Among the many questions I get about our upcoming  one-year around-the-world adventure, there’s one that always makes me smile.

The conversation usually goes something like this:

“So you guys are taking a trip around the world?!?!?”

“Yes, we’re really excited about it. “

“That’s amazing! Will the kids be going too?

kid carry

Refusing to walk in Peru

At this point in the conversation I almost always have to bite my tongue. There are so many amazing responses that I’d like to give :

“Nah, we’re leaving them at home. A litre of milk and a box of cookies should get them through.”

“Nope. Those two buggers have been leeching off us for years. This is our turn to be free!”

“Only one of them. Every night we turn the kitchen table into a wrestling ring. The one with the most pins by July gets to come with us.”

I don’t say those things (mostly) because I know that people aren’t really thinking that we aren’t taking the kids. It’s just that, while the idea of a couple heading off to follow their dreams of world travel seems “cool”, the idea of a family of four doing it seems well….kinda crazy.

And yet, as the countdown clock on our home page will tell you, we’re doing exactly that in 2 months.

Italy love

Feeling the love in Italy: ages 11 months and 3 years

As much as I joke about the situation now, the truth is the decision to do this trip as a family was an easy one to make.  Ish and I dreamed this trip up more than 10 years ago, but it was just that – “a dream.” The first time it became real was when the kids were born. We’ve always traveled and I remember having a discussion, as I held a newborn Ethan, about “what happens to those dreams now?” We were both determined that Ethan would join our life not vice versa: He’d  come along where we went. And he did.

By the time he was 2  and required a new passport, Ethan’s pages were filled with stamps.  And when his brother came along he joined us.

Back then, the flack I got for taking them was different: “They won’t remember. What’s the point?”

My answer  was different then too: “I’ll remember and I’ll tell them all about it.”

That theory has held up. Cameron recently announced that he’d like to see the Eiffel Tower and while I agreed that it was something we should do while in France next Spring, I also pointed out that he actually already had.

We then sat down with the photo albums and I told a bunch of stories about what it had been like for the 11 month old in his stroller and how he was a hit in Italy but less so in Paris restaurants.

 

just the two of us

Just the Two of Us

Over the years, the kids have traveled with me often. Sometimes we go as a family. Sometimes it’s just one of them and myself off on an adventure and forming memories all our own. Each time I expose them to new people, new places and new foods.

I also try to teach them something and force them to broaden their perspectives just a little bit.

It might be as simple as knowing what to do in a customs line, or the proper way to introduce yourself to a Minister of Tourism. They also realise that when Mommy says she’s working, she really is. They’ve had to sit patiently

through dinners and keep comments to a minimum during interviews. They understand what I do and they know how much fun it can be. They are lessons I hope they’ll remember down the road when they choose their own careers.

Even when I was a lawyer and my job was less…um…exhilarating I still brought the kids into the office from time to time. There were lessons for them in that too, plus I wanted them to see where I was when I wasn’t at home with them.

Making Friends

So yes, next year I’ll be traveling and working -writing stories from places around the globe – and yes,  unless you’re making an offer  (kidding!), the kids will come too.

Have you taken your kids to work with you? What have they learned? Has it taught you anything about them? about yourself? Please leave me a comment. I’d love to know.

Canadians’ take their kids to work day isn’t until the fall but in the U.S. the day falls on April 28, 2011. This post was written in response to a request from @mummy_T who writes the blog “Travels with a Nine Year Old.” You’ll find her take on taking kids to work along with that of several other family travel writers with kids of varying ages at the links below:

Wandermom: http://wandermom.com/news-and-views/highs-and-lows-of-traveling-with-a-teen-and-a-tween/

Barbara: http://www.thedropoutdiaries.com/2011/04/attack-of-the-asian-baby-snatchers/

Lisa: http://www.aroundtheworldineasyways.com/2011/04/the-age-of-perfection/

Marilia: http://www.trippingmom.com/what´s-like-to-travel-with-a-3-year-old-girl/

Snaps & Blabs (@snapsandblabs)  “Traveling with children – which one to leave home?”

http://snapsandblabs.com/blog/6817/traveling-with-children-best-age

Tracy: http://ourtravellifestyle.com/2011/04/28/long-term-travel-young-kids-under-6-best-age

Theodora (@mummy_t): “Travels with a Ten Year Old” http://travelswithanineyearold.com/2011/04/28/travels-with-a-ten-year-old/

Jessie (@WanderingEds): Why We Love Traveling with our Daughter http://www.wanderingeducators.com/best/traveling/why-we-love-traveling-our-daughter.html

Ana: (@riderby)  “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Traveling Around the World With a 5-Year-Old.”  http://www.riderbymyside.com/post/5006298398/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-traveling-around-the#disqus_thread

Christine (@almostfearless): The Amazing Adventures of Baby Cole http://almostfearless.com/2011/04/28/the-amazing-adventures-of-baby-cole

Nicole (EastsideCurry) http://eastsidecurry.com/2011/04/28/traveling-with-your-kids-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

Avril (@gotpassport) http://gotpassport.org/2011/04/28/the-world-is-our-playground/

Nancy (@familyonbikes) FamilyonBikes http://familyonbikes.org/blog/?p=1791

Amy (@livinontheroad)  What is it like to travel with kids under 10?  http://www.livinontheroad.com.au/about-us/entry/whats-it-like-to-travel-with-kids-under-10.html