This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
There are solo trips, those we take with friends or family. There are also those that we organize to go on an adventure with our mother to share precious moments and knit memories for life. Three people who lived the experience tell their stories.
Caroline, 41, traveled with her mother to Florida last year
Can you describe your last trip with your mother to me?
My mother, my father, my son who was then 8 months old and I went to St Petersburg for a month in March 2024. My partner also spent several days with us during the stay. We rented a small house with a beautiful yard.
Why did you organize this trip?
When I decided to start my family, I told myself that I was going to go away for several weeks with my parents during my maternity leave. The project ended up being extremely long, because my partner and I had to go to a fertility clinic. So I had time to dream about this trip for years! I saw my parents getting older and I often wondered if I was going to have the chance to go abroad with them as a mother…
What are the advantages for you of having done this adventure with your mother?
It’s having observed her witnessing lots of my baby’s “first times”: the one where he set foot in the sea, the one where he bathed in a swimming pool, the one where he It’s balanced… I often visit my mother when we are in Quebec, but the fact that my son and her are together 24 hours a day was different. An even greater complicity developed between them.
Have you discovered sides of your mother that you didn’t know?
I must say that her positivity and resourcefulness in the face of all situations helped me a lot as a new mother. During our stay, I saw her not only in her role as mother, but also in that of grandmother, as if she was looking at everything in a new way through my boy’s eyes.
How is it different traveling with your mother?
I’ve traveled a lot in my life, but I find there’s something reassuring when we do it with our mother, no matter our age. We can be completely ourselves and she loves us unconditionally.
Julie, 41, traveled with her mother to Spain this spring
Can you describe your most recent trip with your mother?
It was last March. We stayed for a week in Spain, on the Costa Del Sol, with my partner, my children and my brother.
Why did you organize this project?
It was my mother’s dream to travel with her children and grandchildren, and she gave my brother and me a gift certificate from a travel agency to accompany her. She has been going to Spain for several years in fashion snow bird and we decided to join her there.
What do you think are the advantages of having completed this trip?
My boys tell me that their favorite thing was being with their uncle and grandmother every day. It makes you realize that happiness is being with those you love. Generally speaking, it is practical to have a surplus of trusted adults when organizing with children.
Were there any challenges? If so, how did you manage them?
It’s not easy to find the balance between everyone’s desires and energy levels. This requires communication and you have to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. I believe that it takes someone who has initiative, and we should not hesitate to separate into sub-groups for the day or for certain activities if the heart is not in it.
Any tips to make it go well?
I think it is important for everyone to share their expectations before and during the trip to assess each person’s comfort zone and interests. For example, if someone is stressed about going off the beaten track or renting a car abroad, it is better to opt for a package tour or an all-inclusive.
Christian, 45, traveled with his mother to the Côte d’Azur in 2024
Can you describe this trip to me?
It was a road trip to travel the Côte d’Azur to Madrid. An 18-day stay in autumn, just my mother and me.
Did you choose the destination together?
Yes, my mother had never had the opportunity to take a “big” trip and had dreamed of visiting France since she was young. I suggested combining Spain to add diversity and a bit of adventure.
Why did you organize this project?
Although curious and resourceful, my mother had never been able to travel, and my father did not want to. When she told me about it, she was surprised when I told her that I would go with her at any time to accompany her on such a trip.
How did it go?
Everything happened very naturally. We had an open mindset: the itinerary was very flexible and we had a tent to sleep in from time to time at campsites. I drove following an approximate route made the day before on a (paper!) map. Secondary roads were prioritized and touristy attractions were avoided as often as possible.
Have you discovered sides of your mother that you didn’t know about?
This trip was a way to get to know us better as adults and I realized that our characters were very similar. I also remember that I found, at the time, that the role reversal was interesting: it was rather me who took charge of the organization, driving, etc., and my mother kept pace.
Years later, what do you think are the advantages of having made this trip?
This stay allowed us to share an experience of life together as well as unique memories. We also got to know each other in a beat out of the ordinary.
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