The fear of Travelling With Kids
We are away for a holiday overseas. And the first thought to that is, Wooohoooo all play, no work, new culture, shopping and great food! Yes to all that, and more….this means 24/7 with the three kids. Literally. I have a fear. It comes when I travel with the kids.
The kids are young and there’s still quite a bit of hand holding. We are in a foreign land, and I’m unable to trust myself, trust the kids and trust the society enough to let them go on their own to the public restrooms, buy their own drink from the stall next door, or even venture up to the hotel room while I wait at the lobby.
I thought about it. Am I being paranoid? After all, Nicole is already 8! That got me thinking more, so when can Nicole go to the restroom on her own when we travel overseas? Surely I can’t do this till she’s 18!! And what am I afraid of? Is it some stranger luring her away? Or drugging and kidnapping her? Or her getting lost, and forgetting how to come back to me?
I felt a little silly after a while. I mean the same thing can happen to me, a fully grown adult too! I can be lured away (I mean if the stranger says there’s some great sale round the corner!), I can be drugged and kidnapped, and it’s possible I can get lost too!
It is strange, ya? Being in a foreign place, heightens your sense of insecurity and creates a natural fear of the unknown. But am I the only parent like this? (I know my parents were just like me!! Hahahaha)
What is travelling like for your and your family?
I worry all the time especially when traveling.
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Xan asked me will I be worried when they are in Chiang Mai. I said I'm not. Because I know its no use to worry.
You are not alone – I feel that way even when traveling domestically. My kids are 4 and 2.
We are actually considering booking a cruise for next year, and all I can think about is my youngest deciding he wants to try to swim in the ocean and trying to climb the railing. Crazy? Maybe. But, they are my babies, and my gut instinct will always be to protect them.
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I have the same worries!
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Our son is still pretty little, so he's pretty much chained to us. Which he HATES. He wants to run around everywhere on his own and gets frustrated when one of us tags along.
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I am paranoid about traveling, or really even going anywhere with three kids. It's hard to keep your eyes on them at all times.
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I understand completely. I used to get really nervous when I traveled with my kids when they were younger. I can't remember how long I made my boys go into the women's restroom with me! I realized I had to give up some of that control but it was easier because my boys could go to the restroom together and my daughter still often prefers to go with me. And she is 17. But now it's not because she has to. 🙂
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I believe all parents shares the same anxiety or fear. Its totally normal.
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we plan things out really well and stay organized and things have always gone well!
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In a few days I will find out what it's like to get on a plane with my 1 and 4 year old!
My kids are teens now and it is almost worse, because they want to go off by themselves when we are traveling. Last year we let my two oldest use the subway in Boston by themselves and I was a nervous wreck. I think parents will always worry no matter what.
My kids are still so little, I can't imagine being trapped with them on a plane. I just don't see things going well at all with their ages and temperaments.
I don't think that you are being paranoid at all. Sadly, the world just isn't a place where we can allow our small kids to roam without supervision. Flying long distances can be a chore, but I always pack tried and true coloring books, travel puzzles & games, and of course, the ipad 🙂
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I haven't traveled out of the country with my kids but traveling for me with the three younger one sis so much harder than it was with the three older ones when they were little. Two of my younger ones are Autistic and the change in routine can cause all sorts of chaos. Due to this though we rarely travel other than to my parent's vacation home. I couldn't even imagine trying to do overseas with them currently.
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I don't think you're overreacting or being overprotective. Just as you're nervous overseas, the kids probably are too so they could easily become confused and listen to a stranger. I think you're being smart.
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I think I'm more over protective as I have gotten older than I was when I was younger. I was a pretty young mom and let my daughter do a lot of things that now I'm like "what the heck did I do that for?". Now I worry a lot more about her than I did when she was little and she's 17!
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I'm the same way … my husband calls me a "Worry Wart" all the time.
I was terrified when I took my son on his first plane ride. For me to get over the fear it was just doing it. Over time you become an expert!
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I worry so much when traveling too, about unrealistic things like my children climbing over a balcony and falling. They never do that anywhere else but once we visit a place far from home all of a sudden irrational fears take over. You aren't the only one!
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I don't let me 9yo out of my sight when we're out in public at all. If I were in a foreign country that DEFINITELY wouldn't happen.
I don't think you are overreacting at all. I'm sure I would be the same way. I hope you have a fabulous family adventure!
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I love the way you articulated the fear! I’ve always enjoyed travelling, and when the kids came along, I took them along too without too much thoughts… Maybe because I have two boys, and think that they should learn to be independent and street-smart as soon as they can anyways? They are 7 and 9 now – but no, we still do not let them go to the gents on their own!!