Lets start at the very beginning…
It’s a very good place to start….
When we were first married, we spoke a lot about travelling. I had travelled extensively overseas in my 20’s and had the best. Time. Ever.... So naturally, I wanted to share all these experiences, and more, with my brand spanking new husband.
My brand spanking new husband, and I at the top of the Eiffel Tower, on our honeymoon.
Brad too had his own travel goals, albeit, they were much less elaborate than mine, he wanted to travel around Australia, in his ute with just a swag, his bricklaying tools and a pet dog called Mongrel…. haha.
Brad, ready to take off around Australia in his bachelor days.
We knew we wanted to start a family early in our marriage so we included them in all our travel plans (considerate I know),
Hmmm plans? or rather, dreams?, lets call them dreams, because there was no consideration given what so ever, in those early days, as to how much travel one can actually do with the cost that comes with having kids!.
And how hectic and consuming life is with small children.
making travel plans with a toddler be like - where do you want to go? THERE! with an enthusiastic hand slap on Queensland
God you love them so much, but life is H.E.C.T.I.C!! You can’t even go to the bathroom alone, let alone plan exciting and adventure filled holidays.
So any travel plans we had were restricted, like most of us, to the precious 4 weeks a year that most full time workers get…. 4 weeks that needs to include:
relaxation,
recreational activities
exploring new places
having fun
spending quality time with family and friends
making memories
…. whoa that is a lot of pressure for those measly few weeks and handfuls of public holidays hey?
a family “holiday” - Maddie is really the only one who is is showing how we are all really feeling, when we used to holiday this way..
To make things more complicated, my dream was to be a stay at home mum. I have wanted to be a mum since forever, I really didn’t want to do anything else.
I know it seems low on the ambition scale, but it was MY dream.
Being a stay-at-home mom was something I really wanted. I wanted to be there for my kids while they were young. They grow up quickly, and I didn't want to miss anything! It was challenging, but it was worth it.
Thankfully, Brad was supportive of this, and I am proud to say, that even with the cost of living, we have managed to (mostly) sustain and maintain this goal of mine for 10 years!!
I know it is almost unheard of, to not have 2 incomes, but we have not only managed, we have thrived.
I love every bit about being home with my kids, especially all the pre-school activities like rhyme time at the library.
It hasn’t been easy, and it has been a lot of hard work, but what we are doing now, and how we are living, makes all those years more than worth it.
I can’t wait to share our journey with you….
