Traveling with a Toddler: One Mom's Story

My childhood was full of yearly vacations. We spent hours in the car, squealing with anger when our legs brushed each other, which happened frequently with three kids in a sedan. Yet miserable as we may have been while on vacation, we always remembered the fun parts of the trip when we got home. And the following year's family road trip was met with enthusiasm.

I suppose the fond memories of my own childhood lure me into planning family vacations for my own children. Our last big trip was a 4 night stay in downtown Chicago, with our then 2 year old son in tow. In theory, it sounded like a fun trip. But I'm fairly certain there's no such thing as a relaxing vacation with a toddler along for the ride.

Many noteworthy Chicago landmarks made their way onto our itinerary: the Navy Pier, the Shedd Aquarium, a Cubs game. The one thing we forgot to figure into the equation was nap time. A 2 year old without a nap is not a pretty sight! Fighting the crowds at busy Chicago attractions with a napless 2 year old was even worse. The Cubs game? It never happened. Why did we think going to a baseball game right during nap time was a good idea? Relying on public transportation to get to the planned activities caused more headaches.

When I think back to that trip, I don't think about the temper tantrums or the missed baseball game or the never ending car ride. I don't think about the stressful meal we had at Rainforest Café when our son climbed on the table with excitement over his surroundings. And I don't regret the trip, even though it would have been better suited for our family when the kids are older.

Instead, I remember the excitement on my son's face when he saw the pygmy hippo at Lincoln Park Zoo. I recall my favorite picture of the two of us on Navy Pier. I think about his shouts of joy when he saw the giant frog on the outside of the Rainforest Café. Just like the trips of my youth, I choose to recall the happy memories from the trip.

And to prove just how crazy we really are and how quickly we forget the more stressful moments of family vacations, our summer vacation is already planned, this time with two kids. A 1 year old and a 4 year old, one week, a 15 hour drive, 4 zoos on the itinerary, and a least a month of recovery afterwards. But I will cherish every memory!