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holiday-before-after-kids

Remember that time you went on a Contiki tour to Europe and had the most hazy, yet incredibly amazing time of your life?

Granted, your liver almost called it quits and broke up with you, and most mornings were spent recovering from too many shots of Ouzo. You probably don’t remember any of your trip, except for one thing – it was fucking awesome.

Yeah, don’t we all.

These days, pub crawls and hostel brawls have turned into endless trips to Disneyland and other amusement parks that all look the flipping same. You can probably name every single character that Disney has ever invented, and you’ve probably met Mickey Mouse in person so many times, that you probably wished you could just jiu jitsu kick the shit out of his eternally happy grin.

Welcome to the new dimension of holidays with kids. It’s a never-ending rollercoaster of joy and wanting to jump off a bridge.

Contents show
1 PLANE RIDES WILL NEVER BE THE SAME
1.1 Before:
1.2 After:
2 SUNBATHING BY THE POOL? DON’T EVEN.
2.1 Before:
2.2 After:
3 ROMANTIC DINNERS WILL CONSIST OF A THIRD WHEEL
3.1 Before:
3.2 After:
4 SIGHTSEEING? THAT IS A FOREIGN WORD TO ME.
4.1 Before:
4.2 After:
5 DON’T EXPECT TO RETURN WITH A SUITCASE FULL OF NEW CLOTHES
5.1 Before:
5.2 After:

PLANE RIDES WILL NEVER BE THE SAME

Before:

Okay – somebody tell me who quoted this? “It’s not the destination, but the journey that counts.” Mate, get fucked. You were clearly spared from traveling with kids.

Pre-kiddos, you arrive at the airport, beaming with joy and filled to the brim with excitement of the wonderful adventures that await. You eagerly make your way to the departure gate, hugging your loved ones goodbye as you embark on your virgin voyage.

Leisurely strolling down the duty free aisles, you test make-up samples and make your first holiday purchases.

When the plane hits cruising altitude, you knock yourself out with free economy class booze, because well, FREE BOOZE!

You put on your headphones blasting your favourite tunes because that crying baby in the front row just doesn’t seem to want to shut up.

After:

Your back is turned on your child for less than a split whilst handing passports to the check-in lady, and your child has vanished into thin air. A million possibilities run through your mind of what has potentially happened to your spawn – you resort to the worst and have managed to convince yourself that he has been abducted by a child slave driver from Asia lurking at the airport. It’s a lost cause, he’s probably already halfway to Cambodia.

When you’ve finally calmed your distressed flaps – you manage to locate your rogue child and proceed to customs, farewelling your parents with tears streaming from your eyes. Not because you’ll miss them, but because there will be no one to pawn your kids off to.

The second you make it through customs, you charge towards the boarding gate, propelling your minions along – hoping and praying – that they don’t stop at the duty free and touch anything. Because you really don’t want to start your holiday having to pay for a smashed bottle of Tequila that you didn’t even have the chance to drink.

You’re so attuned to the sound of crying hysterics – it takes you 20 minutes before realising that the fellow Mum in the front row is struggling to deal. Attempting to think of ways to console her, all you can come up with is, “My dear – this too, shall pass.” Because that’s just what Mums say to each other when there really is no hope in sight.

When it’s your toddler’s turn to start chucking a fit, you contemplate dropping those sleeping tablets in your bag and letting your hubby deal with it.

Mum just K.O’d. Sorry, boys.

SUNBATHING BY THE POOL? DON’T EVEN.

Before:

After a long flight, you wake up in a king-sized hotel bed after a rejuvenating sleep and make your way down to the breakfast buffet. You sit back in your chair, hands wrapped around your cup of latté and smile tenderly at your partner. Life is marvelous.

The sun beckons – it’s time to make your way down to the water. You find a sunny spot to lay your towel on, and the rest of your morning is spent working on your vacay tan.

A dip in the pool is followed by an ice cold Pina Colada at the beach bar. Oh, look at that massage tent over there? Genius.

An hour later, you leave the tent with loose muscles and feelings of zen you have never felt before. A perfect time for a nap under the tropical afternoon sun. Bliss.

After:

Your nocturnal kid wakes up you up at the crack of dawn. Disoriented and unsure of where you are or how you got there, it takes you a solid few minutes to realise that you’re actually on holiday.

You keep your minion company and watch Paw Patrol for an hour in the local language until you both fall asleep again.

Nekminnit, you jump out of bed and realise it’s 10am and the buffet breakfast you booked with your room is about to finish and your child has started throwing a fit in hunger. So you convince your husband to sneak down to the buffet with zip lock bags in search for leftovers to feed his famished family.

After scoffing down crumbs of the buffet, you spend another half hour trying to convince your toddler to put on pants and packing everyone’s swimming gear, because no one seems to possess any knowledge on how to get ready for the day.

The few hours of the day that you have left are spent applying and reapplying sunscreen on the kids. And by kids, I also mean your big man child. In turn, you forget to slip, slop and slap yourself because you’re too busy preventing your child and man child from turning into roasts – so you have now turned into a walking Mum on a spit whilst trying to save your children.

beach-holidays-with-kids
Beach breaks turn into intensive cardio workouts

ROMANTIC DINNERS WILL CONSIST OF A THIRD WHEEL

Before:

Each meal in every city you visit is meticulously planned – Zomato and Yelp must be consulted with before you make the executive decision to eat anywhere. Ratings must be 4+ stars and the prerequisite for having a memorable dining experience must comprise of crowds spilling out of the restaurant’s entrance and having to queue for at least an hour.

A 5-course degustation is ordered with your other half, as you gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes whilst sipping on some fine Shiraz.

After:

You call restaurants in advance, not for a booking – but to ensure that they have a plentiful supply of highchairs and walkways wide enough to shove your bulky ass pram through.

Top ratings my unwashed ass. The only criterion you have prior to visiting restaurants consists of food that is edible, and the inclusion of nuggets and fries on the kids’ menu.

Your meals are always eaten cold because most of your time is wasted making negotiations with your child to eat his damn plate of food. Why waste your money on a 3-Michelin star meal when everything tastes like ass when it’s cold anyway?

Oh, right, your spouse is at dinner too. Those loving pre-children gazes you used to give one another are placed with looks of scorn because he never seems fazed about your toddler’s picky eating habits. And you just want to knock him on the side of his head because he always gets to eat his food steamin’ hot. What a royal dickbag.

SIGHTSEEING? THAT IS A FOREIGN WORD TO ME.

Before:

A comprehensive list of must-see places is devised months before you depart for your trip. You spend weekends plotting them out on a map, trying to figure out how to tackle each one in the best logistical way.

Hours are spent at world renowned sights and historical monuments trying to get the perfect shot. You end up with 72 selfies taken from every angle under the sun of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and you finally manage to get the perfect snap holding it up like you’re fucking Hercules.

After:

Using the one free hand you have in between scrubbing up the shitstorm that just came out of your child’s diaper and defending yourself from his wild, flailing legs – you manage to jot down a single place of interest you can fathom taking your family to without going ape shit.

It was an easy pick because 9/10 places are not child-friendly. Yes, you rank sights depending on what amenities and facilities they have for children.

Is there a baby change room nearby?

Does it have a lift?

What are the chances of losing my child?

Will I have to mow down people with my pram?

After 102 attempts at posing for a family photo in front of a world famous monument, you give up once and for all. Each one of your snaps either has you holding your child chucking a tanty, or frantically darting after him.

traveling-with-kids
Most of your family holiday snaps will wind up looking like this.

DON’T EXPECT TO RETURN WITH A SUITCASE FULL OF NEW CLOTHES

Before:

A full day of shopping must be planned for each city you visit because, after all, you need to return home with the latest catwalk trends in your suitcase.

Of course, shopping is classified as a form of exercise, so after a few hours of throwing your money at vendors in exchange for the latest threads, your poor feet are sore.

That foot massage you’ve been longing is calling. How convenient, because the mall you’re in just happens to have a massage parlour offering relaxing foot rubs to struggling shoppers who have had such a laborious time picking out new shoes.

After:

You haven’t purchased a new pair of undies in five years, but your kiddos seem to be rocking the latest styles. You convince yourself that it’s socially acceptable to look like you just crawled out of a swamp, as long as your kids are looking on point, parenting goals are met.

Shopping has barely commenced as you hear a public service announcement being made in the department store calling out for the parents of a lost, hysterical child. You look next to you and notice that your child is no longer traipsing next to you.

Oh, FFS. It’s your child. Again.

Your hubby has fallen asleep on the couch he found outside and doesn’t have an inkling of a clue that the offspring you share is lost in a foreign country.

Traveling with kids is a whole new ball game, for better and for worse. I would love to hear some of your funny travel experiences with kids – do share!

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33 comments
  1. Amber says:
    February 13, 2017 at 3:47 am

    This cracked me up. I was nodding throughout it because it is SO true. It does help when the kids get older, but even then you sometimes hear, “I’m bored! I’m tired of walking! Why are we stopping to see a street performer? I’m bored!”

    Reply
    1. Tina says:
      February 16, 2017 at 11:35 am

      I am looking forward to the day mine are older and more independent!

      Reply
  2. Mindy@FarmFitLiving says:
    February 13, 2017 at 8:39 pm

    Yes to most of these. Especially to the dinner with kids. Not so “romantic” these days.

    Reply
  3. Beth says:
    February 13, 2017 at 9:01 pm

    Not having kids, I can only relate to the “before” but I’m certain that you speak the truth. When I see people with children, they definitely seem the way that you describe.

    Reply
    1. Tina says:
      February 16, 2017 at 11:34 am

      It’s definitely more… challenging. But it’s also changed travel experiences for the better.

      Reply
  4. Divya says:
    February 13, 2017 at 9:11 pm

    Hahaha, this made me giggle. I’m not a parent yet and this is exactly why. I have to be 100% completely ready to be selfless and I’m just not there yet

    Reply
    1. Tina says:
      February 16, 2017 at 11:33 am

      Yup, definitely – enjoy it while you can!

      Reply
  5. Tasheena @ SimplyTasheena.com says:
    February 13, 2017 at 11:15 pm

    The time we went to Disney Land only for me to be the only one excited about being there. Epic Fail (we laugh about it now and hopefully will be back in the future.)

    Reply
    1. Tina says:
      February 16, 2017 at 11:31 am

      Haha that’s like when we made a trip to the zoo with a 2-month old vegetable of a baby. It was definitely for our sake and not his. He got nothing out of it.

      Reply
  6. Anne says:
    February 14, 2017 at 12:25 am

    I don’t have kids but I loved this post – it was delightfully hilarious! I wonder if this is how my backpacker parents felt before and after they had me…;)

    Reply
    1. Tina says:
      February 16, 2017 at 11:30 am

      Thanks, Anne! Probably. But I also think, that they would’ve enjoyed traveling so much more with you!

      Reply
  7. CourtneyLynne says:
    February 14, 2017 at 3:46 am

    Hahaha so true!!!!! Especially when it comes to the dinning!!!

    Reply
  8. blair villanueva says:
    February 14, 2017 at 4:37 am

    Having kids at home becomes a lot more different, and that’s exciting! I haven’t my own but am excited to have one.. just one is enough for us. Unless we can determined that we can add another 🙂

    Reply
    1. Tina says:
      February 16, 2017 at 11:29 am

      Oh yeah, it definitely creates even more of a homely feel with kids – wouldn’t have it any other way! Hehe you might change your mind after one and feel like another. At least, it was like that for us.

      Reply
  9. blair villanueva says:
    February 14, 2017 at 4:53 am

    I guess its also fun to have kids with you. Sometimes I tag my niece along to enjoy more perks on holidays 🙂

    Reply
    1. Tina says:
      February 16, 2017 at 11:26 am

      Love the perks! I do like being able to board the plane first.. can’t complain there.

      Reply
  10. Kusum says:
    February 14, 2017 at 5:41 am

    haha though this is hilarious, I don’t think I can laugh at this anymore… Going to be a mom soon and i better get used to this, haha.

    xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com

    Reply
    1. Tina says:
      February 16, 2017 at 11:25 am

      Congrats! It’s got its ups and downs – but mostly ups, I promise! It makes for so much for of an enriching experience.

      Reply
  11. Aisha says:
    February 15, 2017 at 1:16 am

    This is hilarious! I’m still in the Before phase but I’m also looking forward to the After stage when there are kiddies to consider 🙂

    Reply
    1. Tina says:
      February 16, 2017 at 11:25 am

      Enjoy the before stage as much as you can!

      Reply
  12. Vishal says:
    February 15, 2017 at 2:27 am

    It’s is funny and debatable topic. Those who have traveled with kids can understand the difference with and without kids. For me both are fun. One is about the family and one is about you and your partner. Both have different advantages and disadvantages.

    Reply
    1. Tina says:
      February 16, 2017 at 11:24 am

      Yeah, definitely. Having my son has actually made me want to see the world more with him by my side. I’ve learnt to travel slower, that’s for sure.

      Reply
  13. Alisha says:
    February 16, 2017 at 2:01 am

    HAHA! This is hilarious!!! There have been so many different situations that have been made so much better simply because we had our son with us.

    Reply
    1. Tina says:
      February 16, 2017 at 11:22 am

      Oh yeah – I wrote this for gags. But travel has been so much more exciting and enriching after having a kid – it definitely makes you slow down a lot.

      Reply
  14. Riely says:
    February 16, 2017 at 2:48 am

    I don’t have kids and now…I may not want to! I can only imagine how hectic it would be to travel with kids. I found it hard enough bringing my nephew and niece to the beach for an afternoon. Funny post.

    Reply
    1. Tina says:
      February 16, 2017 at 11:17 am

      Haha that’s exactly how I felt before I had kids and my sister asked me to babysit my nephew for a couple hours. Half an hour in and I thought to myself, okay, no kids for me. Look at me now.

      Reply
  15. Rebecca says:
    February 21, 2017 at 5:25 pm

    Never had kids and my speciality is travelling solo – but I do see so many families on holiday and I do wonder to myself how they do it. Even when going on a day trip from home seems like everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink is packed into a bag! I am in awe of people that can get on a plane and go.

    Reply
  16. Nausheen says:
    February 21, 2017 at 8:52 pm

    This is a great reminder for me to keep living it up before the kids phase of my life! Haha, thanks for sharing your perspective:)

    Reply
  17. Claire says:
    February 21, 2017 at 9:02 pm

    Hahaha this is too funny! I’ve got all of this to look forward to haha. Better make the most of it now but that being said, I’m still looking forward to taking my kids travelling in the future! 🙂

    Reply
  18. Katie says:
    February 22, 2017 at 2:35 pm

    This post is hilarious!!!!! I don’t have children and if I am honest, I am not sure how soon I want them either! I can relate to children’s behaviour because I am a school teacher! Imagine taking 30 6 year olds to the Sea Life Centre! I have never said “stay with your buddy” “Don’t run ahead” and “look where you are going” so often!

    Reply
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Hey! We're Tina and Andy - 2 kidults who hail from Australia but could never lay our roots anywhere because there's simply too much to see in this world and life is just too short. Somewhere along the way, we added 2 more crazy kids to the squad who act as third wheels on our travels and date nights. We show parents how to travel smarter with less stress, coffee in one hand and bambinos in the other.
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