If I'm being honest, I didn't really enjoy family vacations until my kids turned 10

• I’ve always made a point to travel with my kids so they could experience and enjoy new places.
• When they were younger, it was draining and not as enjoyable for me.
• Once they turned 10, things changed, and family vacations became something we could all appreciate.

While those trips when my kids were younger had their own kind of magic, looking back, I can say they weren’t as enjoyable for me. I loved having the opportunity to introduce them to the world, but it really did feel like parenting in a different location.

It’s OK if parents don’t love every stage of travel. For me, travel finally feels like a vacation now that every member of the family gets a say on what to do. In the end, getting to relax and recharge together is the best kind of trip you can hope for.