Parenting Lessons from the Road
I embarked on an incredible journey with my family 38 days ago. A once-in-life-time trip, to travel together in a confined space, pretty much plan free and “let’s bring the dog along for s**ts and giggles!!” 😜
Was I crazy?! Absolutely! But what’s life without a little bit of craziness thrown in.
As expected, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. We've had our fair share of hiccups along the way. However, the incredible highs far outnumber the occasional lows, and what's even more remarkable is that we're still on the road, happily chatting with each other.
Creating memories with my family has been nothing but pure gold, however the silver the lining of the trip is the personal growth we've all experienced.
I feel compelled to share some of my insights with you because, I'm already thinking about how I can incorporate these lessons into my everyday life.
Perspective is Everything
My first lesson on the road was all about perspective. Things that would’ve driven me to frustration or annoyance at home barely registered as issues on this trip. Why?!?
Because they were often out of my control and they weren't showstoppers. I found myself going with the flow of the journey, realising that not everything on the to-do list needed to be checked off. The essentials were taken care of, and the true goal was to immerse ourselves in the experience of the trip.
It's a reminder that in the grand scheme of things, many daily stressors are not as significant as they seem.
The Beauty of Slowing Down
Slowing down is delicious. Stepping out of the routine and structure of the day-to-day home life has been blissful. However, as the trip has progressed, we've realised that some kind of routine and structure is essential.
As always, it’s about finding that delicate balance between freedom and order.
Adapting to New Realities
With unreliable internet and phone connections on the road, I've harnessed my prioritisation and time management skills to to keep both work and life ticking along.
Before we left, I negotiated with my husband for a dedicated two hours of work each day. I envisioned squeezing in some tasks while driving—after all, these are long drives. But the bumpy roads and unreliable internet/phone connection have made it rather challenging. I had to seize opportunities to work when I could while never losing sight of the primary goal—experiencing Australia with my family.
The road has once again highlighted the immense value of flexibility in parenting.
When you're constantly on the move, you need to adapt to unexpected challenges and changes. Instead of stressing over the perfect plan, we've learned to embrace the uncertainty and make the most of every situation. Whether it's a change in our travel route or dealing with unexpected weather, flexibility has been our greatest ally.
The Missing Piece: Friends
One thing I dearly miss is my friends.
While my family has always been a Zoom call away in NZ, I didn’t realise how much I relied on those spontaneous meetups, school pick-up chats, or weekend walks and wine with friends. Don't get me wrong; I adore my family, but spending every waking moment together for 38 days straight can test anyone's patience. Sometimes, we need the camaraderie of our friends to keep us sane!
Patience & Cooperation Combo
Long drives, unpredictable schedules and living in a confined space for an extended period, can test everyone's patience. When you’re winging it on the road, life doesn’t always go according to plan (2 broken windscreens to date). So when it's just you and your family against the world, practicing patience, resilience and cooperation becomes a necessity. This has probably been the most practical lesson for both kids and adults.
Instead of seeing these moments as annoyances, we try to remind ourselves that these are opportunities for us to practice and teach patience and resilience. Teaching our children to remain calm and collected during such situations and to work together can help them cope with the uncertainties of life.
This road trip has been a whirlwind of crazy adventures, unforgettable moments, and valuable life lessons and as we continue our journey, I can't help but feel grateful for the incredible memories and growth this adventure has brought us.
Life on the road may be crazy, but it's a beautiful kind of crazy that I wouldn't trade for anything.
And I hope that by sharing these insights, we can all find ways to incorporate these lessons into our everyday lives.
