Keryn Means of Walkington Travels has written our very first guest post. She talks about what it is like to travel with a preschooler, a toddler and a yet-to-be-born baby. I really enjoyed reading her take on what it is like, and hope you will, too.
This will be the first of a few guest posts on the blog.
My bum hurts. Where’s my snack? Argh, stop kicking me. Are we there yet?
No, these are not the complaints of my 2-year-old son, although he can sound very similar at times. These are the word coming out of my mouth. I’m not proud of them. Then again, I was the one that planned this crazy adventure, so I guess of all people I’m allowed to complain a little bit.
I’m not usually a whiner, but when you are 7 months pregnant, getting kicked from the inside and stuck in a car for 3 hours with delays at an international border crossing, even the best of us are liable to let a cranky remark or two slip out. It is worth it though, at least for me. After all, if I wasn’t traveling I’d just be sitting at home feeling the same way. Why not have a little fun and see something new at the same time?
When I was pregnant with my son Dek my entire life stopped. The only thing I did was go to the office in the morning, come home at night and pass out on my couch. I had no idea what would happen next. I had never been pregnant before and quite frankly I was a little scared about things to come. The most I did was take a business trip down to Phoenix and a trip back to see family towards the end of my 2nd trimester. I was so uncomfortable on the plane I swore I wouldn’t get back on one until after the baby was born.
Now that I am pregnant again with my second son I know a little better. I know what lies ahead in the delivery room and the days and weeks after his arrival. I knew what the 2nd and 3rd trimester would look like; the constant need to eat, the endless restroom stops along the way and needing to carry a small ocean of water in my purse to stay hydrated at all times. Unlike my first pregnancy, I was not going to let these things stop me. If anything they just fueled my need to get out and explore even more.
In the past 7 months I have climbed part of a mountain, crossed the border into Canada a few times, visit the Big Island of Hawaii, flown back to East Coast of the USA to visit family and taken countless day trips with my son to keep us both entertained as the days and months tick by until his little brother shows up. Has it been exhausting? Of course! There were days that I couldn’t get off the couch because of the nausea. Thankfully it didn’t last as long this time around and I had already come up with ways to combat it. I may have pushed myself too much a time or two, but my body generally let me know when it needed a break. Most of the time I have been smart enough to listen.
I have no regrets, for which I am glad. I look back on the 9 months I was pregnant with Dek and I’m disappointed in myself. I put my life on hold. I didn’t take advantage of the time alone with my husband. We just sat at home and waited. What a huge opportunity we let slip through our fingers. We could have taken one last trip as a couple, but I was just too scared. Right now I am happy to know that I hiked up part of Mt. Rainier to celebrate my anniversary in my 1st trimester. I got on a boat when my nausea hadn’t quite subsided just to see some of the most spectacular Christmas lights I have ever witnessed in Victoria, BC. I built sand castles with my son during my 2nd trimester in Hawaii. On top of all this I got to see my son take his first sled ride down a hill and I helped him strap on a pair of ice skates in Vancouver during my 3rd trimester. Nothing, and I mean nothing, could have kept me from those moments.
Keryn and Dek build sandcastles in Kua Bay, Big Island
Keryn and Dek explore tide pools in Kona, Big Island
Holiday Lights at Butchart Gardens
Dek looks up at the Christmas Lights at Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC
As I round the last bend of this pregnancy I am slowing down. I have put a halt to our far off wandering for a little while. I just can’t move as quickly and I get tired too fast. We still take day trips, but they are closer to home. Sitting in a car for long periods of time in no way appeals to me. Plus my son decided now would be a great time to start potty training. With the amount of stops we have to make between the two of us, it’s a miracle we get anywhere at all, but we do. It might just take a little longer than it used to.
Oh I still have my usual complaints. I’m sick of water but I can’t seem to get enough in me to feel hydrated even as I down glass after glass. I have one baby kicking me from the inside, while his big brother tries to use me as a playground. In the moments when I can’t imagine how we will go back to a life of travel I just go to the happy place in my mind. I look back on the amazing adventures we have had with our son up until now. I relish in the fact that we took one last trip as a family of three. I look forward to the new baby joining our travels instead of sulking on my couch in fear of how life is about to change. I can’t wait to see what adventures we find with two little boys along for the ride.
3rd Trimester Travels in Vancouver
Dek and Mike on ice skates
BIO:
Mom and active blogger, Keryn Means left the publishing world in 2011 to take care of her growing family and follow her passion for travel. A native of Philadelphia, she spends her days exploring her new home in Seattle with her toddler son and anxiously awaits the arrival of her second born due in late April. When her son is asleep you can find her editing photos and writing away on Walkingon Travels. Keryn follows the mantra that just because you have kids doesn’t mean you have to put your travel dreams aside, if anything they just get bigger and more exciting.
- Blog Link: http://walkingontravels.com/
- Twitter: @walkingontravel (https://twitter.com/walkingontravel)
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walkingontravels
Latest posts by Keryn Means (see all)
- Pregnant Travels Guest Post by Keryn Means - March 14, 2012
I totally agree with you, as I spent my 4th-month pregnant in Kirghizstan. I knew it was my last trip “alone” for a while and I wanted to enjoy it as much as possible.
But I’m not sure I would be able to travel pregnant + with a kid. Specially during the 3rd month. I would be too stressed.
I was the opposite when I was first pregnant, I had the urge to do everything and anything as if the world was going to end when no 1 was born..I spent 6 months in the USAworking, studying and sight seeing ,while my husband was at home. I came home with 8 weeks to go.. loved our time apart and loved being back together to start our family
Twitter: familyonabike
says:
Inspiring post! I found out I was pregnant a few weeks into a year long family gap year involving cycling end to end of New Zealand, rail roading across USA and eco-touring Samoa. The bump and I just about fitted on the saddle when I completed the biking part of the journey at 90 Mile Beach, and I was still backpacking in Boston and New York a few weeks before the baby was born. It was exhilarating, and I was probably fitter then than I am now.
I spent the previous two pregnancies eating M and M’s and growing into a whale. Pregnancy is a state of mind!
Big island what a great place. I had a mini vacation there a couple of years ago. The diving was unreal. It is such a relaxing place. it looks like Keryn and Dek had a great time too.
This should create great memories for your kids and your entire family. I wish I could travel this much. I traveled a lot when I was about 16 ( studied abroad) and finally settled down. Nice post.
Sarafina.