Do you travel a lot because you don’t have kids?
I have been asked this question more than once & it seems to be a common assumption. At first, it seems a fair question. Traveling with kids is more expensive & has added challenges, therefore parents are less likely to travel often. If THIS is the reason the question is asked, then my response is:
Having kids is no excuse for not traveling. In fact, you should travel as much as possible FOR your children — instill a passion for travel & curiosity about the world at an early age. [I’ll talk more about this in a follow-up post.]
Quite often, however, I hear a subtle undertone behind the question that implies something different. It implies that a childless couple has a void in their life which must be filled, & travel fills that void. THIS question bothers me for several reasons:
- I love travel & would love it just as much if I had children. It’s not filling a hole in my miserable existence, it’s augmenting an already wonderful life!
- Being childless is not a disease or handicap. Yes, my husband & I can’t have children because of medical reasons, but there are other options we could have pursued. We CHOSE not to adopt or do in vitro. That should be a clear indication that we are very happy with our lives.
- Travel should not be an escape. If you’re traveling to escape work or home, then you need to focus on the problems causing you to be unhappy. Travel is an ineffective & expensive way to avoid problems that will still be here when you return.
For those reading this who may have asked this question of me or others, I know you meant no harm. I am surrounded by friends & family who have beautiful children that fill our lives with wonder. To them, a childless life is inconceivable. All I can say to them is God knew what He was doing when he set Eric & I on this path, & we intend to follow as many paths as we can in the time that we are allotted.
