Plan activities on your own.
Remember, you’re on
holiday
. The
goal – for both you and your parent
– is to relax and get away from your
regular routines. Before you start your
trip, do some research and identify
activities that you and your parent
can do together, as well as activities
you can each do on your own. Being
in contact 24/7 can tax even the best
of relationships, so give each other
a bit of space and some time alone.
Take a walk by yourself, get up early
and enjoy a solo breakfast, spend
some time in a local gym. This time
apart can help make the time you’re
together that much more special.
My father died unexpectedly nine
years ago and I’m not sure my brother
and I have ever come to terms with
all the should-have, would-have and
could-have things we wanted to do
with Dad. We made a pact right then
and there that we would do those
things with Mom, and that means lots
of trips together.
Is it more challenging? Yes,
although I would say it’s not that
much different from planning for a
trip with toddlers or teens – they’re
all incredibly demanding, but you’re
really glad you brought them along! By
spending time up front planning how
your parents can enjoy the holiday, it
turns the conversation from, “What
can’t my parent do?” to “What can my
parent do with me comfortably and
safely?”
Make this the year you connect
with your ageing parents through
travel. You won’t be sorry.
Val Grubb’s father was a pilot, so she was
practically born in the air. Val and her mum
took their first holiday together when her
mum was 65, and in the 20+ years since
then, they’ve logged more than 300,000
miles together. Covering trips to Thailand,
France, Australia, China and beyond,
her blog – Travel with Aging Parents –
chronicles the triumphs (and challenges) of
intergenerational travel with “you can do
this” flair. Visit travelwithagingparents.com
to learn more
.
December 2014
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