For many, a vacation typically entails a trip lasting a week or two each year. However, for a select group of adventurous families, travel constitutes a way of life. These families often spend months, or even years, on the move—whether traveling by land, sea, or air.
Embracing Parenthood on the Road
Libryia Jones has always harbored a desire to explore the world, yet various hurdles consistently obstructed her journey.
Although she was presented with a year-long internship in China, her daughter was not allowed to accompany her. She also sought to participate in a year-long group travel program, but children were prohibited from joining.
Frustrated by the constant barriers to fulfilling her dreams, Jones decided to take matters into her own hands. She co-founded Wandering Moms, a community of over 8,000 traveling women, predominantly single mothers.
“These mothers are literally providing their children with a global education!” exclaims Jones.
She organizes a “wander year” during which families reside in four different locations for three months each. Recent destinations have included Thailand, South Africa, the Czech Republic, and Colombia.
Jones asserts that the belief a child’s stability hinges solely on a North American lifestyle is misguided. “Their stability comes from being with their parents,” she explains. “If they have supportive parents, they will feel secure regardless of the circumstances.”
Traveling with teenagers poses its own obstacles, particularly in fostering friendships and granting necessary independence. “I prioritized enrolling her in soccer teams wherever we went,” notes Jones. “Being around peers her age was a tremendous help.”
“Plus, she enjoyed increased independence,” Jones adds, highlighting that many countries offer safer environments than North American cities. In Prague, for instance, her daughter would navigate the tram system alone, and in Thailand, she would use Uber to get to soccer practice.
Education also presents challenges when traveling with older children. Jones suggests looking into the various schooling options available, such as homeschooling, unschooling, or virtual schools.
Despite the challenges, Jones firmly believes the rewards are immense.
“You transform lessons that most children learn from textbooks into practical, real-world experiences,” she comments. Her daughter treasures memories like visiting Anne Frank’s hiding spot and standing where Nelson Mandela delivered his first speech after his release from prison.
“At any stage in your life, you have the power to shape the life you desire,” advises Jones. “Children should never be seen as an obstacle. Instead, they can inspire you to show them that they can achieve anything in life. Who better to learn from than you, and what better way than through real-life examples?”
Traveling the World from Kelowna
Charles and Micki Kosman, based in Kelowna, BC, are seldom found at home. Since 2003, they have journeyed through over 40 countries.
Although they’ve had to adapt—choosing traditional accommodations over budget hostels and opting for reliable forms of transport—the arrival of children did not deter their adventures.
“We recognized that having kids would introduce new complexities to our travels, but we had encountered numerous families on the road, which reassured us we could continue our explorations,” shares Micki.
When their son was just three weeks old, they embarked on a 1,300-kilometre road trip. By the age of two, he had already traveled throughout much of North America, as well as to Cuba, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.
“Many assume traveling with children is exceedingly challenging,” she remarks. “In my experience, that’s simply not true.”
Now that their son is 12 and their daughter is nine, the family recently went fishing for piranhas in the Amazon, followed by ten days of snorkeling with turtles, sharks, and sea lions in the Galapagos. “The kids now possess unforgettable memories that span entire continents. Our daughter still longs for a chocolate croissant from a bakery in Spain, while our son reminisces about boogie boarding in Costa Rica,” recalls Micki.
Life Afloat
When I connected with Behan Gifford, she was navigating the 32 islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. “Can I get back to you later? We might not have internet for a week,” she mentioned.
Since 2008, Gifford, her husband Jamie, and their three children have been sailing around the globe. “When we departed from Seattle, we planned for a two to five-year journey,” Gifford reflects. Astonishingly, a decade has passed, and they’re still on the move.
On land, the Giffords enjoyed successful careers by conventional measures. However, they yearned for a different lifestyle—one that embraced minimalism and harmony with nature.
“Time and again, we contemplated other ways to simplify and redirect our lives, but we always returned to the allure of a nomadic life at sea,” she reveals. “A boat acts like a perfect vehicle for far-reaching travel.”
The Gifford family sails wherever the wind carries them, often changing hemispheres to steer clear of hurricanes. “The specifics are always shifting,” she explains. “You can choose a date or a destination, but not both!”
This lifestyle has instilled in them a sense of adaptability, both while traveling and as parents. For instance, their approach to education has evolved significantly. “I never intended to homeschool, but it became essential,” Gifford admits, noting their life on the water serves as an unmatched educational environment.
“Our children have developed perspectives grounded in firsthand experiences rather than media portrayals,” Gifford explains. “They have listened to islanders in Papua New Guinea share how their communities are being sold out to foreign corporations for resources. They’ve explored various reefs, learning to distinguish a healthy ecosystem from one that’s overfished or adversely affected by climate change. They have come to understand how fortunate they are to have control over their futures, grasping how rare this opportunity is in the world. It’s an invaluable education.”
