would you be happy if your childen traveled? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**expatben** · 09-26-2010, 02:02 PM

Some of us in the past have commented on over protective parents who worry about us when we travel or go to certain places. I am curious-especially to those with children how would you react if your kid wanted to travel to some far off place?
Honestly, I think I would be worried and maybe hope they choose not to-hypocritical I know but love is part hypocracy?

**ChasinJason1313** · 10-14-2010, 12:51 PM

Wow....I think we may have posted on the same links in years past but am not sure. That said, considering your name is "expat" I would think you'd be all for it. Yeah, the world is a dangerous place but scars are cool most of the time and almost always make for good stories. If my kids(I don't have any yet so I'm not qualified for this) didn't want to travel I'd be worried.

**expatben** · 10-14-2010, 01:08 PM

It is quite possible that someone else posted this but I am unsure.

**Sijuki** · 10-15-2010, 12:21 PM

I would have to say that I would be happy if my children traveled. I don't have any yet, but I do have a niece... and would be happy if when she got older she wanted to travel. I feel that I would raise my children to have the characteristics needed to be a safe traveler. So, while I may want to keep in contact with them, I would feel that they would be well equipped to handle their situation while abroad.

I don't intend to be a prisoner of my world, and I would hope my children wouldn't be either. Things can happen, but those same things can happen at home too. As I've told people before I'd rather die following my dreams than living in fear of them. Although I may not be a great example of getting out and following them.

**pinknic38** · 10-15-2010, 07:17 PM

I would TOTALLY love if my kid traveled. He's 14 months and he's already been to Austin, Chicago, and NYC. My dream one day before I die is to go on a safari with him. I am going to push study abroad on him when he goes to college. Going to push foreign language classes. I keep up sooo many travel pics around the house and one day when he's old enough to ask questions I will tall him all my fun stories.

When he is a bit older I would like to take him overseas...

**ChasinJason1313** · 10-16-2010, 04:13 PM

Let's put it this way, I'd rather die getting run over by 20 tiny scooters in Italy or Vietnam than by one big ass SUV here, and I hope my kids would feel the same way.......sorta.

**simply_angelic** · 10-17-2010, 11:45 AM

If you love travel, why would you ever want to deny that joy from your kids? Enough said...I hope my kids OUT travel me...or maybe just under...

**tumblezweedz** · 10-22-2010, 09:56 PM

This year we passed a milestone. Two of our kids went to countries I haven't been to yet. My biggest reaction to this turn of events was JEALOUSY! As a parent, particularly of teenage daughters, I'm going to be nervous whenever they are out on their own, but that's true if they are at a sleepover or in another country - I know that travel has been a blessing to me, and I certainly won't deprive our children of that opportunity! Rather, by bringing them with us when we travel, we feel like we are enriching their lives now, and also giving them the skills they will need when they take off on their own.

The most important thing my mom asked me before I solo traveled was "Where will you go for help?" Knowing that the answer isn't the same everywhere you go, I ran down my list. Once she heard that, she knew I'd be as okay abroad as at home, and was able to sleep a little better while I was away. Now, when we go someplace, we talk to the kids about what to do if they need help, and that makes all of us feel safer, and more confident about exploring this incredible planet.

**Dig** · 10-25-2010, 08:35 AM

My wife and I are planning a trip with a close friend of ours for when they graduate. I was talking last night on speaker-phone with her mother and the 3 of us. I could just feel the apprehension in my friend's mothers voice when we were describing potential cities. She reacted with the steriotypical defensive mother routine, but not in a bad way. Our friend will be about 26 when we go and it will be her first "adult" trip overseas. I just think it is a normal parental response to keep children close/safe.

**ajb3000** · 10-25-2010, 09:35 AM

Most of you admit to being happy for your children to travel, but what if your son / daughter wanted to do the trip I just did?

For those that don't know, that's backpacking on their own through Iraqi Kurdistan, Sudan, Somaliland, Yemen etc.

**travelpunk** · 10-25-2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChasinJason1313

Let's put it this way, I'd rather die getting run over by 20 tiny scooters in Italy or Vietnam than by one big ass SUV here, and I hope my kids would feel the same way.......sorta.

That's funny shit

!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajb3000

Most of you admit to being happy for your children to travel, but what if your son / daughter wanted to do the trip I just did?

For those that don't know, that's backpacking on their own through Iraqi Kurdistan, Sudan, Somaliland, Yemen etc.

Okay, unless my son was Jason Bourne, a trained ninja, or a special forces commando, that itinerary would scare the bejeezus out of me.

Are you with the CIA or something

?

**tumblezweedz** · 10-29-2010, 10:26 AM

Ditto, particularly for my daughters. But we were batting ideas around the other day about possible trips next summer, and their suggestion was Madagascar, so they're not exactly beaten path kind of kids...

I have always avoided war zones while traveling, and would like it if my kids were to do the same, but then again, we've had some rather risky stuff going on right where we live, so they're a lot more aware of those situations than I was when I started traveling.

**ChasinJason1313** · 10-31-2010, 11:09 PM

....should also avoid going anywhere based solely on Disney movies...

**tumblezweedz** · 11-01-2010, 07:08 PM

Is that the voice of experience talking? I've never considered that possiblity - where would that take you? Tortuga in a tall ship? Our kids are aware of Disneylands as a theory only - someplace other kids go. When we were driving to Paris I invented something terribly interesting to look at out the left window when I noticed the signs for Paris Disney looming out the right...

katybar · 11-23-2010, 03:30 AM

I totally agree with Sijuki when he said
" I feel that I would raise my children to have the characteristics needed to be a safe traveler"
that's the point, prepare children to life.

When I saw young boys and girls in some bad situation (like drunk in some dark little streets in Barcelona or in Rome with some "disreputables" they oftern were people who had lived in a small city and never learn anything about the world (believe me I worked for 4 years in a school for foreigners in Italy).

haraamzadaa · 03-07-2011, 04:42 AM

Hey mate,

Why worry! Pack your bags and go with them!!!! You can have all the fun that way!! Give them some freedom, relax yourself and then meet up with them again!

louise92 · 03-08-2011, 01:24 PM

I'd like to think I'd be fine with them travelling, but I don't have children nor have I been backpacking yet so it's hard to say for sure.

But I think travelling can be such a character building activity that I would never stop them, even if I felt nervous about them doing it.

louise92 · 03-08-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajb3000

Most of you admit to being happy for your children to travel, but what if your son / daughter wanted to do the trip I just did?

For those that don't know, that's backpacking on their own through Iraqi Kurdistan, Sudan, Somaliland, Yemen etc.

Have you written/posted anywhere about your travels? I'd love to read about your experiences