Here is the deal – I hate this phrase, especially when it comes to travel. And it is a phrase that we don’t use in our household. Sure, we might have trips that we will only be able to take once. Maybe there are opportunities that won’t exist again for some reason (a country collapses, monuments are destroyed, the distance is just too much). Or, as is the most likely scenario, money becomes limited and time quickly disappears.

But what we have discovered, when we think that there is a chance we will return, it makes our trips less stressful and it gives us something to look forward it. Here is what I mean by that: let’s take Australia for instance. We had a list of 50 – 60 things that we wanted to see and do during our time there. We had one week – not nearly enough time to explore an entire continent. We were so fortunate to see some amazing things! We got to spend time on the Great Barrier Reef and spend some time roaming through Sydney. But we didn’t get to go to Melbourne, see the Three Sisters or Uluru, or spend enough time snorkeling on the Reef.

That’s ok. Because, in our family, we say we will do it the next time around.  Even if we never make it back there, having the mindset that this isn’t a once in a lifetime trip gives us the freedom to enjoy what we can see in the time that we have and not stress about what we are missing. Because, let’s face it, traveling with kids means that things don’t always go according to plan. We have had to skip things that were on our list – the girls were too young or weren’t feeling well. Or, on the very rare occasion, us parents just need a break so we found a park to let the kids run off some energy.

So, here is my tip. Travel safe, travel often, and travel with the mindset that any one trip isn’t THE trip. I mean, you never know when that amazingly cheap airfare will mean that you get to head back to your dream location for a second time.