Back at the brick & mortar “Lehi House” I would take weekly trips to the library with the kids. We’d listen to story time, check out a handful of new books, maybe read one or two while we were there and be one our way. I’m pretty sure I didn’t look at those books until…
As Monticello gave me a greater understanding and appreciation for Thomas Jefferson, Mount Vernon did the same for George Washington. The grounds were beautiful, my kids were entertained, and we all learned something. Total win. When we visited: November 2013 Ages of kids: 8, 6, 3 Tips: Parking is free and close enough you can…
While getting the truck ready for traveling, I added a locking Tonneau Truck Bed Cover, and I needed a way to lock the tailgate to create a safe place to store stuff. While tailgate and truck bed covers are not perfect protection, they certainly go a long way to making it really inconvenient to dig through…
In another life (and hopefully a future one as well) I was a professional wedding photographer. Don’t get all hung up over the word “professional”, it just means that I took photos in exchange for money. I wasn’t a “just do it for friends and family” type, or a “practice by taking photos of my…
I have the 24-70mm L and the 70-200mm and they are my “go-to” glass. Everywhere we go I see other photographers with those same two lenses – a real testimony to how popular they are. Also, my 70-200 took a dive off Zabriskie Point and into Twenty Mule Team Canyon in Death Valley NP (150 feet down, end-over-end…) in its carrying case and it survived with not a single scratch. Canon’s L series glass is built like Sherman tanks.ReplyCancel
Ultra wide lenses are great, no? I only have the 17-40, not the 16-35… I do wish Canon would release a 14-24 like Nimon’s had for ages!
Also, while I’m a wide angle guy much of the time, I did fall in love with the 135 f/2L. (Sold my 85 1.8, never really had much use for that focal length.). So I usually get away with carrying just the 17-40 and the 135, easy peasy.ReplyCancel
😀 after I commented last night, I remembered this Russian lady whose had her photos going around the web recently, I’m sure you’ve seen them (http://500px.com/ElenaShumilova). Most of the outdoors photos shot on the 135. I wouldn’t be surprised if at least some were staged, but the style is kind of candid (like you, I prefer candids to posed “portraits”). I’m kinda jealous of the opportunities you have being on the road like that, haha. You guys are constantly at state parks and other places with interesting scenery and open space.ReplyCancel
In the past few months, we’ve had a number of family and friends share their concern that our travel will cause long-term emotional and psychological damage to our children. The concerns shared with us include the difficulty of making friends (especially long term friends), and a sense of ‘not belonging’ caused by not having a single place…
I think the fact that you are doing it because you saw that it was drawing your family closer together is a good thing. The opportunity for your kids to learn to make friends quickly is a skill that will bless them all their lives. I also really like that you don’t have a predetermined date for when you will be done traveling. This allows you to continue to travel until it is right for your family to change to something else that serves you all better when that time comes.ReplyCancel
I moved a lot as a kid. I went to three different schools in the third grade. My struggles weren’t from the changing schools, but the instability at home. My parents were divorced and my mom moved around to get work. She married again and divorced and married again for the last time. All my parents, step and biological, struggled with their own major emotional issues that affected us.
That’s the difference. You and Jess are creating stability through your healthy marriage. You have routine and habits and rules. Your children feel a deep sense of belonging to you instead of something more ephemeral like friends or location. I think I would have preferred a stable family than a stable location.ReplyCancel
We’ve had similar conversations…and have posted some entries in the area as well:
http://boyinks4adventure.com/our-travels/but-what-about-friends/
http://boyinks4adventure.com/our-travels/being-that-family/ReplyCancel
Tyler and I wonder if we’re damaging our children by NOT traveling. Do they live in a bubble? Do they have any sense of the world? Then we think, they’re little–there’s plenty of time for that. Your kids are young, they aren’t in a friend-dominated stage of life yet. We are so jealous of all the adventures (just the good ones) you’re having. I think this will be nothing but good for them. And like you point out, if it stops being good for them, you’ll be the first to notice.ReplyCancel
We never had anyone express concerns to us, only supportive comments like, “What a great gift to give your kids! They will never forget this.” However, we were only at it for a year. Now that we are finished I can honestly say it truly did give us a stronger sense of family identity and drew us even closer together. I can echo what you said about how quickly kids make friends in a campground and how much more attentive we became as parents. There is just something about being all crammed into 360 square feet for twelve months…ReplyCancel
Every time we travel with kids we get so much closer to each other, more peaceful, happier, and so in-tune with each other. Once we are home – gosh – so many distractions! I absolutely agree with you that traveling creates a very strong family bong and everything else that was mentioned in this post.ReplyCancel
Such a great post on reading, I love it! PS: I just found your blog via Mali Mish and I am so happy I did!
Krista – I’m so glad you did! Thanks for stopping by!
Great post! I love raising readers 🙂 I am so happy that both my boys are! I work hard to find them interesting books!