Your mother knows you better than anyone else-How many of you would agree with it? When young, traveling with the family is a regular thing. But as people grow up, travel buddies tend to change. Trips with friends, partners, and colleagues become frequent. In busy work and family life, people may catch up with their parents only on weekends. If you tend to live in different time zones, a weekly video call becomes the connecting link.
It is never too late to recreate those precious childhood memories. Cooking, dining, shopping, or trying a few adventure sports – there are so many things that your parents introduced in life and fun to try with them.
Also, holiday time with your mom can help you strengthen your bond and understand her needs better. If you are up for fun with your mom, below are a few ways to make the trip comfortable for her.
1. Have a Flexible Plan
As people age, they may not feel energetic throughout the day. Therefore, do not pre-book tickets for theatre shows or museums back to back. As, your mother might take more time sightseeing, keep some room for spare hours. Also, rather than ticking off the bucket list, connecting with the locals and having a word or two is more important. Go for self-drive vehicles over trains and buses. Learn how to use a roof rack and carry all the essentials. It not only makes your journey tension-free, but the preparedness makes your mother proud.
2. Try Not to Change Her Daily Routine
Remember your mother’s schedule while you were young. Right from waking you up to preparing dinner, she had her entire day scheduled. And, even after children grow up, mommies like to keep themselves busy and maintain a system. Especially, regularity is a must in the case of food and sleeping time. Breaking the routine deprives their sleep and can make them fidgety. So if possible, let her continue her morning yoga or exercise sessions. Also, explain the plans for the day beforehand. Your mom may not get excited by surprises like your partner or children.
- Take Breaks Often and Split the Travel Time
We may not share everything with our parents as we used to do in our childhood. But mommies expect their children to pour their hearts out once they meet. So, if you end up taking long flights or drive continuously, your mother can get bored and tired. Therefore, it is advisable to reserve time for rest and some banter in between the journey. Also, frequent breaks imply time to refresh and have some healthy snacks.
If planning a vacation in a far-off place, a cruise trip is best with your parents. On a cruise ship, one can settle down, and usually, many choices are present for recreation and food. Moreover, one has the option to stay on the deck and watch the views. If she prefers she can prefer some light water sports.
4. Spend Time Together Before the Trip
No mother likes to bother her children during their happy times. There are chances that she doesn’t tell you about her health or other issues while you are holidaying. Mother is the most adjusting person one can have in life. Therefore, go to mom’s place, spend time together without revealing much about the holiday plans. It allows knowing her schedules, essential medicines, comfort foods, best transport modes, and other preferences. In this way, you can make the vacation more pleasant for your mommy.
5. Reserve a Day for Settling
It is always better to book a holiday villa while traveling with parents. They need time to adjust to the new environment. When everything is new, something as simple as preparing meals can be comforting for them. If not possible, arrange home-cooked food. Make her comfortable with the neighborhood so that she can have a stroll whenever she likes. So, take a day’s break before visiting the tourist spots. It is advisable to not choose a place with entirely different weather while holidaying with elderly parents. At times, they may fall sick due to drastic climate changes.
6. Introduce Something New
Remind your mother that age is a mere number. It is never too late to pick up a hobby or skill. And, holidays can be the best time to experiment with learning. So, join workshops conducted by museums, art galleries, theatres, or restaurants. Choose something that your mother always longed to learn. It could be photography, painting, baking cakes, stitching, jewelry designing, etc. The best part is you can also join and learn together. In this way, mommy will not feel lonely during the class.
7. Enjoy the Time Together
The ultimate aim of traveling with your mom is to have a gala time together. Rewind things that you loved as a child. If possible, go to the same place where your parents took you in childhood. It will be nostalgic for both, and you can create new memories again. Also, leave plenty of relaxing time in between sightseeing and other activities. It helps you to share the memories and have a laugh or two.
Final Thoughts
A mother knows you in and out. So, traveling with her can make you feel safer and even therapeutic. Also, it can be a perfect opportunity to give back to her and make her feel blessed. So, know her likes and preferences, and plan the trip accordingly.