<p>I can’t ever remember being more jealous. A friend whose daughter recently was accepted to an ivy (and going to defer a year) is buying around the world tickets, taking a year off from her 25 plus year legal career, and joining her daughter. They want to learn along the way. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>They must have a very good relationship. At just about this time kids are very ready to be out on their own without the restrictions of mom or dad, try new things, meet new people forge new relationships. As one of the dad’s said here,‘we raise them to set them free.’ No, no way would I want a round the world trip with any of my kids when they are 18. Husband yes, kids, no. And I have an excellent relationship with my kids, too. But to each, their own. But, I do have visions of scenes from Titanic.</p>
<p>Sounds great for both of them! Lucky they can each do it and be able to have that special experience. I gather the mom is not married, nor has other children still living at home.</p>
<p>Even if it is not for everyone, the fact is that both are into it and they are lucky to be able to do it.</p>
<p>My kids would be appalled. At 17, they expect to be traveling extensively internationally by themselves, and the older one was. My wife at 17 hitchhiked through Europe for six months.</p>
<p>Me? Well, I at least made it to the Palisades.</p>
<p>Mine wouldn’t do it either. My older one has traveled a lot independently. Just saying that for the mom and D in the post, it sounds nice if both are into it. Mine were ready and wanting to go out on their own. The experience in the post does sound lovely for those who would enjoy it. As a mom, I would. :D</p>
<p>To each his own. It’s a great trip but mine would never do that. One is camping in Africa at the moment and the other is trying to rig a senior thesis that requires (!) a ton of overseas research. </p>
<p>Over Christmas break, the younger one asked me if I would rent a lake house for him and his friends. I told him I could rent a house but I would have to stay with them. His reply? “That could be awkward” </p>
<p>Meanwhile, H and I are giddily planning some long delayed travelling. Empty Nest years! Love them!</p>
<p>Speaking of which–how’s newlywed life></p>
<p>Oh, how are you doing Soovt? All going well for your very talented daughter? I was watching one of these shows, American Idol or Grease, I think and wondering if anyone from C.C.'s or their kid may be there? </p>
<p>And Mini; how’s your daughter too. Is she still doing gymnastics?Guess she will be in the Olympics someday.</p>
<p>Sounds like fun. Lots of young people do have good relationships with their parents and would enjoy such a trip.</p>
<p>I’m in the minority here because I think it’s a dream come true! But then, my D and I both have similar tastes and interests. Tried and true travelling history, too.
Maybe it’s because I lost my Dad recently, and there were so many plans we’d made that never made it into actions. A year of adventures that will result in a lifetime of memories.</p>
<p>WE still travel with our boys–but in two to three week increments. 52 week increments would not be welcomed–by either party.</p>
<p>But I had similar thoughts, NSM. You never know what the future holds. If both M and D have that inclination–they should act on it.</p>
<p>Two people can travel together without being constantly with each other–for example, they spend 3 days in Paris–Mom stays on for three days more, while D goes off on a three day excursion staying at Youth Hostels in the surrounding area–you could have the best of both worlds!</p>
<p>My husband and I were happy that our son invited us to come cross-country ski (and downhill ski, in the case of H and S, but not me) in Calfornia with him for his last spring break before he graduated last year. We had gone on cross country ski trips with him in New England since he was 7, but had never skiied “out West”, and it was really nice that he wanted to do this with us instead of going somewhere with his friends for break. But I can not imagine him or my daughter inviting us to spend a year with them on an international adventure. It’s great for your friend and her daughter, if that is what they want to do, but I think a lot of what is to be gained from such travel for college age kids is learning to manage on their own, without a parent to help or suggest.</p>
<p>This child attends boarding school, perhaps that helps! She has done a year abroad program and travelled extensively with the family. Mom is a single mom with 2 older children in college.</p>
<p>They do have an amazingly close relationship. I’ve rarely seen a mother and daughter seem more like friends.</p>
<p>Suggestions for them? Language study and cooking lessons are high on their list.</p>
<p>Hi BHG…to answer your question about my D (though it is totally off topic here but I don’t want to ignore you, but don’t want to continue to derail the topic past this)…</p>
<p>No, my daughter did not audition for American Idol or Grease. I don’t believe any CCer’s are involved. My D doesn’t want to audition for anything that would take her out of school as that is her current focus…college/training and she also doesn’t want to even be tempted if any sort of auditions resulted in any casting, etc. So, she’ll just be doing shows where she is now. She’ll graduate at 20 and that is plenty of time to go for opportunities and she’ll have her training behind her. Anyway, she is not the Sandy type. She is more the Rizzo type! She was in Grease in our state two years ago as Frenchy (an adult production). As far as Idol, she does have the right voice for that, to be honest. I have no clue if she’d ever want to try for it, though wouldn’t right now due to school. A year ago, we were on a cruise and they had an American Idol type competition for a week that became immensely popular on the ship. It was for adults (there was also a youth one) and my D was 17 but didn’t want to do the youth one and went for the adult one (I don’t think they originally realized her age).Every night, there would be cuts and a show fashioned like on TV. It got so popular that the finals were held in the main theater where the entire ship’s passengers came to see it. My D ended up winning it. It was a lot of fun because our extended family was all there and the contestants spanned a wide age range (though were all adults). The judges were saying, “you should be on the REAL American Idol.” I don’t watch that show, nor the Grease one. My D is in musical theater but she also can and does sing rock/pop/jazz vocals. As far as the Grease thing, there are so many talented young adults in her BFA program as well as the many other top BFA programs who would be good for that and very well likely even more so than some of the contestants but I don’t know of any of them who tried out, likely being in school and all. The BFA programs are really not the kind of college programs that you can leave and return too easily. I’m glad my D is putting her schooling and training first at this time. She is still in shows and performing, but just not in the kinds that take one out of school. Hope all is well in your family. Now back to the regularly scheduled thread.</p>
<p>We have enjoyed bicycle tours in the Netherlands–mostly flat and safe cycle paths, easy to rent bikes.</p>
<p>Biking in the Loire valley is nice too. Chateaus are spaced apart very comfortable biking distances. There’s a nice language school in Tours - the Institute D’Etudes Francaises. If you’d rather learn German, there are Goethe Institutes all over Germany. I could easily still travel with my mother. We never get on each other’s nerves - haven’t since early teen days. My Dad though is another story!</p>
<p>My childhood best friend quit his (excellent) job three-and-a-half years ago and took off with his wife and two children (then 9 and 6) to sail around the world in a 33-foot sailboat. Originally, they were supposed to be back for Christmas 2006, about 39 months after their departure, but by this Christmas they had only gotten a little more than halfway. (They were in Thailand around then.) Of course, they’ve made lots of stops; they spent almost 10 months in New Zealand, and 7 in Australia. At this point, I’m not expecting them back until late spring 2008 at the earliest – five-and-a-half years after departure! If then.</p>
<p>When my kids first heard about this (it was being planned for about 18 months in advance), they were petrified that I might try to pull something similar and drag them off around the world with no one to talk to for weeks at a time but each other and their parents. I assured them that it wasn’t happening. My friend definitely thought (at the time) that he had to do it then or never, because he couldn’t imagine his older daughter putting up with it much past 12. I don’t know what he’s thinking about it now that she’s 13 and they’re all still halfway around the world.</p>
<p>You know what seems interesting to me? Those pilgrimage’s they take through Spain and other countries to sacred places like Lordes.I’d like to try that someday.</p>
<p>Soozievt: Oh that’s so great! Sounds like she knows exactly what she is doing! Maybe the silver screen is in her future!</p>
<p>Now I am totally jealous. If my mother were a tad younger there is NO ONE on the earth that I would rather do that with. And that was true when I was a kid too. Lucky. (Although I never in a million years would have found a year to do it in or the money. Perhaps a shorter trip…)</p>
<p>BTW - I bet this has nothing to do with “independence” (or lack thereof as many have suggested). It might just have to do with companionship, love and fun.</p>
<p>Exactly Weenie. This is a girl who went to boarding school across the Country, by choice, at 14. Top student accepted early to Princeton. Spent the year she was 16 in Italy with a great deal of freedom. Spent this past summer working overseas. Has been all over volunteering.</p>
<p>Why is it so hard to believe a teen actually adores her mother and wants to spend a fun year with her?</p>