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Get
set, go, bond
Mothers
vacationing with kids is the latest travel trend across the world.
Adventure and rejuvenation apart, it leads to the much-needed emotional
bonding before the raging adolescent hormones kick in. Ready to pack?
Meaningful mother-child journeys are emerging as
one of the fastest-growing travel trends all over the world. A recent
survey, conducted by Kelton Research Firm, asked 1,000 parents with kids
aged between five and 17 what they gained out of vacationing together. 97
per cent of parents said their children discover new sides of their mother;
something that would have been quite impossible to achieve in their hectic
daily lives. The survey also found that families tend to be at ease,
excited and affectionate while on such vacations.
Says Nandini Hoon of Heritage Getaways, “When
mothers plan holidays with kids, it is a simple way to tell the children
that they are important in the mother’s life.” Fashion designer Ritu Beri
gives credit to smart mothers of our times, who have found the perfect way
to balance work and home life. She says, “Mothers always love to bond with
their child. Despite their hectic schedules and workload, today, they have
figured out a perfect way to connect with their children before the
impudence of adolescence sets in. When I take Gia (daughter) for a holiday,
we focus on doing what she likes. The key thing is to stay focussed on the
child.”
It’s not just children, but adolescents and adults,
who are taking off with their mothers for vacations. Engineer Suparna
Tripathi, who got married three years ago, recently took off with her
mother to spend some time together. She says, “I’m planning to have a baby.
Before life gets hectic with work and a child, I wanted to get away with my
mother to Darjeeling. She loves greenery and cold mountain air. We caught
up on old times, ate great food, and watched the
sunrise together. I was building memories with my mom.”
Travel agents have been creating special
mother-child packages. Sumitra Senapathy, travel expert and founder of WOW
(Women on Wanderlust) Club, “With the great Indian summer beating down on
our heads, the best places to head to are the Himalayas, Nainital, Kasauli
and Mussorie. Singapore is also very childfriendly, with its museums,
animal sanctuaries etc. You can even plan a sleepover at the Aquarium in
Sentosa!” Some destinations like Bangkok offer opportunities for art and
craft activities. Children can learn the local dance, join a cooking
class, go swimming, take taekwondo lessons etc.
Says actor Perizaad Zorabian, “Both Zaha and Zayaan
loved their last safari while we were vacationing in Koh Samui. We rented
bikes and would travel together to different places. Mothers should involve
their kids in planning the trip too; they will love it. It’s ideal not to
take your domestic help. Let the child know you better. Trips aren’t meant
to show your perfectionist side; they’re meant to show the real you.” Model
Ramneek Pantal has taken her kids to Bali and Goa. “Travelling is a way of
teaching kids how to get along with different people and prepare for
unpredictable situations. Both Goa and Bali have friendly beaches.”
Adventure-loving mothers can go river rafting in
Rishikesh; the laid-back ones can take their kids to a spa or Ayurvedic
destinations, like Alleppey. Says Hari Nair, founder and CEO of a travel
portal, “The elephant safari in Jaldapara National Park, West Bengal, is
also a hit. It is a beautiful place that hasn’t been explored by tourists
yet. Young mothers also hire houseboats and ride on the placid waters of
Vembanad Lake in the spas of Alleppey, Kerala.”
Businesswoman Mallika Chopra, who travels frequently with her daughters,
says, “We visit new places, eat different foods, learn about history and
seek different ways of doing things. These are the experiences that form a
child’s sense of identity, helps them accept their uniqueness, and allows
them to be connected to the larger world. Recently, we went camping in
Joshua Tree, California, with my daughter’s friends and their moms.
Pitching tents, making dinner on a campfire, roasting marshmallows, hiking
and rock climbing was incredibly fun!”
Says fashion designer Varija Bajaj, “When you travel with your children
alone, it helps them develop decision-making skills. I talk to them
beforehand about the places we visit. You will realise that a simple
decisionmaking process like what they’d want to do, what they’d love to
eat, goes a long way in developing their self-worth.”
So, where are you off to, this summer?
Apt destinations
Singapore for its museums and
animal sanctuaries
Bangkok for its art and craft
opportunities
Himalayas, Nainital, Kasauli and
Mussorie for their natural beauty
Rishikesh for adventure sports
like river rafting
Alleppey for a spa vacation
Why mom-child vacations are on
the rise
What’s unique about an exclusive
mom-child vacation is that the child gets the opportunity to see the mother
as an independent individual; minus family responsibilities (which often
keeps a woman from showing her funnier and more spirited side)
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