I wish I traveled more before kids...

Jamaica 

Don’t get me wrong I love traveling with our kiddos as a family but it’s exhausting and hard and I wouldn’t always call it a vacation. 

Keith and I took a few trips before having kids but they came pretty quick after getting married so the trips were few. We made it to Jamaica, Disney, NYC, Key West, Punta Cana (honeymoon) and Grand Caymens (prego with Macie). I really wish we had done more trips out of the country.  Those are the ones that feel more impossible now. The length of the travel to and from with kids is one of our biggest deterrents for not going. I don’t have a problem packing and handling everything once we are there but the distance part makes things tough.

Punta Cana

Disney 50s Diner 

We just got home from Florida and the flights were tough especially with a 1 year old, and its less than a 3 hour flight. She cried for the first hour on the way down and was a crazy wiggle worm who wouldn't sleep on the way home.

The main two things I stress about traveling with kids is the travel part and the sleeping, arrangements and making it actually happen! 

Can you remember a time when you read a book on a plane, listened to your own music or god forbid took a nap?? My husband can because he still does that now on the plane with kids! But honestly can you remember falling asleep on the beach or sleeping in past 630? How about going shopping at any gift shop and not being begged for something, anything until the point of a tantrum?  

These are all things I miss about traveling and vacations. The actual relaxing part. Now when we get home from a vacation with kids we almost need an actual vacation to unwind, unpack, grocery shop, do laundry and relax. 

Another thing I miss about adult vacations are the excursions. There are some you can do with kids and they are fun but let’s face it the best ones are adults only. We actually tried doing a snorkeling boat trip with the kids in Aruba and even though they were old enough the captain refused to take our money or let us go. He said the wind off the coast is just too much the kids would be miserable and would want to come back.

Margaritaville 

Cancun

Of course you can still try and sneak away for an adults only vacation but let’s face it those are hard to come by once you make the arrangements the kids. And if you’re anything like me you’ll be worried sick the entire time about something happening to them or you.

I wish that we had been more willing to take the time off from work and spend the money to do those big trips before having kiddos....

Now we just have to learn how to plan, survive and pay for those trips as a family of five. Because what’s the alternative you either make it work or stay home!