When I relocated from California to Germany four months pregnant with my second baby, I fantasized about the places my husband and I were going to tak

My family moved from California to Germany. I expected we'd travel throughout Europe with the kids, but I realized no one was enjoying it.

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2024-10-22 04:30:08

When I relocated from California to Germany four months pregnant with my second baby, I fantasized about the places my husband and I were going to take our children — swimming on the Greek islands, exploring Slovenia's rugged mountains, and taking in plays in London's West End.

But when we traveled to Greece, to an Airbnb a mile from the Ionian Sea, I spent more time worrying my kids would break the glass coffee table or ornate glassware than enjoying my time.

At home and in day care, they spent hours with their friends on the playground every day. They laughed, screamed, and behaved like children. But on a vacation — in airplanes, museums, and our rented accommodation — I expected them to act like mini-adults.

I wanted so badly to open their minds to new experiences. But the trips my husband and I painstakingly planned with our three offspring — ages 3, 5, and 8 — weren't fun for anyone.

I needed to change my approach. I looked for kid-themed getaways nearby that worked for the whole family. There was the trek to Kassel, a stop on Germany's fairytale route and home of the Brothers Grimm. There was the week in Leipzig — the zoo was a hit, the Bach Museum not so much.