While living in Europe, we’re taking advantage of cheap (like, $40 roundtrip tickets, with half-price for kids! Thank you RyanAir) airlines to reconnect with friends and family scattered across the continent. The travel also reveals the third-culture kid (TCK) tendencies of my children. I don’t often write about TCKness, but I am a TCK and… Read More Traveling with TCKs
One of the most traditional events around Christmastime in Romania is the slaughtering of the pig. Ask nearly any Romanian what Christmas means to them and the killing of the pig, a family affair, is almost always mentioned. Santa Claus and presents are high at the top of the list, the birth of Jesus might be… Read More The Christmas Pig
This piece I wrote was published at The Gospel Coalition nearly two weeks ago. In light of recent events, it’s more timely than ever. ********************************************************************************************************************** Last spring I promised my kids a visit to a new playground. It was early evening when we pulled up to the play structure in an urban Virginia neighborhood a mile from… Read More Where Can We Be Safe?
Nearly every weekday morning when I drop my children off at school in our small, southern Romanian town, a dozen or so adults mill about the corner across the street. Each one carries a backpack and one duffel bag. They are waiting for the large green tour bus that never fails to appear. A typed… Read More Romania’s Fractured Families
We came to Romania with only the essentials in toys – Lego and Duplo, a few Barbies, favorite dress-up clothes and a favorite stuffed animal. I wondered how the children would entertain themselves in their new environment. Here’s what we’ve learned so far. 1. The girls, ages 6 and 4, spend inordinate amounts of time… Read More What I learned, and changed, about kid’s entertainment
Unless you have been reading willtravelwithkids since its inception over three years ago, you probably missed the post about confining kids to strollers on outings. This week I’m in Transylvania, interspersing language school with adventurous outings in the area around Sibiu. This afternoon, during a secluded hike meandering with the children along a groomed path… Read More Not stroller-confined – hiking in Transylvania
At some point at the end of May we arrived in Romania by car. Exact dates and days of the week escape me. In late spring we stored our personal possessions, threw our furnished house on Airbnb and packed up our clothes and expectations into five totelockers, two suitcases and one duffel bag. Romania met… Read More First month in Romania – What I learned in June
Before we arrived in Romania, Romanians and foreigners alike warned us of the poor quality of the roads. After expecting the worst, I have been pleasantly surprised. Perhaps compared to more developed (and not post-communist) European countries, the roads leave much to be desired. Few markings, no shoulders, ditches and drop-offs are a hazard at… Read More “Frozen” on a rural Romanian road
It was easy to get the girls, ages five and three, excited for a five-day trip to Portugal to visit friends and be with daddy on a work trip. “Hey kids, we’re going to visit Portugal!” Blank stares. “We’re going to eat lots of pastries and go to playgrounds!” Much cheering and excitement. Then it… Read More Five Highlights of Lisbon – a child’s perspective
My mother-in-law and I took my five and three-year-old to see Cinderella. After reading reviews and checking with friends who had seen it, I decided it was suitable. Honestly, the romance, charm, character development, theatrical costumes, sweeping soundtrack, superb acting (think Downton Abbey) and fitting simplicity of the story line will be grossly under-appreciated by… Read More Cinderella – an unexpected lesson
