“The kids are too young to remember.”
I know you had your reasons for waiting until your children were older to travel. They were more independent, they didn’t need a nap in the afternoon, and they remembered what you did on your trip. Those are all completely valid reasons, no judgment whatsoever.
But I didn’t take your well-meaning advice, and here’s why:
We sang our favorite songs loud and proud in the car on the way, making up our own entire verses. Our kids are now proficient at singing nonsense words with just about any song—just like their father does.
We hiked a nice trail with abundant wildflowers. Our daughter was amazed, like each flower she pointed at was the most beautiful one yet. We saw deer up close, and then we caught the most breathtaking sunset in the mountains from the lookout point.
We laughed as we ate hotel breakfast together and our curious son asked a million good questions about how the waffle maker works.
We tried a local coffee shop we’ve never been to before. The barista offered a spot-on drink suggestion to me like we’d been friends our whole lives. Our kids ordered lemonade smoothies, and they ask all the time when we can go “back to vacation” and get them again.
We enjoyed a nice breeze on a perfect summer evening while we played at an elaborate, inclusive playground we’ve never been to. The boys climbed to their heart’s content, and the baby ran after them across the squishy playground tiles, trying his hardest to keep up.
We played “sharks” at the hotel pool until everyone had pruny fingers. Our baby has a love of water just like his older siblings. He screeched with excitement as we made our way across the pool just barely in time to stay “safe” from the maniacally giggling sharks.
We touched the stingrays at the aquarium, and my 4-year-old still talks about it daily because stingrays are his favorite. He chose the spotted stingray stuffy at the aquarium gift shop, and it goes everywhere with him.
I’d be lying if I said it isn’t stressful at times. Taking the kids somewhere new can be overstimulating. It’s definitely going to be my child melting down in a store somewhere. (Let’s be honest, my child is going to melt down at a store either way, so I’d rather be on vacation. No offense, Grocery Kart.) It’s chaotic. Where even is the nearest bathroom, and why does it inevitably not have a changing table after we drove miles out of the way to find it? Don’t even get me started on bedtime in an unfamiliar place.
“Just wait until they’re old enough to remember.”
Well, the uncomfortable truth is that tomorrow isn’t promised.
While it may not seem significant because the kids won’t remember all the little moments, these memories are very significant to our family.
Traveling broadens their view of the world.
It allows them to experience new places and interact with people who are different from them. Their experiences in their first few years of life shape their little minds and their foundation for future learning and socializing.
We spent quality time with the whole family. The kids might not remember what we did, but they will remember how they felt.
We took a break from the endless cycle of dishes and laundry at home and recharged. My husband and I cherish the memories made, and we’ll gladly flip through a photo album someday with the kids snuggled in at bedtime if they ask what we did on vacation.
And you know what?
If you saw the pure amazement on my baby’s face, I think you would understand why we choose not to wait to make the memories.
by Heidi Hamm 
by Kristin Schlegel 
by Brandon Janous 
