How Not To Take A Vacation
Does anything about this picture look difficult to you? Does any of it look pointless? This was the most amusing of several “we’re in a ruined city with broken, cobbled pave stones and we are toting a kid in a stroller” type moments we happened across in Pompeii. Traveling with kids seems like it would be nightmare enough to avoid whenever possible. I mean sure, trips to see the folks are a different issue and point to point travel is not the same as vacation, but I am non-plussed to think that people would travel with a child for non-essential reasons.
For the first 5-6 years, the kid certainly won’t get anything out of it — won’t understand what’s going on nor remember it. They can’t really move under their own power, and if they can it’s probably the wrong direction and you’d want to avoid that. You’re looking at mobile, and therefore more difficult, babysitting. It costs the parents extra money and would dilute their enjoyment of whatever they are doing since they wouldn’t be able to focus on it. It seems like there’s only cost and no benefit. Leave the kids with relatives or stay home. 
For the next 5-6 years, it’d be a little better. The kids would be generally self-motile at least, and would probably remember the vacation, though if you’re going to travel places as opposed to beach or camping trips, they may have trouble to “get” what they’re seeing. Stick to natural wonders and getting to know nature type journeys.
Once you’re dealing with teens, I think things open up more. Supervision is less necessary as they are now less dependent and not so much a danger to themselves. You can go places that take more appreciation and will broaden the kid’s world. You might be able to learn and teach something that they can grow on later on, making them a better person by seeing places and things in new towns, states, or countries. Give ’em something to have as stories back at school. Show them there is a whole world out there, full of people that are kind of like us, even! Keep them open minded.
Well, it was a little more long-winded than I’d thought, and maybe slightly preachy too, but there it goes. I’m all for travel but kids make it a whole different ball game. Traveling with 2 adults can be stressful enough without adding extra complications. 😉
June 5th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Our son is six months old, and we are most likely going to wait until he is five years old before traveling overseas. Although it seems like a long wait for me, my wife is not a traveler so I think I’ll surprise her with tickets on our son’s birthday.
I can’t imagine hauling a stroller around Pompeii.
June 5th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Spoken like a true non-parent, but a kiddy backpack would have been a much wiser choice.
June 5th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Hey, I’m sure they love their kid(s) but there’s a whole lot that is impractical about travelling with little kids. There were a few of the backpack dealies, and they seem much easier. Also saw a kid out in the bright sunshine with not much more than a diaper, too. Takes all kinds I guess.
June 6th, 2007 at 9:22 am
They should have put the kid in a kennel.
June 6th, 2007 at 10:14 am
You’d need to specify the soft food though.
June 6th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Impractical is an understatement. I took Asher to DC a month ago. Used a backpack most of the time. The amount of gear we had to travel with was insane. I don’t know if it is logistically possible to fly with 2 kids both under the age of 5, but I guess people do it.