I had quite the life…set myself up to generate (modest) income independently, and could base myself in (and hop around to) exotic locations on a whim.
Eventually, I grew my following to the point where fancy hotels and resorts were inviting me to stay and write about it…so…
What happened?
Well, first of all, let me apologize for the cringey HuffPost-circa-2013 style headline. The truth is, yes, parenthood did end up changing my life of travel…but only for the better, and in ways I could never have imagined.
My daughter and I
What happened? Well, my daughter happened…and it was clear to me that my life would never be the same. Somehow my wife and I hit the ground running with our new baby…something primal took over, and we seemed to know exactly what to do.
Raising a Child is Constant Change
You might ask how I could make the transition from “solo wanderer” to “committed father”. Good question.
What I realized is that I was kind of addicted to ever-changing circumstances. I wish I could be OK with a stable office job, and a perfect cookie cutter house in the suburbs…but to be honest, that would be my own personal hell.
Well, If there’s one thing I could commit myself to in life, it’s change. It turns out this is one of the strange, unexpected ways a world traveler could be well-suited for parenthood. I had no idea how drastically things change as childhood progresses – especially in the first two years!
The constant novelty of physical growth and developmental milestones…I reveled in it.
My Daughter Revived My Love For Travel
Yes, it had lost a bit of its lustre for me, and I thought I might be ready to leave that world behind. However, then I realized how well my daughter traveled.
She did a cross country roadtrip – from California to Maine, before hitting her 1st birthday. By 3 she had touched down in Singapore, and made multiple trips across the world to the Philippines.
In fact, being out here with her has kickstarted a whole new era of exploration for us.
Strapped, in Yosemite
Everything is new and exciting to her. I’m once again seeing the world through the innocent eyes of youth – and endless possibilities.
She learned to walk in the Arizona desert
Picking pumpkins in Vermont
The seasons change, and so does she – California
“The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me” – Cliche, but Sooooo True
I was one of those who thought maybe I’d never have kids. It’s hard to put into words just how rewarding the experience is, though.
Waiting for “Old Faithful” – Yellowstone
I came from a generation whose parents had a lot of children. It almost seems like they had kids because that’s just what you’re supposed to do.
Hiking in Grand Tetons National Park
As a result, I often felt like I was just in the way. One of the upsides to people having far less kids today? They probably grow up feeling more appreciated.
The downside to an only child is that they can grow up being “helicoptered”, and end up spoiled and entitled as a result. Hopefully having the Filipino influence in our family will help keep this from happening.
The Playground Of Life
Rock Climbing in Idaho
We visit plenty of actual playgrounds while we crisscross the country, but there’s nothing like nature’s playgrounds.
We are a “free range family”, with plenty to learn on every trail – and around every corner.
In Utah, we visited a real-life dinosaur bone quarry. In Idaho, a volcanic site with large fissures in the ground. She’s just 3 years old, but she’s already absorbed and experienced more life than I did in my first three decades!
Here we leaned in to smell the bark of the “Jeffrey Pine” tree. These behemoths grow in the high Sierra, and have a sweet smelling bark reminiscent of butterscotch. She loved it!
So. Much. Wonder.
I want my daughter to know what a distinct pleasure it is to live on this earth, a planet with so much beautiful life and diversity. To know that life is to be enjoyed, not simply endured.
I fell in love with the world decades ago, now I consider it a great honor to be able to share everything I’ve learned with her.
It’s the most important job I’ll ever have.
So…my life of travel is a thing of the past. Now it’s our life of travel – and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
– Nathan Allen
You can check out more of our U.S. adventures HERE.
