I am making lists. Color coded lists. By nature, I am NOT a list maker. But Hubby and I are preparing to take the three children to Europe for over 5 weeks. Our kids are 7, 4, and 1 at the moment, and I know many people probably think we are nuts for attempting such an endeavor. Maybe we are. At the risk of sounding completely selfish though, it's not really for the kids. It's for the family. It's to make travel a part of who we all are. To help us all realize that (even in Western Nations), people are different. People do things in different ways, cultures are rich, and there are new and exciting things to experience! I believe one can discover this anywhere, but it has been my husband's dream for years to spend his sabbatical in Italy, and it just happens that when said sabbatical hit, we have 3 kids. So off we go. And no, we aren't rich. We've been saving and saving. We will have some credit card bills to pay off when we get back. We think it's worth it. (Not that you asked, but you were wondering, weren't you?)
Anyway- the lists. Find someone to mow the lawn, find zip off pant/shorts for G, make school arrangements for The Bigs, think of clever and small (yet not too small and not too many pieces) toys for plane, figure out carseat issues (currently the biggest stress), travelers checks, prepare for birthday parties (3 members of our families have birthdays immediately upon our return, and our littlest guy will turn 2 while in Rome), get the sprinklers fixed, the cat (crap! what ARE we going to do with the CAT?), and on and on and on.
Six weeks from today we will drive away from the house. These lists will be all crossed off (right?), and we will be on our way towards memories that will last us forever. (The good, the bad, and the ugly...and hopefully some more good after that.)
What else to say besides, "WOOT!"
2 comments:
We are so excited for you... and SOOO jealous! If there is anything I can do to help with the lists, just let me know. See you Sunday.
Do you have a friend who can keep the cat? Maybe you can rent carseats - are you renting a car there? They might have them. Some do, here. You're going in six weeks and this is still in the planning? OMGosh, I would be flipping, girl! Okay, that's not helpful. What else? I would totally keep the cat, y'know. And I think maybe birthdays could be VERY low key after a monthlong trek through Europe! I'd be insanely jealous right now if, ya know, we weren't going too. ;) And I love the reasons you stated for going. Someone told me in an airy, "hmph" kind of way, "I think it's better to see your own backyward before going around the globe first." Whatever!!
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