For many, vacations are a brief escape, occurring once or twice a year. In stark contrast, there are adventurous families for whom travel is a way of life, often spending extensive periods away from home, whether that’s on land, at sea, or in the air.
Where Parenthood Meets Adventure
Libryia Jones always had a yearning to explore, yet faced numerous hurdles along the way.
Her dream of a year-long internship in China was dashed when the school prohibited her from bringing her daughter along. Attempts to join groups facilitating similar experiences ended similarly, barring children from participation.
Frustrated with constant setbacks, she decided to venture into the travel realm independently by launching Wandering Moms with a friend. Today, this thriving community encompasses over 8,000 traveling women, primarily single mothers.
“These moms are dedicated to giving their kids a global perspective!” Jones proclaims.
Through her initiative, she curates what she labels a “wander year,” where families reside in four different destinations for three months each. Recent stops have included the Czech Republic, Thailand, South Africa, and Colombia.
Jones asserts that the notion of a child needing a traditional North American lifestyle for stability is misguided. “True stability arises from the presence of supportive parents,” she argues. “If they have us, they have security, whether it’s through a conventional routine of school and chores or exploring a new country every few months.”
Raising a teenager presents its unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to ensuring they have friendships and autonomy. “I made a point of enrolling her in soccer teams wherever we traveled,” shares Jones. “This provided her with opportunities to socialize with peers.”
“Her newfound independence was also an advantage,” states Jones, noting that many locations outside North America may be safer. In Prague, her daughter navigated the tram alone; in Thailand, she traveled to soccer practice via Uber.
Educational opportunities for older children can be another hurdle. Jones advises parents to explore the various schooling options available, including homeschooling, unschooling, and virtual schools.
The upsides to this lifestyle, according to Jones, far outweigh the challenges.
“Children experience real-world lessons that extend beyond the classroom,” Jones elaborates. Her daughter particularly cherished visits to Anne Frank’s hiding spot and the venue where Nelson Mandela delivered his first speech post-release from prison.
“Life can be anything you choose it to be,” Jones affirms. “Children shouldn’t be viewed as obstacles to your aspirations; rather, they should inspire you. Demonstrating to them that they can mold their futures is best taught through your own example.”
Adventuring from Kelowna to Global Shores
Residing in Kelowna, BC, Charles and Micki Kosman spend very little time in their home base. Since 2003, they have journeyed across more than 40 nations.
While they’ve made some adjustments—trading unconventional lodgings and transportation for more family-friendly options—their explorations didn’t halt with the arrival of children.
“We anticipated that parenting would add complexity to our travels, yet we had seen so many other families doing it, so we felt it was possible,” reflects Micki Kosman.
They took their son on a 1,300-kilometer road trip just three weeks after his birth. By age two, he had traveled extensively throughout North America, as well as to Cuba, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.
“There’s a common belief that traveling with kids is exceptionally difficult,” she says. “In my experience, that has not been true.”
Now 12 and 9, their children have amassed priceless experiences, such as fishing for piranhas in the Amazon and snorkeling with turtles and sharks in the Galapagos Islands. “Our daughter still longs for chocolate croissants from a bakery in Spain, and our son fondly recalls boogie boarding in Costa Rica,” Kosman shares with nostalgia.
A Floating Home
When I connected with Behan Gifford, they were navigating the 32 islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. “Can I get back to you?” she inquired. “We might be off the grid for about a week.”
Along with her husband, Jamie, and their three kids, Gifford has been exploring the world by boat since 2008. “When we departed from Seattle, we envisioned a journey of two to five years,” she reminisced. “I’m amazed that we are now entering our tenth year without an endpoint in sight!”
On land, Gifford and her husband had achieved considerable success by conventional metrics. However, the balance of work and family life left them yearning for a new lifestyle—one that embraced minimalism and harmony with nature.
“Though we considered various options for altering our course, we consistently returned to the idea of nomadic living on the water,” Gifford shared. “A boat serves as our vehicle for exploring distant destinations.”
They follow the wind’s direction, occasionally altering their location to evade storms. “The details are always in flux,” she explains. “You can dictate either the date of your departure or the chosen destination, but not both!”
This lifestyle has instilled a strong sense of adaptability in both their travel and parenting styles. Take their children’s education, for instance. “Homeschooling wasn’t initially on my radar, but it became essential,” Gifford admits. The ocean has transformed into a one-of-a-kind classroom for her kids.
“They have insights that come from real experiences rather than news,” Gifford notes. “They’ve listened to island residents in Papua New Guinea discuss how their environments are compromised by foreign corporations. They’ve explored reefs enough to discern a thriving ecosystem from one that is depleted or affected by climate change. This exposure has fostered a deep appreciation for their life choices, their capacity to steer their own future, and the rarity of such opportunities worldwide. It’s an invaluable education.”
