Day 31: ...With Kids

Before embarking on this trip a good number of well-meaning people happened to mention just how crazy - and brave (I'll give them that) - they thought we were for choosing to travel with our kids. Admittedly, the early years prior big school is not exactly the easiest phase of parenthood, and having three in five years, all under the age of six is probably a little unorthodox.

If nothing else, the logistics of things get complicated. Like today. We went into the City alone - something we've put off for 30 days! Everyone is back at work which makes it both wonderful and worrying. Wonderful to be on free-flowing streets, absent of maddening crowds, and subject to many end-of-season sales. Worrying to be on our own in a place we don't really know, and - even more so - with our kids! But how do two people keep track of three independent, constantly-moving, adventurous kids? Even with Bayley in a buggy - that leaves only one parent with two brassy boys!

Enter Christopher. This self-confessed "favourite uncle" has been a God-send. With an endless supply of energy, and just enough strict, he was an all-in-one solution for our increased sense of stress.

We took the bus from almost right outside the house. The boys, fascinated even by the bus stop, were over excited and already silly. One stern word and a threat of canceling some pending plans with Chris, and they calmed down. I think they may have even sat still on the bus - I was downstairs with Bug, so I can't be sure. It certainly was quiet.

With kids, spending hours anywhere inevitably comes with things like: being hungry (although my boys are constantly hungry), being too tired to walk (usually Sam, who at three is exceptionally lazy), getting bored (especially while Mommy is doing essential back-to-school shopping), and, eventually, falling asleep. Chris pretty much single-handedly solved this problem by facilitating lunch, carrying Sam, entertaining the boys, and pushing the buggy.

This holiday with the kids has definitely not been my most carefree. We have literally not spent more than the hour or so between the kids and us being awake or sleep apart. There are things Andel and I would have liked to do or experience more of, that we've not been able to because of having little ones with us. Still, we wouldn't have done it any other way.

We are so convinced of the immense benefits of traveling like this, for us as individuals and as a family unit, we are already dreaming about another trip. Thank goodness the kids will be older though!