Travelling is fun. Exploring new places, meeting new people
and getting out of the usual dull routine bring bliss. It is easy to travel
while you are a couple, but once you become parents, the entire scenario
changes. Instead of enjoying blissful, carefree vacations, during those days, we
parents face temper tantrums, travel sickness, brawls among siblings,
unexpected delays, tensions of missing kids and hunger pangs.
I loved travelling as a kid and every year I went on
short vacations with my parents. Those were the times when I squeezed out
maximum care from them, made them dance to my tunes and acted like a spoiled
brat. They would never scold me unless I did something unforgivable. My food
preferences decided the menu, my sleeping habits and laziness delayed our
journey. During long bus trips, they struggled to get a proper sleep cramped
into the seats allotted to us, while I slept like on a proper bed keeping my
head on the lap of one parent and legs on another. I made my father carry me
when I became tired even though he might have been equally exhausted. I did all
that and believed that it was my right.
Now I cringe when I think about my thoughtlessness, but
I understand that what goes around comes around. These days, I am at the
receiving end of exactly similar treatments.
Nevertheless, the magic of travel has not gone, instead
it has become extra special. Be it the presence of a twinkle in my son’s eyes because
of the beauty of scenes that he behold or be it the small games that we play
together to pass time on long travels, the enchantment of our time together has
become more. I remember the things that used to excite me as a kid and guide
him to enjoy similar things.
We make sand castles and draw doodles on the beach together,
for the ocean waves to takes away. We feed the hungry fishes in the temple
ponds. We count sheep, trees, cows and houses on the way to our destination and
try to identify the various landmarks.
Not only has the size of our luggage increased, but
also our travel destinations have also changed. Impromptu tours and treks have
become extinct. We double-check accommodations, the mode of travel and the
climate of our destination. We take care that we visit child friendly places
that will ensure our child’s happiness. His bag is packed with utmost care to
cater to his needs, the climate and his happiness. His bedtime storybooks, his
tablet with game apps installed, travel documents and emergency medicines find
a place of importance in our luggage.
My hand bag size has grown significantly to cater to
his demands and the majority of the space inside my bag is occupied by his
things- his tablet, wet wipes, snacks, extra dresses, towels and sometimes even
his favorite toys.
Answering the innumerable questions that pop up,
inventing new games and discovering new things together bring immense joy. Be
it a short trip to a nearby beach or a month long vacation exploring new
places, the moments together become precious pearls woven into the tapestry of
memories.
Capturing snapshots of him enjoying the vacation both
on camera and in the mind’s eye is another favorite pass time. After every
trip, we return home a little more closely bonded as family and a little more
rejuvenated.
We begin planning for the next trip and are eager to
embark on our next one. When moments become cherished, trips become memorable.
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