Should Travel Be One of Your Family Values?
When David and I were dating I called a heart-to-heart meeting about our relationship and our future. He knew I’d traveled extensively and had plans for more trips. I wanted him to understand that it was more than vacations; it was a part of me (who I was, how I learned, how I connected to the world, part of my degree, something I wanted to share with my future children and grandchildren). David didn’t have a passport, hadn’t traveled solo, and in so few words I told him to get on board because I needed to know if travel was going to break us up. I needed to know if he was a homebody or would be able to hang with my adventures. David applied for a passport, I helped him plan a solo trip to Europe for 10 weeks, New Zealand for 7 weeks, and then shipped my boyfriend off to see if our relationship would grow stronger after his return or sizzle out and I’d leave him on his couch. Luckily the travel bug hooked him and we now tote our twins around the world with us!
So what does it mean to have travel as a family value vs. see travel as a vacation?
Travel as a vacation means:
It happens once in a while, usually around breaks or holidays
You may have a favorite spot you visit every year because it’s familiar and easy
You like things to feel similar to home, inside your comfort zone
You gravitate towards tourist zones, resorts, or popular destinations
It’s a temporary escape from daily life to rest, sightsee, or for entertainment/ hobbies
Travel as a value means:
You view travel as a hands-on learning experience
You travel frequently to new places, and possibly lesser known locales
You enjoy things outside your comfort zone
You try to experience things as a local and embrace cultural differences
You include travel in your list of priorities and find ways to include it in everyday life when not on the road
It’s not about taking a break from home routines
You see travel as a way to bond with your family and create memories
You want your children to be exposed to different ways of life, cultures, languages
Your time will be more immersive such as long road trips, exchange programs, volunteer opportunities, or even a temporary or permanent move abroad
So should travel be on your values list? Should it be given a spot in your priorities? Well that depends on how it fits in and aligns with your other chosen values. For example you may love travel, but you value living in the same hometown where you grew up and can’t imagine leaving there. You may love travel, but value raising your kids in a small close network. You may love travel, but value traditional education and career paths. You may love travel, but value purchasing a house and cars instead of travel expenses.
It’s important to know where travel falls for your family as a whole, while keeping in mind that there are degrees of importance when it comes to each individual too. And that time can change things also. My kids didn’t care about trying new cuisines when they were little (“Pass the chicken nuggets please”), but they care now. David didn’t care to stop and smell the roses on a power hike previously, but now he stops and inspects every flower and pinecone with the boys who are full of nature questions.
For our family, we hope travel keeps us open to learning about other cultures, other people, other ways of life. We want to soak up languages, history, and geography. We want to explore, observe, and not be fearful of the world. We want to guide our kids and show them all the possibilities out there so one day they can make their path in the world too.
Below are some conversation starters to help you think about travel in regard to your family.
What do you want out of travel? Experiences, knowledge, etc.
What does travel look like right now? (Budget, time, energy, locations)
What are some current things stopping you? Hurdles to overcome or changes to make.
Are there other family values that travel clashes with and how do they conflict?
How can you incorporate travel or other cultures into your daily life?
What are some travel things that may need to be postponed for now?
What are some travel things that you’ve been putting off and should plan ASAP?!
See you on the road!
Morgan
