I’ve never been much of a gambler. I just don’t get the appeal. I know some people say it’s the thrill of the win, or the rush of adrenaline when you go all in, or even just the sound of the coins falling, but none that really tickles my fancy. I’ve even been to Vegas-twice- so I’ve pulled a few handles and blown on a few dice. I still don’t get it.
It turns out I’ve actually been gambling all along, though, and I never realized it. Traveling is one of the biggest high stakes gambling games around, and I am in deep.
~Risking it "all" high above the ocean~
I want to be clear: I don’t think traveling in general is any more dangerous than staying at home. But whenever you put yourself out there, doing anything other than sitting in a stupor on your couch, you are taking a risk that something could go wrong. Again, I am not talking about life altering tragedies, or even scary near-misses, but just the average upset of the flat tire, lost passport variety.
~Never be afraid to take the leap~
The more you encounter in the world, the greater the opportunity for something to go wrong. It’s just the law of averages that most people accept as a hazard of the game.
But, here’s where I cross the line from casual observer to a full on gambling addiction of traveling proportions. I travel, and more importantly, take my children traveling because I know that the odds are not in our favor.
That’s right. I know that something is going to go wrong along the road. I’m betting on it.
~Problem solving skills in actions~
Travel Teaches Kids Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, and All Around Awesomeness.
There are some skills that you can learn by passively sitting on your couch and absorbing them through book knowledge. But, there are some skills that you just can’t learn unless you actually do them. Handling a stressful situation is one of those things. You can talk about what to do. You can make a flowchart showing a dichotomous decision making scheme. But, until you are in the moment, with the adrenaline pumping, you just don’t know how will respond.
It’s the real life two minute drill, and you have the ball in your hands. You can practice it all you want, but when it really counts is when the game winning touchdown is on the line.
With that as the scenario, I want my kids to be able to put the ball in the endzone every single time (followed by a wicked touchdown victory dance.)*
*For those of you who don’t care for my football analogy, let me say it another way. I want my kids to have the skills to handle a stressful situation successfully (and then do a wicked dance to celebrate, of course.)
~Take on the world, kid! You are a conqueror!~
So, we travel as a family, fully expecting that something will go wrong. In fact, we find that we are kinda disappointed when things go exactly as planned. Not only do mishaps make the best family stories, but they are also the best opportunities to practice critical thinking skills and stress management. While we learn together how to handle the specific pitfalls that life hands us, there is bigger lesson to be learned, as well. With each problem solved, we are reminded that we can persevere. That we can overcome. That we are conquerors.
~Conquering the Top of Enchanted Rock~
If my kids leave my care as grownups with the life skills to feel like they can conquer any situation that life throws at them, then I will have done my job. And if they gain those skills while traveling, then you know we had a heck of good time together in the process. I think that deserves a happy dance right there.
~The Payout~
So, we’ll keep on the rolling the traveling dice and taking our chances. Yes, the stakes are high and the house has the odds. But, when you win, the payout is huge.
So funny that Brad wrote about this the other day: http://wp.me/p1DhXV-Ry, then I saw an article on CNN Travel about this: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/20/travel/kids-travel-present/index.html, and now yours.
There must be something in the water, and we must be spreading it because others are catching wind. Thanks for your example!
I agree completely! The best parts of our trips are always the unexpected – the boot on the car in Poland, being stuck in an airport for 3 days because of a storm, and the riot police in Germany. My kids learn to be flexible and handle changes without melting down. I wish all adults had those same skills. haha
I totally agree with you. The key for not only teaching critical thinking and problem solving is knowing that the world is not perfect and willingly taking on the challenges. It's also understanding that things are not black and white and not everything is going to be perfectly safe. I love how you travel as a classroom environment. It's amazing!
I miss traveling! I would love to take some adventures with my family soon.
I don’t gamble much either, but you’ve made me realise it may not be slots, but our travel sure is a gamble. Looking forward to the huge payout for our kids!
Erin Bender (Travel With Bender) recently posted…Tel Aviv: The Place to Stay & The Food To Eat
Love this! We just returned from a camping trip during which it was freezing cold and raining the entire time… during the traditionally hottest, driest month of the year. Go figure. When we got back my 8 year old said it was the greatest trip ever. She loved how much we laughed. Victory!!!
Elizabeth recently posted…Dreaming
You know – I’m not a gambler either – Ive never been able to bring myself to take that much of a risk – yet I would gladly go and jump off a bridge in Costa Rica or out of a plane over Switzerland. Go figure!! You make really interesting points!!
Megan Claire recently posted…A Word With Wanderlusters
I’m also not a gambler. At all. When I go to Vegas, I use $5 to gamble and always walk away with that same $5 and my free drink. However, I do love to travel and will do all kinds of crazy things while doing so. Never thought about it as being a gamble before, today.
Kimmy @ AfterGlobe recently posted…Camping at Canyon Creek Campground
Great analogy! I don’t like gambling either, but like you said, travel can be a gamble and one that I take as often as possible! Travel mishaps do make for great stories and eventful travel, and it doesn’t hurt that we can all learn so much along the way!
Jenna recently posted…In Motion: Norway
As a nanny I can definitely see this with kids. There are so many unexpected things and it’s empowering for them to figure it out and work through it! Great post!
Anna recently posted…Fishing – Kailua Kona, Hawaii
I wrote a guest post once about how a life of travel and adventure help us face our fears. I honestly believe it’s the best gift we can give our kids. It’s a risk, of course, but isn’t everything a risk when you’re a parent? Ya just gotta take that leap of faith and trust they’ll turn out OK, whether because of or in spite of, you.
Bret @ Green Global Travel recently posted…INTERVIEW: The Garifuna Collective Preserves the Rich Culture of Belize
I’ve never thought about traveling from this perspective before, but yes, I totally agree! And nothing gives you the feeling of accomplishment more than after you’ve solved a problem in the moment, hands on.
Jessica recently posted…A Pinterest Roundup of Cleaning Routines