The Joys of Traveling with Adult Children

For parents of younger children, it may be hard to imagine that traveling with them could be easy and just a whole lot of fun for all concerned.  Schlepping diaper bags, strollers, car seats, toys and such is just a whole lot of work.  I don't know why anyone would willingly go through airport security these days with all of that paraphernalia.  Lucky for us, they weren't screening like that when our kids were younger.

But the joys of traveling with my girls these days are numerous.  Now that they are in their twenties, I no longer deal with these ills of traveling:

1.  Tantrums.

2.  Screaming on the plane.

3.  Sibling discord.

4.  Scheduling activities around naps.

5.  Nursing or changing diapers in awkward settings.

6.  Teenagers embarrassed by the parents, who are not invisible and mute.

7.  Eating crappy food with tired little ones.

8.  Worst of all:  being the boss of everybody, making all the plans and decisions.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I wouldn't trade for all the riches in the world their delight in Disneyland, how ocean waves held a magnetic draw on them, watching their little bodies turn nut-brown in the golden sun, or seeing their eyes opened to foreign cultures.  But these days it's just so much more fun, for all concerned.

Well, we're probably in the sweet spot with regard to traveling right now.  Both are single, and able to get away from work and school.  So here's what I get to enjoy now:

1.  Excellent, free - and honest - fashion advice from tireless shoppers.

2.  Experienced travelers who pack well and carry all their own stuff.

3.  Drinking an adult beverage with my daughters.

4.  Young adults with excellent palates - thus enjoyable fine dining prepared and served by professionals.

5.  A shared interest in art, architecture, language and culture.

6.  An agreement that every hour of shopping is earned by an hour of cultural learning.

7.  Extra arms and minds to navigate airports and solve problems (i.e., letting go of control).

8.  Best of all:  independent thinkers who know more than me about some things, add valuable content to conversations, and have ideas I wouldn't have had.

Thanks, Barrie and Annie, for being such excellent traveling partners.  You make me proud that I am able to travel with you.  Where will we go next?