Stages of Family Travel

Business Class? Why not! Just the two of us, after all, no need to shell out for four tickets. Or save up a gazillion miles.

A leisurely meal, in a fine establishment, at a reasonable hour. Remember being able to relax at the table for 2-3 hours?

Have a couple glasses of beer with an old chum. No need to worry about your kid being a terror in his house. 

Not every destination has to be a visual wow. Go to a place of subtle but important history. See statues, documents, paintings.

Yes, there was a time when we could actually try to look sharp while touring, instead of letting go in "comfy" clothes.

Giant bird landed on your head? Why, that's not going to cause anyone any trauma, tears, or nightmares.

Aww, your cute little tots are totally interacting with you! But don't be fooled: they won't remember any of this.

Too bad airlines don't agree: they'll charge full price for a ticket. And hotels may insist on bigger rooms & higher rates. 

You're probably still going to need all the stuff you brought for your baby: stroller & pack-n-play, at least. Don't kid yourself: Your tot is a lot of effort.

You can take a four year old on a big trip, and bits of it will be remembered. But only bits. Add two years and your kid will have a properly functioning memory. Pictures help, too, of course, as well as interaction. 

A bit of a downside here. Pulling a kid out of Kindergarten for a week in, say, October isn’t a big deal at all. But starting in first grade, school becomes real – yeah, they can miss a week, but it’s not a great idea. You’re now limited to the major break times – winter & spring breaks, plus summer. 

At this age, kids are still small enough to sleep kinda comfortably in coach, certainly in premium coach. You just got to keep them away from the shimmering glow of the in-flight entertainment system. And bring a golf towel! Spills will happen.

Big! For kids, I like big. Big art, big buildings, big sights. Perhaps your kid is attuned to subtle pleasures, I find mine responded to sheer scope.

Your kids are also beyond the PB&J stage, go ahead and feed them something interesting. There are a whole lot of foods that you don’t want to wait too long to introduce to your kids too late. I still can’t get down an oyster, but my boys can. Still – make sure you throw in some good treats, too.

Is your six year old jaded? Not my fault. My kids were perfectly happy with a $1 carousel ride, or the mini-roller coaster. Or throwing rocks at the ocean. A great thing about this age is that adventure can be had on the cheap.

You're in the golden age, between picky eating little kids and teens who know too much to try something as slimy as an oyster. Make it count.

It's vacation, and your kids probably won't be watching any TV. So go ahead and give 'em some device time. But be firm when it's time to put them away.

Your ten year old is past the half-way point of living with you. Sorry for the reminder. And, in a *very* short time they'll be surly teens who won't want to be seen with you. Make the most of this short window.

Yeah, it's scary to let your kids wander in a foreign country. But Western Europe is safe, and it's time to let out the leash just a bit. Give them a little space.

Give your kids a $100 (or Euros or whatever) and let them spend it, no judgment. You may really like what they'll pick out.

Really soon your kids will be faster, stronger, more agile than you. Take a few moments to remind them that that day has not yet come.