sandals standing in the model (sized) village of Rotterdam somewhere in the Netherlands. My mother regales us with stories of us kids swimming in the fountain that Julia Andrews flips her hands into in the Sound of Music. I remember castles, canals, windmills, and glorious cathedrals throughout our journeys. Times of laughter over my mother’s pronunciation of Liechtenstein and other seemingly unpronounceable names. My father, who spoke only English, thinking that raising his volume would make that poor Danish girl suddenly understand him. The fact that we traveled in leiderhosen that my mother ACTUALLY DID MAKE out of the curtains of our home…
You are doing a great thing and I hope my children do not become envious of yours, for they will have similar stories to tell.
Cheers,
JD Barrett