Nancy Harper calls herself the ‘‘travellin’ mama’’ and for good reason — six years ago she packed up her young family and took them on a one-year 80,000-plus kilometre adventure. Now’s she’s gearing for another odyssey.
This weekend, Harper, 48, her husband Doog Farquhar, 49, and their daughters, Molly, 12, and Annie, 13, set off on a two-month back-packing excursion through Central America.
Is she nuts? Maybe. Is she prepared? For sure. The journey-obsessed mom — Harper is the author of Mama: A Parent’s Guide to Ditching the Routine, Seeing the World and Taking the Kids Along for the Ride — explains her rationale for boldly going where most parents would never dare.
Q: What is the motivation behind leaving your Elora, Ontario farm to “schlep” your children and husband on such a lengthy, possibly draining excursion?
A: A lot of people ask me this. Like anything in life travelling with kids can be a pain. But there are lots of challenges in parenting no matter where you are.
Q: How do you make sure your children will be safe on the nine-week trek?
A: Before we went to South Africa and Lesotho (Harper travelled there with her family in 2007) we made sure to get all the right shots: hepatitis and typhoid. We ate malaria pills everyday. And, I’m just not a worrier. If we worried too much about what might happen we would never leave the house.
Q: What are the benefits of showing your child a world that isn’t, well, as pristine as Disneyland?
A: Kids can handle a lot more than you think. Showing them the world instills a sense of gratitude for what they have and empathy for kids who don’t have the same things. When they grow up, they won’t remember specifics about what they’ve seen, but they’ll have a great foundation for becoming empathetic adults.
Q: Your daughters are in Grade 7 and 8. What happens with schoolwork?
A: Geography, history, they’ll drink in that stuff on the road. The girls are already working ahead on their math. They both love to read and will keep a journal. When they get back they’ll make a presentation to their class.
Q: This trip will cost about $20,000, you say. How do you afford this?
A: About 10 years ago we bought a little house and it’s now rented out. We’re borrowing off that equity. It’s a calculated risk. I’m a writer and hubby’s a handyman and farmer. We live super frugally day to day. I don’t have nice clothes. We live in a house full of second-hand everything. We found a family to rent our farm for two months. They’ll take care of the rabbits and chickens. It worked out great for them. They’ll be paying the mortgage.
Q: And it’s worth it?
A: There’s a difference between what you want all the time and saving for that one thing you really want. That’s what we do. It’s all about your priorities in life.
Q: Do you plan a trip like this? Or fly by the seat of your pants?
A: I plan and I really like planning. We’ve booked about two-thirds of the accommodations. The rest is up in the air so we have some flexibility.
Q: Any destinations you’re really excited about?
A: Nicaragua. We’re staying in a tree house near the San Juan River. No electricity. I researched it and have done everything to prepare. We know how we’re getting there. I’ve talked to the person who owns it several times. We’ve got our shots, bug spray to ward off Malaria. We’re prepared and we’re going to go for it.
Q: Do the girls pack their own bags?
A: Of course! I gave them packing guidelines: five T-shirts, three pairs of shorts, a couple bathing suits, a towel.
A: They each have a small digital camera.
Q: Your girls have been to Singapore, Malaysia, Lesotho, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and parts of the Caribbean. After Central America, where to next?
A: South America
Tips for travelling with kids
Start small, especially if you’re not sure what your kids can handle. If you long to go to Europe, for example, but the thought of a long flight with kids is too overwhelming, why not try substituting Quebec City for Paris? Or if you’re afraid the kids would be a nightmare on a long car or camping trip, test them out with something shorter and closer to home.
Give your kid some credit: They can almost certainly handle something a bit more interesting than a playground or amusement park
Don’t expect them to care about the scenery
Keep your sense of humour handy at all times
Be flexible even if you have a plan
Let them pick out and pack their own luggage
By plane: Got a baby? Reserve one of the bassinet seats. Toddlers and older kids? Let ’em watch as much TV as they want!
By train: Reserve a sleeping car if possible. Kids love the sense of adventure and discovery as much as you do.
By car: See as much of the U.S. and Canada as you can. Drive only a few hours day if possible and give them plenty to get excited about at the next destination.