Family Trip

On a hike along the coast, I noticed family of four who always seemed to find the best vantage points for pictures. The youngest was a bit bored and kept asking when they could go home. The mother was trying to keep him interested in the outing. Father was the designated photographer with a fancy camera and the oldest, a teenaged girl was happy to pose for pictures. I never had a family of this configuration so what is obviously a mundane experience for them is unique to me. 

It made me wonder about the value of travel for kids so young that they can't actually appreciate what they are seeing. This family has two kids one of whom is ready to see the world and the other is not quite there. By the time the youngest comes along, the oldest will be a off to college and out of bounds for the most part. So the parents are doing what is right and logical - trying to make it work for everyone to some extent. This particular trip might end up a blur or even completely forgotten by the son by the daughter will likely have wonderful memories and pictures of her in a field of wild flowers under the cerulean sky.  

I have great memories from my travels with J because I chose to preserve those moments and forget the stress and frustrations of doing it all alone. I would imagine the vacation one way when I planned it and it might end up being quite different. In the moment it was hard to reconcile and not feel somewhat defeated. Looking back, it was mostly good. I hope as more time passes, J will similarly remember what was best.