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Family Time

The concept of a family gap year makes a lot of sense and those who can afford should avail what is an unique privilege. Parents on a career track miss out huge chunks of their children's life and growth not to mention the chance of being able to grow in tandem with their partner. When they are able to catch a break and regroup, they often find they are surrounded by relative strangers who are in fact immediate family. A child having a year of almost continuous access to both parents is a fantastic gift on its own. Coupled with the ability to experience the world together is a tremendous bonus. Timing matters a lot as well:

..family gap year clients typically have disposable income and kids around 8 to 11 years old. Parents agreed that pre-high school years are the prime time, while kids are young enough to still value family time and old enough to absorb new experiences.

"We wanted to enjoy our kids while we were still their favorite people," said Amy Chang, 44. "If we took time off when they get to high school or college, that doesn't do us any good in building relationships with them because they're going to have their own lives by then."

Could not agree more with high school and college not being a great time. I started to have more freedom to travel only towards the end of J's middle school years and it felt too late already. Her life was full of things that did not involve me. Spending time with me even if enjoyable was not her best available option. There is the sweet spot when a kid is old enough to absorb and remember details from their travels and don't yet have a life of their own. Each kid is different so finding a time that works for a family with more than one kid has to be that much more challenging - I mostly missed the boat in terms of getting that timing right even with having only J. 

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