101 Days to Go

It's the night before I set off on a world adventure holiday with my husband, Adam, and our two teenage daughters, Sunny aged 14 and 11 months and Rosiegirl aged 13 and a half (very important to post exact ages apparently!) for 101 days - yes you read correctly, 101 days. Is this wise? Yep. Is this crazy? Yep. Is this intense? Absolutely.

When I mentioned my upcoming trip to people in conversation I found their responses varied from excitement and envy to shock and even "that's in the too hard basket". Travelling has it's challenges as I've experienced in the past so I imagine travelling with teenagers will be a whole new experience of varied challenges. My girls have never been out of Australia but will now have the amazing opportunity of visiting 11 countries in 101 days with us, Mum and Dad!

Why such a big trip all at once? Firstly, this trip is not only to introduce a global experience to my teenage girls but it's very much an opportunity for me (and my husband) to break away from the treadmill of life and choose something new and courageous everyday for at least a little while. The forced physical change of location and the varying challenges that present themselves through the nature of travel will hopefully lend to an increased capacity of internal growth which is something I desire. And secondly, hey we just really want to go on an adventure holiday with the kids!

I do expect this trip to be A-mazing especially because of my teenagers. Because of their youth, worldly innocence, boldness and current interests, their perception of the world as they meet it will be a wonder to witness, a special time to behold as the beginnings of new ideas, fresh inspiration and a newfound respect for this incredible planet and all who dwell here bubbles up, and takes firm hold of their hearts and minds in unique and profound ways. That is what travelling has done for me in the past so why not my girls too? Oh yes, the teenage thing. Right! Ok!

Well herein lies the challenge of travelling with teenagers - how do we all have a fab time, not kill each other, learn something new or be inspired and come home talking to each other? Guess I'm about to find out: it's that expectation versus reality issue although my gut tells me that both will end up the being the same........

I plan on posting blogs along the way of my trip although regularity will depend upon what's happening and it's relevance to travelling with teenagers! (might be more often than I anticipate...)
If you have travelled with teenagers before I say congratulations you did it! That's amazing - feel free to share any handy tips!

If you are like me on the brink of travelling with teenagers - I'm choosing to believe that it won't be too bad. Mood swings? Sure. Complaining? Yep. Whinging and whining? A little. Being unreasonable? Ok! Let's stop there!  As a family we've jumped in boots and all and plan on swimming. Here we go!