It’s Mother’s Day, and let’s celebrate each one of you. I never thought that I might become a mom. All I wanted to do was to travel and see the world. Find out how my travel adventure became a mom’s adventure. It seems like yesterday, but I moved to the USA thirty years ago. I remember when I decided to leave my family and friends behind in Germany. I felt stuck, and I was searching for freedom and adventure.
My whole world was turned upside down once I moved. I was speaking a new language and learning about the unique culture (and its differences). Books can only prepare you so much, but real life teaches you lessons you hadn’t even thought to prepare for.
During my first year in the States, I met my first husband and the father of my two amazing kids. Within a few short years, I became a stay-at-home mom with no idea how to raise a child. My family living in Germany couldn’t help with everyday problems, and the cost of international calling in the ’80s was astronomical. I had no job or income, and I relied on my husband. What happened to my freedom? Where was my adventure?
How My Travel Adventure Became A Mom Adventure
Things turned out a bit differently than I had planned, but you know what? It turned out better than I could have imagined. Not in my wildest dreams did I expect to move to the US, meet a man, and become a mother. Plans can change at any time, so be ready no matter what.
As a stay-at-home mom, I made a point of meeting other moms at playgrounds and activities for the kids. It was a great way to improve my English and get tips on how to raise a child. They also understood what it felt like being at home with the kids and feeling left out of the work environment we were accustomed to. None of my new friends put their lives on hold for their kids. Instead, they incorporated them into their adventures. That’s what I started doing.
Keep Your Romance Alive
We started with small steps like taking the kids on outings for a day to the state parks in our area. We decided to hire a babysitter once a week for date night. Most of the time we just wanted to get extra sleep, but you have to keep the romance going in a relationship.
Lives Greatest Adventure
My life was still an adventure, just a different experience than I thought I would have. As my children grew up, I was able to take them on more of the kind of adventures I thought I would have – traveling Europe during school breaks, annual beach excursions, and road trips around the states.
Being a mother has been my greatest adventure, but by taking active steps to change situations and circumstances in my life, I was also able to get some of the adventures I wanted when I was 25.
Happy Mom’s Day!