One Investment in Your Child You'll Never Regret

Earlier this week I shared about my Father-Son kindergarten trip with my son, Lincoln. I have gotten a few questions about our trip, so below are some thoughts on why, where, how and what you can do on a parent-child trip!

Why do you do them?

Very simply for a chance to get away with my boys and mark a milestone of starting school. They have a long academic road ahead of them (potentially 20+ years of school), so getting away for the weekend marks the significance of the step/transition they are taking into the next phase of life.

The trip builds memories and affection with each child. We still often talk about the trips I took with my twins and with my eight-year old. The trips solidify our father-son bond, and provide incredible memories as a family. If you have more than one child, you realize the importance of good, quality, extended one-on-one time. This is good both for the child and for the parent. Honestly, this is something I longed for growing up and never did with my father (passed away when I was six years old) or my step-father.

Where do you go, what do you do and how do you pay for it?

I went to a different place with each of my boys. I took the twins to Winston-Salem (home of my alma mater), Carson to Greenville, SC, and Lincoln to Atlanta. Kristen and I decide together where we should go based on the time of the year and finances.

Each weekend trip includes a college football game, good food, and lots of outdoor activity. We take in the best things for families each city has to offer.For instance, in Greenville, SC, Carson and I took the Mouse on Main challengeand explored downtown Greenville for hours (Hindsight, I probably would have done separate trips for my twins instead of bringing them together).

We definitely save and budget for this, and at the same time, try to do things on the cheaper side as much as possible. But, as you know, there are expenses (flight, car, hotel, food, tickets to museums and games, etc…) for any out-of-town getaway, so start saving!

How should you do your trip?

Do these trips however you like: father-son, mother-son, mother-daughter, or father-daughter. Where you go and what you do really does not matter more than the function and purpose of getting away and creating some memories. Do a stay-cation in your home town and explore, drive to the nearest big city, or fly somewhere out-of-town. Whatever works for your family and for your budget.

By no means does this replace the daily, one-on-one time you have with your children in your home. A big weekend away once every few years does not make up for an absent or workaholic dad. I hope to leave behind a legacy of Christlikeness with my boys, and I know a weekend trip away will never take the place of the small, daily investments I make in my children.

My weekend away with Lincoln is officially the last kindergarten trip I will take with our boys, and it was a great way to wrap-up the kindergarten trips! Kristen and I look forward to future mother-son and father-son getaways in the future!

Your Turn:

What are some milestones coming up in the lives of your children?

What specific ways can you intentionally pour into them to mark the transition into the next milestone?

Where will you go on your parent-child getaway?