3 Reasons I Travel With My Kids (And Why I Refused to Give It Up After Becoming a Mom)

When I became a mom, well-meaning people including my family gently suggested that travel would need to “pause for a while.” If I am being completely honest some weren’t that gentle with comments of ‘oh I guess that’s an end to your travels.’ That trips would be harder, different, or maybe not worth it anymore.

But travel has always been part of us and who we are as a family. So instead of giving it up, we simply brought my kids along. I mean kids live everywhere so why can’t they be included?

What I didn’t expect was how much traveling with my children would shape who they’re becoming - and who I get to be as their mom. Through flight delays, new foods, unfamiliar cultures, and moments far outside our routine, I started noticing patterns. Lessons that kept showing up again and again.

These are the three biggest reasons I continue to travel with my kids—and why I believe family travel is one of the greatest gifts we can give them.

1. Travel Builds Confidence by Doing New Things Confidence doesn’t come from staying comfortable—it comes from doing. New things. Hard things. Unfamiliar things. What I’ve noticed most while traveling with my kids is that they aren’t locked into their usual routines. At home, routine is helpful—but it can also limit curiosity. On the road, something shifts. They become more open-minded, more flexible, and more willing to try. Whether it’s navigating a new city, ordering food in an unfamiliar place, hiking a trail they didn’t know they could finish, or simply sleeping somewhere new—every trip stretches them in small but meaningful ways. And every single time we come home, they’ve: Done something new Learned something new Proven something to themselves That’s confidence built not from praise, but from experience.

2. Kids Who Travel Learn Resiliency and Become Less Anxious We live in a world dominated by screens—and while we use devices strategically, travel invites something different. It asks kids to engage with the real world. New places, new cultures, new foods, new languages—travel requires adaptation. It teaches kids that it’s okay not to know everything right away. That discomfort is temporary. That they can figure things out as they go. I’ve seen my kids become more resilient because they’ve learned: Plans change—and that’s okay Not everything feels familiar—but it can still be safe Curiosity is more powerful than fear Exposure to the world outside of a device builds confidence in navigating life itself. It creates kids who are less anxious because they’ve practiced adapting—again and again.

3. Travel Lets My Kids See the Most Present Version of Me This one surprised me the most. At home, I try to be present—but let’s be honest. Two working parents. Activities. Schedules. Responsibilities. The constant pull of “all the things.” We say no to a lot, but life is still full. When we travel, something shifts in me. My kids get to see the mom who is fully present. The mom who is learning right alongside them. The mom who slows down, explores, laughs more, and looks up instead of ahead. Travel mom is my most authentic self—and my kids get all of her. And that matters.

Choosing Travel, Choosing Connection I know travel with kids isn’t always easy. It can feel overwhelming, expensive, or intimidating— especially when you’re tired and juggling a thousand responsibilities. If you’re in that season, I see you. At Travel Avara, I believe travel isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection, growth, and shared experiences that last far beyond the suitcase unpacking. If you’ve ever wondered whether traveling with your kids is “worth it,” this is your sign: it is. And you don’t have to do it alone.

Join our community, follow along, or reach out if you’re ready to create meaningful, doable family travel that fits your life. Let’s raise curious, confident kids—and make memories right alongside them.

Because travel doesn’t end when you have kids. Sometimes, that’s when it truly begins. ✈️