Traveling full time or for extended periods is not the same as vacation travel – especially with kids. It’s slower. We have to take down days. Sometimes we go, go, go – then we crash. Other times we may save our adventures for the weekend. Sometimes we explore everything we can. Other days the kids just want to hang out with each other and have movie nights. We have to remember that it’s unreasonable to “do it all.” We set priorities and we “do some of it.” That’s what works for our family. When the kids are older we may be able to do more but at these ages we explore when we can and some days we’re just “home.”
Our daily schedule also varies depending on the time zone.
In Canada R was working pretty close to his normal schedule. Our condo complex had a lot of activities on site which was wonderful for us. Our day looked like a normal summer day. The younger kids are early risers so they would be up about 6 and usually watch a couple of cartoons. We had breakfast when everyone else woke up and sometimes a morning walk. Then 1-2 hours of homeschool then usually 30 min – 1 hour at the playground. Then lunch, 1 hour of homeschool, pool time, 1-2 more hours of homeschool, then R would get off of work we’d eat, kids went to bed about 8-9 . We’d then have 1-2 hours to catch up on our shows before bedtime. On the weekends we would travel as far as Victoria or as near as the town of Ladysmith.
In Costa Rica our schedule was similar but we didn’t have as many activities that we could do near the house. We got a lot of school done this month. We did take breaks at a nearby pool but it was too cold for the kids to enjoy the close one and the other one we just went to during the weekend. Instead we tried soccer breaks and just running around the house and up and down the driveway.
Now that we’re in Europe our schedule is flipped.
Denmark was easy to keep a standard schedule. We have not totally gotten over our jet lag and I have become a late sleeper (so odd to not have an alarm anymore). We generally would be getting out of the house about 9 or 10. Every other day we planned an activity – either going downtown (20 minute bus ride), ice skating, or something similar. On our “off days” we stayed closer to the house, went to the park, played on playgrounds (there were some pretty nice ones that were easy to walk to), or went to the pool. The kids still went to bed at a reasonable time. R worked starting about 2-3 until 11 or 12. We were occasionally able to sneak in a night time show but not as often.
In Morocco and Portugal R took a few days off so we were on more of a vacation schedule. He still logged in and did work most days but was not working a full 8 hours each day.
Spain has totally messed up my (and the kids) internal clock. I still can’t figure out when people eat. From what I understand locals may have a coffee and pastry in the morning, a snack around 11 am, lunch around 2pm and dinner about 9-10pm or later. It totally has me confused. What we do is still eat breakfast at home – whatever that may be. We carry bread, cheese, fruit and sometimes pepperoni with us to whatever our plans are for the day. We usually eat that as a snack at 11 or 12 (our normal lunch time). At that time we are usually at a playground or out and about and there are no opened restaurants. We then eat a second snack/lunch about 2 (either at the house or tapas or fast food). Then we eat dinner about 5 or 7 (at home – no one is open). The younger kids are going to bed about 9. The 11 year old at 10 or 11. I’m usually a 10-11m bedtime, now it’s usually midnight. R usually is in bed 1-2 am. For some reason late bedtimes are in the thing in Spain. The local kids are are 10pm-11pm bedtimes even for the little ones. We can’t do that. I would prefer to stick with 8 but they just aren’t tired until later. R is generally working 2:30 to midnight on the computer.
We have also had a hard time figuring out when to shop for things. The store close for siesta at 2 then don’t open until around 5. That sounded great in concept but it doesn’t fit our kids clocks so it’s been a little bit of a battle. We have just had to make sure we do a little better planning ahead and not running out of food, especially on Sunday. If the weekday store schedules are confusing I can’t at all figure out Sunday’s schedule.
Home school has also been a little trickier on this schedule. I like to get an hour in morning before we go out. Then we explore. We then try to get 2-4 more hours in the afternoon. M has been really in to writing books and movies lately so she’s been working on that in to the evening. It’s not the best learning times for them but I think it still works.
Next week we are in Ireland – I’m hoping our schedule will be a little more normal for us, we’ll see …
I think it’s important to keep a somewhat stable schedule as you travel but you also have to also be able to make adjustments (especially with home school). What may work for one family may not work at all for yours. If everyone is cranky and grumpy, see what you can do to change the schedule. If everyone is well fed, happy and content – you’re good.
