How not to feel bad when other families go on a trip every break

[Anonymous]

There was an episode of the Ask Lisa parenting podcast where she mentions a study shows people are happiest when they live in a neighborhood where their HHI is above the median.

[Anonymous]

We have plenty of money to travel but we only do one big vacation a year and do staycations or time with grandparents for the rest of the year. I don’t want to spoil my kids. They can travel on their own dime! Like DH and I did after we got married.

Maybe we will do more when when they are older. But I doubt we will travel more than 2-3x

[Anonymous]

I travel a fair amount with my kids - but definitely not every break - and honestly it’s a ton of work, expensive, and usually pretty stressful. Don’t be jealous OP. Times at home or local are the best.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. I make a lot of money. I don’t go skiing and I’m taking the kids to see Mammoth Caves in Kentucky this summer. You’re going to be OK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I travel a fair amount with my kids - but definitely not every break - and honestly it’s a ton of work, expensive, and usually pretty stressful. Don’t be jealous OP. Times at home or local are the best.

I feel like kids especially teens need some down time to unwind with all the academics and ECs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have plenty of money to travel but we only do one big vacation a year and do staycations or time with grandparents for the rest of the year. I don’t want to spoil my kids. They can travel on their own dime! Like DH and I did after we got married.

Maybe we will do more when when they are older. But I doubt we will travel more than 2-3x

To be fair, I don’t think our kids will ever be able to travel like we did when we were younger. Not only will it continue to get more $$$, but climate change is going to upend tourism.

[Anonymous]

Remember that it's a DC thing. And a rich people thing.

We are in CA and the most we have done the past year is a day trip to Santa Cruz.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Honestly, that sounds utterly exhausting. I can afford all this but I get tired of so much travel.

Same here. Money not an issue but won't travel just to impress someone else.

We travel a lot. I don’t travel to impress others. I love to travel.

Same. It's our thing, everyone has their thing. Yes we have the money to do it but all that to say, we don't do it to impress other people or have something to talk about before or after breaks.

So no social media posts?

No but even if I did, there’s exactly three parents at school who follow me. I don’t have a huge social presence and my accounts are all private. So again, not traveling for the Gram.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember that it's a DC thing. And a rich people thing.

We are in CA and the most we have done the past year is a day trip to Santa Cruz.

It’s not a DC thing, it’s an affluent parent circle thing. I’m in CA and DC attends private (since K, in HS now), every week before and after breaks (Presidents, Winter, Spring, Summer etc) are all about discussing who is going where and when, how many weeks they’re staying on the East Coast and then Europe, we’re flying back the day before school starts etc.

[Anonymous]

When we had less money, we did tons of camping. Incredible experiences. Where there is a will, there is a way.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in DC and my parents prioritized paying for tuition over home improvements or travel — we have amazing memories of going to Bethany for a few days on spring break and riding the (chilly) waves on the inflatable rafts. It was our first trip to the ocean. I’m guessing people are so focused on “what will the neighbors think” these days that no one would have the guts to make a family trip like that anymore…not wanting to deal with the eye rolls. Also, if you get your kids involved in travel sports, there are often tournaments during breaks that demand your presence—harder to feel bad about not jetting to the Caribbean if it’s just not going to work with your schedule.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t be jealous of anyone traveling with kids. I travel for my kids and to create a nice childhood for them. But it’s hardly that much fun. Now a child free trip to somewhere exotic? Be jealous of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have plenty of money to travel but we only do one big vacation a year and do staycations or time with grandparents for the rest of the year. I don’t want to spoil my kids. They can travel on their own dime! Like DH and I did after we got married.

Maybe we will do more when when they are older. But I doubt we will travel more than 2-3x

To be fair, I don’t think our kids will ever be able to travel like we did when we were younger. Not only will it continue to get more $$$, but climate change is going to upend tourism.

Oh, you’re one of those depressed pessimistic people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the CO2 emissions of these people are destroying the planet. Be proud that you are not one of these world destroyers (or a least to a lesser extent).

I came here to say this. I cringe every time we fly to see extended family. I can’t imagine flying just as far to “see the world”. It’s selfish. Most people never see the world.

[Anonymous]

The idea that you're personally making any measurable impact to the environment by getting on a plane once in a while is absurd. You may as well chuck your smartphone and devices while you're at it (turns out all that backend tech infrastructure consumes massive amounts of energy).