I love traveling with my son
Hi! Welcome to WanderKids. I'm Joan, and I love traveling with my 4 year old son.
He went on his first trip when he was 5 months old. Since then he has been on almost 30 trips, and this year alone we are making 13.
Why do you travel with your kid?
It's not like he is going to remember where he has been. I won't lie: I travel with him because I love traveling, and I don't want to give that up. I don't want to leave him behind either.
Parenting is hard everywhere
It is hard overseas, and just as difficult in Singapore. I might as well do it somewhere with sakura or way nicer weather.
Old favourites, new eyes
I love seeing my old favourite places through his eyes.
Disneyland
I love Disneyland, and bringing him is my excuse to go there multiple times.
I get to act like a kid
Running through playgrounds and being amazed by simple things.
Most importantly
I travel with him simply because I want him to see the world, whether or not he remembers it later.
Perth
Is there a place where you feel at home, other than your real home? Somewhere that always calms you, where you go for a reset? A place you can go to over and over again and never get bored?
For me, that place is Perth. I didn't discover it until I was 27, but I've been back many times since, with friends, with my husband, and most recently, four times in a row, with Baby G. It's without a doubt my absolute favourite place, where I can have the best coffees, stroll on the most gorgeous beach, wander around wineries and just be.
It's his favourite place too, where he can slow down and be a kid, jump on tree stumps, hop around with kangaroos and explore numerous amazing playgrounds. Perhaps it's about leaving the everyday stress behind in Singapore, or more likely, it's the Aussie laid back vibes. But Perth is the one place that always helps me reset, and the one place I'll never get sick of.
The right tips can make or break a trip
When my son was 11 months old, we took a family trip to Perth with the grandparents. It was pretty much a disaster. So many highly raved-about recommendations online were actually really unsuitable for a baby (I'm looking at you, Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre)
Three years later, on my most recent trip to Perth, I did extensive research on tried and tested activities and restaurants, enough to rival my final year project. We finally had a near perfect trip, where he had his fun and mama and papa had theirs too.
Of course, his age played a part. But more importantly, I realized that the right recommendations and tips can really make or break a trip.
You shouldn't have to give up traveling after you have kids, and traveling shouldn't be a ball of stress.