An Eventful Week
As much as I despise calendars and scheduled events, last week turned out to be one of the most joyful weeks I’ve had in a while. Having all my kids, my wife, and my parents with me was already special. But on top of that, my youngest son graduated from high school, and my only daughter got engaged! My wife and I are incredibly proud and happy for them, their partners, and all the things they’ve accomplished. Now that the whirlwind has passed and everyone’s gone home, I get to enjoy some quiet time with the love of my life, my wife.
I feel incredibly lucky to still have both of my parents around. Even if just for a short time, we were able to share meals, conversations, and some pretty wonderful moments together. Our two older kids flew in from the East Coast to celebrate their brother’s graduation, and during that visit, our daughter’s boyfriend asked her to marry him. She said yes. Needless to say, we’re over the moon for them.
Our youngest is now a young adult. You learn quickly that your kids will always be kids in your eyes, and that doesn’t change with their age or wisdom; they’ll always be on your mind. I talked to my mom about this, and she nodded in agreement, saying how much she still thinks about us, our kids, and our partners. The truth is, as your children grow and build their own lives, your heart expands. You end up caring deeply not just for your kids, but also for their partners (and pets), too.
We see our kids often, and I’m grateful for that. One of the blessings of having children young, while tough at the time, is that it gave us the energy to travel with them and really keep up. Our first big trip together was to Europe, nearly a month spent exploring Paris and parts of Italy. That trip was unforgettable. Since then, we’ve done many more, but my favorites are always the road trips. Sure, they come with rough moments, but they’re also full of inside jokes, unexpected stops, and shared memories that we still talk about. Travel, I’ve found, is one of the best ways to create those memories.
There’s actual research backing this up. According to the U.S. Travel Association, 62% of adults say their earliest and most vivid memories come from family vacations taken between ages five and ten. And multigenerational trips, in particular, offer a unique way to strengthen family bonds. They bridge age gaps and create stories that linger long after the trip ends. That’s exactly how I feel about last week.
One of the highlights was watching my parents experience new things. We took them around the city and introduced them to food they’d never tried—ramen and pork buns, for example. My mom loved it. My dad, not so much. Driving through Seattle and up to Vancouver, BC, my mom kept commenting on the buildings and the architecture. My parents were amazed by the number of boats in the water, and I think they both really enjoyed the cooler weather.
Weeks like that one are packed with small moments I’ll remember forever.
That said, one of my regrets is not having traveled more with my parents when they were younger. I love walking for hours when I’m in a new city. It’s my favorite way to explore, but that kind of travel isn’t feasible for them anymore. They can’t walk long distances, and stairs are a challenge. Planning a European trip now takes a lot more thought and creativity. I still hope to take them to Italy, but I know it’ll need to be a different kind of trip. Slower, gentler. One that works for all of us.
We all know that we should make the most of the time we have with the people we love, but it’s easy to forget. Life moves fast, and too often, we’re more focused on a screen than on the person sitting right next to us. That’s something I try to be conscious of, especially after a week like this one, which reminded me what really matters.
Thank you, universe, for the time I had with my family last week. It made me happy. It reminded me of what’s important: family, connection, and time well spent together.
