I found this short essay/ poem from Travel and Leisure magazine a few years before I had my first child. I tore the page and kept it with me until it was all crumpled and ripped. Not wanting to lose a copy, I typed those beautiful words and placed it in my travel scrapbook.
Whoever wrote this inspired me to raise my kids to be well traveled, to be cultured, to have an open mind, and to live life to the fullest.
And for them to realize that, in spite of all the technological advances, the world is still big. That there’s still so much to see, people to meet, and lessons to learn. But I sure hope that whatever they do, wherever they go, home is always going to be their favorite place.
I hope you will love this too just like I did.
My Favorite Place
Now I have children, and we travel in varied ways and often,
This is what I want them to remember.
I want them to remember the crescent moon in Turkey and the man in a dapper white suit walking a black pig in the evening in Miami Beach.
I want them to remember the hummingbirds in Belize and the mud ball fight they had with a boy named Zen.
I want them to remember that dog next to that bucket on that table next to that field with those blind rabbits.
I would like them to remember the lobster in Cape Cod and the Dairy Queen Blizzard ice cream in Hatsboro, Pennsylvania.
I would like them to remember that every time you leave the house to buy some milk is an excursion. I would like them to be as good humored as the Good Humor man. To make up their own stories. To realize that they are not the center of the universe. I want them to love traveling. To travel light. To take a journal, a sketchbook, and a camera. To not be too afraid of getting lost. To believe that there is magic in everything. And I would like them to feel that it is great to travel and great to come home.
every…
LikeLike
I believe I found my new traveler’s creed! So comforting to read it. Felt like ever word in it was crafted for us “parent” travelers.
https://yobynos.wordpress.com/2013/08/31/when-things-are-bright-and-beautiful/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this. My sentiments exactly. Travel broadens the mind and makes you realise how little you are in the world. Travel is such a great teacher on so many levels and I am blessed that I will be able to travel with our son. After all, you can’t teach life experiences in books or the classroom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s true. A lot of things I’ve learned to broaden my life came from traveling. I’m so glad I worked as an airline flight attendant out of college. Something I will always treasure. My kids love to travel too and I’m glad they do! I always tell them travel is the only thing you can buy that will make you rich in life 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifully written! Really like the letter.
I am sure your sons will treasure the travels memory with the family close to their hearts until their grown up! They are so lucky to have parents with mix nationalities background – that should enrich their childhood 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
With their mixed backgrounds, I try to let them have the best of both worlds. My older son leans towards his Asian roots and the younger one tends to be more American. But someday, I hope, they will learn to balance the two.
Thanks Indah for dropping by. I really appreciate taking the time!
LikeLike
Ohhhhh… I’d like to share this with my son too, someday. And I hope someday your boys share this with their kids, as well as all their fond memories of their travels with you. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope so too! Btw, I was just reading the poem/short essay and I failed to write the last word which was “home”. Pinaka-importanteng word pa I missed it haha! But I edited it already 😄 I love this one and I thought it is great to share it with everyone who have kids.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Every trip is an adventure. It’s all in how you look at it. 🙂
LikeLike
yes, most certainly! A walk in the park is an adventure. As I teach my kids the valuable lessons in life, I also tell them that an adventure do not always consist of planes, trains, and automobile 🙂
Thanks for dropping by!
LikeLiked by 1 person