Barely one day goes past during which we don’t ask every parent’s question: What is best for our children?

Don’t we all want to teach our children the things we know to do best ourselves? And don’t we all want our children to grow up in a happy, fulfilled and satisfied family? Therefore, it was apparent that we would travel with our children; the very thing we know best and the very thing that makes us the happiest.

We always wanted our children to grow up learning to trust their instincts, to have faith in the universe, to believe in the good of people and to be able to live with very little. Lessons they could learn at home, too, but we wanted them to experience the life of a wanderer at first hand. And we concentrated on becoming a family with strong bonds and understanding.

But when is the right time to stop? When comes the moment when our children need something else, too? Not only do we want Desmond and Lenny to experience the diversity of our planet, no, we also want to give the great gift of roots, of understanding who they are and where they come from and of the magic connection with people from a similar background. A sense of belonging. And once they have lived both lives, they will be able to make their own choices.

Yanna wrote on her forum “freakfamilies”:

Beside to think of leaving a good planet for our children, we should work to leave good children for our planet!

Okay, let’s try. But what can we do to make our children responsible and respectful grown ups? Probably very little. We know that one day, they will go their own way and make their own decisions.

So, what’s best for our boys now? Still, when we talk about gem stones, gold or finding coins, their first reaction is usually: “If we find any of those, we can travel longer!”, but at the same time, we also notice a new notion in our offspring that expresses a wish for a pet, an own bedroom and some more toys – a home. Although, when we ask Desmond and Lenny about this, they always reply that it can wait, that travelling still comes first.

When working in China, we didn’t have as much quality time for our boys, as we had wished to. They grew up very fast; too fast. By travelling again, we have given them the gift of a childhood extension. Desmond and Lenny have hours every day to play, to create, to be themselves and no peer-pressure that influences their own styles. At the same time, we are aware that a re-integration into a life with peers and (more) pressure is probably crucial for later survival (or at least that is the general opinion of our society and deeply instilled in us, too). Yet, we also know that the skills and experiences that are gained by travelling the world’s roads will be invaluable on this planet in the years to come.

We get many encouraging words from friends, family and strangers that confirm the advantages of travel with children and many just as encouraging messages that remind us of a necessary (and indeed possible) soon re-integration.

What is left to do for us is to evaluate the status quo and make the important decision when and where to settle.