MY TODDLER-IN-TOW BUCKET LIST

In the old days I used to have a bucket list with places like the Maldives and Argentina on it… Or certain hotels that I’ve long wanted to stay at. But since having little B and even more so the last 18 months those wishes and wants have been put into perspective.

I don’t want to travel the world and tick places off a list. I want to introduce my son to experiences. Some of that involves travel but most of it is about adventure. I’m more aware than ever of the incredible experiences and privilege that travel has afforded us over the years. And of the experiences that I want to introduce my son to, through travel. But for now, whilst I’m perfectly happy at home and in the UK, my bucket list is of experiences to share with him when we can:

Yacht charter

Something I’ve long wanted to do. We’ve done plenty of this in the UK, but never in a warm-water country and never as a family. When B is a little older I’d love for us to explore the Greek islands or the Croatian coast, anchoring off a little village and rowing our tender to shore for dinner in a taverna, before heading on to a new place by sail the next morning. For now though, I want him to learn to sail, he has a little Mirror dinghy and that will be the first step.

Not speaking English

Hearing different languages is so important to help learn to speak a new language. I remember the buzz I used to get as a child managing to order bread or croissants in a shop in France, or in buying a postcard and asking for the right stamp. Remembering the words and being able to answer a question in a shop in the local language rather than English is something that I think that will be good skills for me and my son.

Culture and history

Understanding other cultures and learning about history is best learnt by doing, not reading. Meeting people and understanding things through their eyes and experiences. We have friends and family across the world and to be able to spend time with them again would be perfect. I know how fascinated my son would be by so many of the places we’ve visited and I’d love to teach him to understand differences and appreciate cultures different to his own.

Swimming

I’m doing a little happy dance this week because we could swim on our Devon staycation and I’ve finally found us lessons again. But I have to say I really miss the warm outdoor pools in hot countries. I hope that our lessons and playing on the beach at the sailing club will be enough. I’m not water confident and I really want for my son to be a strong and confident swimmer and to enjoy his swimming and pool games!

Camping and campfires

We camped when I was little and I did all my Duke of Edinburgh’s awards including the walking and camping expeditions. I’m not really a fan of camping, but I’m pretty excited to become a fan. This spring we’ve bought a family tent and we’re just waiting for a quiet weekend to have a practice camp at home in the garden before heading to the sailing club for a weekend of merriment with our friends, and no doubt zero sleep for the toddler!

Food

Both the trying of new foods and new things as well as the current novelty of actually eating out somewhere. My son is a fussy eater which comes out of six months with no kitchen and few trips out to eat. We are slowly getting back to him eating everything, like he used to. Trying new foods in new places is fun – fresh sea food (I still remember how scared I was when langoustine first arrived on a plate for me), curry, fresh falafel from a street vendor, fresh pasta, even a hotel breakfast buffet!

Flying

We did a few trips with B when he was little so he has flown a few miles. In fact he talks about flying like he remembers it! I’m sad we missed out on a year of free-seat flying with him before he was 2, but when we do fly again at least he may be old enough to reason with for the duration of a flight. I love the fun of flying (and the lounge and fizz), but most of all I love walking down the airbridge after landing and the smell and warmth of a new country. I can’t wait for him to sniff that.

Cross channel ferry

We’ve been on a little ferry ride in Devon and he loved it. But I want to recreate my summers when I was little, getting the ferry to France and then Canvas Holidays, and exploring northern France. It’s the closest place to go away abroad and the easiest as we can just fill the car. Another popular one is the ferry over to one of the Nordic countries or to Ireland? Easier still a trip to the Isle of Wight and an eventual rebooking of a holiday we should have taken in March 2020!

Group holidays

How could this not be on my list after over a year of hermitting? Being able to kick back with family and friends is just what’s needed, relaxing while the children play together (trying to relax) and maybe even having dinner out while somebody else babysits. But really just the chance to spend quality time with friends and family.

What’s on your bucket list these days? Have Covid and quarantine risks and the fact we’ve been grounded for so long changed what you want to do? I’m joining up this post with my favourite Travel Linkup. With the UK beginning to cautiously open up again internally, they’re running a topic in June around bucketlist places – be they staycations or more further afield. Just pop your post up over the first week of the month (the 1st – 7th June), add it to the link up widget found on Adventures of a London Kiwi, SilverSpoon London, Binnys Food and Travel Diaries or guest co-host Sima The Curious Pixie. Then check out some of the other cool bloggers that are involved in that months travel link up; tweet a few of the posts out to your followers that you think they will love and make a few comments here and there. It really is a great way to meet some new travel bloggers and share some blogging joy!