Dear Steve,
You've had many posts on this, but I can't resist adding my few perspectives.
I am Canadian, live in Kenya, and had two kids here. They are now 5 and 3. Both my daughters lived for one year in Kabul (2004 / 2005). They are both on their second passports (first were filled). I have had to travel alone with my first daughter and then both - full on across the globe trips. They have travelling in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Pakistan, Thailand, Afghanistan, Canada, the US and Europe. And I mean travelled.
A few things you should know about the rest of the world and travelling:
You will want your kids with you in developing countries. They make us all equal, and often, are the only way to open doors to real life in poor countries. People will LOVE them.
But it is hard sometimes. You will have to be prepared.
In Kenya, when we stay at a lodge, you just ask the staff to sit outside your room while you go out for dinner (nearby) and it will cost you all of $3. Same for day babysitting. But I think you will find everyone else in the world takes their kids everywhere, at every time of day and night. So you may end up doing the same. We just keep the kids with us, and all go to bed at the same time.
My eldest daughter sounds very like your son - very sensitive, and headstrong. But if anything, travelling for us wasn't always a holiday, it was sometimes for work or to move around a new country. So we just didn't make a fuss. But I won't pretend to understand your son - he may make travelling more difficult for a couple of years.
My suggestion is that you rethink what travelling is for your family. Keep the adult nightlife to the US (it is really only in the western world that night life is just for adults anyway) and take your family to see real life, which is often during the daytime anyway.
I echo others who encourage you to get out of the US for a while. I love your site, and get a lot of inspiration from your postings. But that million dollar intention - it is hard to stomach when you live in a city (Nairobi) where over 1 million people are living in slums, barely able to buy food, selling sex for 50 cents, dying of AIDs, etc. I would love to see a few global positive intentions that could really change things - beyond people's bank accounts. I think if anyone could do that, it could be you and your site.
Think twice before bringing a nanny. It is like bringing a friend along with you, but one who works for you. They eat meals with you, sometimes share rooms, etc, unless you really plan ahead. So it is less a family trip that way. By the way I have also travelled before with a nanny - great with a baby, but I will no longer do it with older kids.
If you come to Kenya, let me know! GOOD LUCK and enjoy the travels!
Eliza Betha  |