I always watched with keen interest whenever my friends went on long trips in the company of their kids with the mom nowhere in sight. I had always considered it something of a herculean task to be in complete custody of someone that young, as I assumed their needs were always best catered to by the mothers.
When my boy turned 7, I decided to take the ‘little man,’ as I affectionately call him, on a short vacation to Kerala. The whole trip was a huge challenge and I soon found out that I had no idea on how to prepare for the trip with a child. Despite the odds that weighed against me, I could never give up the chance to be with my boy, not even for the world. There is a feeling and bond that is just difficult to explain and it made me realize just why my friend and his beautiful little daughter were inseparable.
My help finally came through the internet where I found various blogs giving advice on what to consider, pack, and do when you’re travelling with children under the age of 10. It was vital information and had I decided to do it alone and rely on guess work, I would have left a lot of valuable items and made the wrong decisions due to lack of proper information and considerations.
All these hassles were forgotten as soon as we hit the road as it was fun time again. I had made all my reservations in advance and knew just what the weather was going to be like. I had all the necessary clothing items, toiletries and documents to cater for emergencies. I also had essential medicines, toys, puzzle books, and comics, among other significant items.
At the end of it all, it was the best week of my life and I got to spend some quality time to bond with my 'Little Man'.
- Vishwas Kulkarni Cloudnine
