Family Encyclopedia >> Travel

My wanderlust has changed when I became a mother, do you recognize that?

During the holiday period, I often think back to a few summers ago, when I didn't have children yet and I eagerly took advantage of the summer holidays to see as much of the world as possible. Before I got into a relationship with my boyfriend (who  is now my husband 😉 ), I made a number of very special (volunteer) trips to Jamaica, Malawi, Ukraine and the Dominican Republic. My wanderlust was unprecedented and my hunger almost unsatisfactory!

Feeding wanderlust together with partner

I also managed a travel blog for a long time, so I was invited for press trips and sponsored trips to, among others, the Israeli Eilat, the Spanish La Coruna and Barcelona, ​​Berlin and closer to home:my own Friesland. Fortunately, my husband is also fond of travelling, so when I started a relationship with him, we went camping together in Zeeland. We made a road trip through Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland. We went to Bruges for a weekend and celebrated our honeymoon on Ameland. Our motto? You can still sit at home later, we are now following our wanderlust!

And now?

We have now arrived at 'later'. At least, a few years later. Our wanderlust is still there, although we are adapting perfectly to the situation in which backpacking and road tripping are no longer so desirable. With a daughter of just one year old, camping is still fantastic, but with a little more luxury. At least for us. We are now going for the campsites with swimming pools and animation teams. And the only real preparation I focus on is the long car trip with my toddler 😉 .

Do I miss traveling from the past, where we only traveled with a tent, pegs and a two-burner gas stove? When I look at old photos I sometimes think 'yes'. But if I think for a second about three weeks without our girl, my heart immediately says 'NO!'. I can't even think of going on vacation without her. I can't even bring her to stay overnight.

My wanderlust has changed

My needs as a traveler have changed since I became a mother. I think that's totally fine. Of course I do have wishes for the future. I would love to go to Botswana one day for a safari. In addition, I really want to go back to Poland, because that country has stolen my heart a little bit. Going back to Jamaica and the site of the volunteer project through which I met my husband is also on my bucket list. But it's fine if all that happens "later." For now I am really looking forward to looking for child-friendly campsites in the coming years and to enjoy the fact that our girl is having such a good time.

Do you recognize this story about the wanderlust of the past and the adapted vacations since you became a mother, or do you still follow your own path and take your child(ren) with you? I'm curious how it goes for you!