I loved this post and agree with it completely. My husband and have two (now adult) children, and rather than scrimp and save to send them to an expensive private college, we agreed we would send them to a cheaper in-state public college and give them a different education - travel. We took them to Ireland several times to visit distant cousins; we took them to Italy, Sicily, France, the great cities of Canada. We went to San Francisco, Chicago, Phoenix, the ocean and mountains. Dozens of trips. They know Washington, DC from repeated trips to visit an aunt and attended Obama's inauguration with 2 million of our closest friends. The kids loved it. Travel gave them enormous confidence and a sophistication they don't even realize they possess. And me? I have glorious memories of my son clowning in the British Museum, imitating statues; the sight of my daughter on a high hill overlooking Clew Bay; canoeing in Northern Canada. Lucky me. lucky us, and worth any penny.
Maura, your comment transported me to each of the beautiful destinations you brought your kids! "Lucky me, lucky us" sums it up perfectly, I think. I'm smiling as I imagine all the amazing memory dividends that you four collected together!
"time together dwindling, their joint memory-bank account growing flush" ❤️ isn't that how we should approach all our engagements with the world. Thank you for pointing this out.
I loved this post and agree with it completely. My husband and have two (now adult) children, and rather than scrimp and save to send them to an expensive private college, we agreed we would send them to a cheaper in-state public college and give them a different education - travel. We took them to Ireland several times to visit distant cousins; we took them to Italy, Sicily, France, the great cities of Canada. We went to San Francisco, Chicago, Phoenix, the ocean and mountains. Dozens of trips. They know Washington, DC from repeated trips to visit an aunt and attended Obama's inauguration with 2 million of our closest friends. The kids loved it. Travel gave them enormous confidence and a sophistication they don't even realize they possess. And me? I have glorious memories of my son clowning in the British Museum, imitating statues; the sight of my daughter on a high hill overlooking Clew Bay; canoeing in Northern Canada. Lucky me. lucky us, and worth any penny.
Maura, your comment transported me to each of the beautiful destinations you brought your kids! "Lucky me, lucky us" sums it up perfectly, I think. I'm smiling as I imagine all the amazing memory dividends that you four collected together!
It’s something that I can live over again in my mind whenever I want to - all the sweeter because I was with my kids!
"time together dwindling, their joint memory-bank account growing flush" ❤️ isn't that how we should approach all our engagements with the world. Thank you for pointing this out.
Absolutely—and it’s all too easy to forget, so your comment serves a beautiful reminder for me today, too! Thank you, Lisa. ❤️