In my younger years, I guess the articles or blogs that would have caught my attention would be those talking about how to comfortably (or survive) travel (if this is at all possible) with your small kids.
Nowadays, however, with the kid in college, you would think that travel would be so much easier. No more tons of stuff to carry, dietary worries, and kid-friendly activities to plan, right?
Wrong.
Nowadays, it’s not the kid you have to worry about. It’s your mother. Or father. Or, good for you, even both.
If you’re like me, and care for an aging parent, or would like to still enjoy their company on trips, there are some things you need to prepare for in advance.
- Frequent pee stops. You know why.
- Dietary restrictions. You have to be mindful where to eat and what to eat. We have the usual low salt, low sugar, low fat issues to think of. Spicy food? Definitely a no-no. Doesn’t mean you can’t still order what you like. Just be sure there are things on the menu that they can enjoy, without fear, as well.
- Long walks during sight-seeing. Know if there are long walks involved before you get to your sight-seeing target or at least some type of transportation that you can use, just in case. Tired oldies, are cranky oldies. I know, believe me.
- Pack enough meds. For obvious, reasons. These may not be available in the place you are visiting, and also, for emergency purposes.
- Pack light snacks. So they can eat first before taking their meds, or for the simple reason that they have lower tolerance for hunger.
Hmm…
Seems like this list, with minor tweaking here and there, is a lot the same as that with tips on travelling with small children. Full circle, indeed.
Anyway, don’t forget to have fun. We’re lucky that we still have our parents around to spend time with, so make the most of it. They would also appreciate that you spend some time with them, now that they are in their twilight years.
Bon Voyage! Now off to your next adventure.
The Adventures of Super Normal Girl 