Would you do this?
By Amber
@AmbiePam (92481)
United States
November 10, 2023 11:58am CST
My sister asked my dad to look for a used motor home (he is good at finding deals for people; he used to supplement his income by finding cars for people at auctions and such at good prices), so next summer she and her family could start traveling about two weeks each month. Since they home school, and my BIL mostly works from home, they don’t have to be in one place all the time.
They already travel a lot (at least it seems to me), but my sister said they’ll probably never be empty nesters (Hudson (all 3 are adopted) has fetal alcohol syndrome), so it doesn’t make sense to her to wait to travel. She’s already got the route to Prince Edward Island in her head!
I don’t know if I’d want to do all that in such close quarters, but I think I’m thinking like a tired person. That probably doesn’t sound tiring if you are in fairly good health, plus, her kids are well behaved (that girl runs a tight ship). I seem to recall one Mylotter doing something similar to this, but I don’t remember who it was.
Does that sound like a good idea, or one you’d enjoy? I think I would like that if I wasn’t in regular school. I’d still get to see my other friends half the month. Anywhere you’d recommend visiting? @FourWalls would probably know the best educational spots, and some of our Canadian friends could probably point out the locations most important to Canada…
24 people like this
25 responses
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
10 Nov 23
Until Pretty was in her middle teens, she and I traveled all over the US. Once she got old enough that all she wanted to do was gripe at me for no reason, we stopped traveling. Once, she asked why we didn't go places anymore and I told her I was tired of being screamed at when I woke her up because she wanted to stay awake and wouldn't get up to her own alarm... It was just easier and more peaceful for me to do the traveling when she was with her mom. *shrug* Teenagers can kill anyone's sense of adventure.
IF I get disability, I wouldn't mind doing some traveling again now that she will get up when her alarm goes off and doesn't scream at me if I ask civil questions.
5 people like this
@AmbiePam (92481)
• United States
10 Nov 23
@DaddyEvil Please let us know when you find out, however you feel comfortable. I’m still praying for you. I know how rough it is waiting.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
10 Nov 23
@AmbiePam I was a good teenager... I didn't scream at anyone and I got up with my alarm...
Yeah... now I'm waiting for a letter telling me the judge's decision in my case.
3 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50208)
• United States
10 Nov 23
I’ve traveled by camper at least a handful of times. Most recently was to Florida in 2015 and my favorite was in Europe in 1977. They were both several weeks long. We all had a blast.
4 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50208)
• United States
10 Nov 23
@AmbiePam It was while we lived in Germany. My daddy rented a drivable camper and my grandparents were with us. The highlight of the trip was going to Spain. My grandpa was Spanish and we went to see family and where his people were from.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180476)
• United States
10 Nov 23
I think you would really have to like your family members for that. Going to PEI and back again in a motorhome is a lot of togetherness. Especially since the kids are fairly young, I am sure they are always needing something...at least the younger two.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92481)
• United States
10 Nov 23
With Hudson still partially tube fed through his stomach, it sounds extra tricky. Hudson’s therapists say they could all see him the two weeks they’d be home, and his feeding therapist said she could do it virtually, but it sounds like a lot to pack in.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92481)
• United States
10 Nov 23
@snowy22315 My dad tried to talk them out of the motor home. He said they are known to break down, and are expensive to maintain. That’s a good idea to suggest a weekend trip first. I’d hate to get halfway to Boston, only to find out it was a really bad idea.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180476)
• United States
10 Nov 23
@AmbiePam I think I would suggest a shorter trip until they see what it would be like and how it goes, at least to consider it. Maybe like a weekend and then a week..and see how everybody is feeling. It may not be as much fun as she is thinking it would be...besides there could be issues with the motorhome that need to be watched or worked out before they go on a mega trip..just my 2 cents, you just know she is gonna do what she wants to do regardless.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112780)
• El Paso, Texas
10 Nov 23
I would think it would be difficult allowing Hudson to go to a normal school because if he were to make friends with those kinds of kids that want to drink he'd be in deep trouble. But for her other two, shouldn't they have the chance to make friends?
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92481)
• United States
10 Nov 23
They aren’t worried about Hudson getting into trouble since he’s just eight (I’m sure that will come later). He won’t be able to go to a traditional school for awhile because of all the different therapies his stupid birth mother has now necessitated for him (physical, speech, and feeding). You also have to be able to eat 100% orally, and he isn’t there yet. His school from age 4 to 6 was specifically for special needs children, so the teachers knew how to do things like feed kids through G tubes.
Because Amyra(now 12) was premature, she was also fitted with a G tube and had multiple therapies. So my sister (who taught high school until she got married), started off home schooling Amyra, with the thought of her going to regular school after the tube was removed. Only, she didn’t. So now, the youngest, Annelyn is four, and she’s starting to homeschool her too.
They have friends through church, and luckily, Amyra has cousins her age. Her best friend though, she met through tai kwan do (is that the spelling?), and she also takes art classes with kids her own age.
However, I agree with YOU, rebelann. I think the girls should have a chance to be in a regular classroom, with regular kids. The girls are very sociable. My sister and her husband don’t like the school system, but they can afford a private school if it really was necessary (big IF).
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30355)
• United Kingdom
10 Nov 23
I would love to do that, at least for a while. In fact I've been wondering how we could fit it in, because the girls are still in school and in the holidays have activities they don't want to miss. But I would love the chance to travel with them. My mother had a dream of going to India with me but the time was never right
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160626)
• United States
11 Nov 23
I would so do it. If the cats would agree. Any state you go to has some great attractions and history.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92481)
• United States
11 Nov 23
It would be fun to get an up close view of what they learned about in history. I don't know how they'll do with a four year old while the others are being taught, but they probably have a plan for that.
I would be nervous about losing Sadie while traveling, but they don't have any pets (to the dismay of everyone but my sister, lol).
@wolfgirl569 (105977)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Nov 23
I might enjoy it if I didn't have the pets
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41394)
• United States
11 Nov 23
Has your sister considered renting an RV? A lot less expensive than buying one, especially if they end up not liking it.
My daughter wants to live on a cruise ship. I enjoyed the only one we've been able to go on (long story), but I sure wouldn't want to live on one. I want to put my feet up in my own recliner, sleep in my own bed, and fry my own potatoes.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339591)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Nov 23
Vin and I bought a motor-home in Ireland and traveled extensively through Ireland, Europe and Britain. I'm not sure I'd want to do it with kids. We were away 7 months in 2015 and another 3 months in 2017. Then we sold it. If we were younger, we'd do it all again.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16382)
• Raurkela, India
11 Nov 23
I wanted to travel for site seeing when I was young but not now. I get tired very soon. I had to travel a lot because of my husband's frequent transfer as a government officer. I am happy I am settled in one place.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16382)
• Raurkela, India
12 Nov 23
@AmbiePam I should say it wasn't as arrange all the home articles, bags and baggages, arrange the new house. Many things were damaged in shifting. That's the reason I am happy that I don't have move around now.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178131)
• United States
11 Nov 23
I like the traveling part; but I would not want to be cooking all the time. The Florida Keys and Everglades would be our destination. Where does your sister live? A close State Park would be a good destination as well. Have a good weekend.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178131)
• United States
12 Nov 23
@AmbiePam You'd be cooking and cleaning up all the time. Enjoy your day!
1 person likes this
@TraveOnWorld (854)
• Georgia
11 Nov 23
Would love to travel the RV way. I've done camping road trips for short stretches and very long stretches and there are always two problems if you are not travelling alone:
One is the weather. It cannot be controlled and it is difficult to keep people busy in a small space in foul weather.
Two are the people. Some people like to travel but they do not really understand what it can take out of person to continually be in a different place so often. And that small place get even smaller when tempers flare.
Personally, I would rent first and see if the family can manage the time and the effort it takes to be on the road. Happy travels to them!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67781)
• United States
10 Nov 23
I can sleep in my car if need be. It is a CRV after all.
I recommend the national parks for beauty and history. There’s a site that chronicles historical markers in America (most states have databases for their markers as well), and that would be a good resource for finding interesting places. There are also things like the Trail of Tears or the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
Thanks for thinking of me!
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Nov 23
I've never traveled in a camper before. My daughter and her husband just bought a newer, larger camper. But, they mainly use it for camping in Michigan. They don't go on trips too far away. Maybe they will once their kids get older or maybe not.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35574)
•
11 Nov 23
Different strokes as they say. I remember my uncle and Aunt had a camper and traveled all over the U.S. for summer vacations and when they retired. I am drawn to the adventure of it all but would probably find it uncomfortable and inconvenient. But that's just my personality, traveling on highways these days is so crowded. And with the massive influx of illegal immigrants, it will be even more so.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (83975)
• Rupert, Idaho
11 Nov 23
It could be fun, if that was something the person was into, for sure. I have never been able to do a lot of traveling myself, so can't say if I would enjoy it or not lol
1 person likes this