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There was a time when I was absolutely set on having my first child before 30. After all, if I wanted to have four children, I’d need to get going in order to push them all out before the age of 35. I thought I’d certainly be ready to start by the age of 29. I also believed I needed to do all my major travel before kids entered the picture.
Turns out I’m still not ready
The funny thing is, I turn 29 next month, and I am nowhere near wanting to have kids. That’s not to say I don’t ever want them, because I certainly do. However, I’ve changed my mind on certain things. For example, now my thought process is more along the lines of starting with one child before considering having a second depending on how it all goes. My age when I want to start continuously gets pushed back as well. Now, I hover between 32 and 34, and I blame this entirely on going to Europe this year.
Delaying Kids for Travel
For some reason, I thought we might squeeze one trip to Europe in before kids, and then have no choice but to wait until retirement or something to get going again. Isn’t the rumor that once you have kids you have to say goodbye to your travel goals?
This year, I felt something that I hadn’t felt in a longtime, and it was passion. I am happy to say I am 100% positive that it came from finally taking the leap and going to England and Scotland. If you need more evidence, I can tell you after England we booked a trip to Iceland for just a few months later. That’s 0 European countries to 3 in one year for a couple with full time jobs.
I’m determined to travel before and after kids
I no longer believe I need to start a family by 30 if the time is not right for me. I have also stopped buying into the fact that travel dreams need to end when kids come into the picture. I’ve seen so many encouraging blogs and Instagram accounts that show just how doable family travel is. Don’t get me wrong – I know it will be different and more challenging in some ways. However, I also think there are amazing experiences that can be shared, and possibly even enhanced, as a family.
Inevitably, someone will always say something to me like “travel now before you have kids”. I will continue to smile and nod in response. In my head, however, I will know that this is not how it has to be, and that I have the ability to choose my own path. Now that I know what it feels like to be this passionate about something, I fully intend on embracing it and seeing where it takes me. All the better if my future children are around to witness it.
Did you arrange your decision to have kids around your passion for travel?
