How has travel improved relationships with the most important people in your life? I would like to hear from you. Click on “Add Comment” below or email me at theidealtrip@gmail.com to tell me about it. I look forward to your comments!
In preparation for our upcoming trip to New York, I have finalized a solid itinerary of sights and activities. But, I have been doing more than just itinerary planning—I have been strengthening my relationship with my mother. How have I done this? First, I have encouraged my mother to start walking more each day in preparation for our NYC sightseeing (which will include a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge and a tour through Central Park). Second, I have also been filling her in on the itinerary developments as tickets are purchased and reservations are made. How do these strengthen our relationship? I feel that these actions are important relationship-builders and achieve several things: 1) She has a new goal to work toward; 2) she has something pleasant to think about for the future; 3) she can look forward to our time together; and, 4) It gives us an opportunity to communicate more and connect in new ways. She can anticipate a fun trip and I can enjoy conversations with her about our upcoming trip. Try this yourself if you are planning a trip or considering a trip to help strengthen a relationship. I think you will find that travel is not only about the time you spend together during the trip, it is also about bonding and communicating more long before the trip takes place.
How has travel improved relationships with the most important people in your life? I would like to hear from you. Click on “Add Comment” below or email me at theidealtrip@gmail.com to tell me about it. I look forward to your comments!
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I will be taking my mother for her first trip to the Big Apple. I have developed a special itinerary just for the two of us that includes some of the iconic must-see sites in New York along with some less-visited locales. The itinerary also includes a balance of active outdoor activities and casual indoor activities each day. My mother is in her 60s now, so I want to make sure we keep a sane pace throughout our visit. I always try to create itineraries that are appropriate to the travelers with me. When traveling with kids, I plan plenty of short activities and lots of breaks. When traveling with my parents, I try to accommodate any mobility or health issues. Our one week NYC trip will take us through many Manhattan neighborhoods, over to Brooklyn, into New Jersey, and include a tour of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. To balance such a busy schedule of sightseeing each day, I have also made sure to include low-key activities such as a leisurely picnic in Central Park, live theater performances, and dining with a view. I find that almost any trip is made better by a mix of scheduled activities and more casual moments. Sitting at a sidewalk café where the locals gather to watch the world go by can be a highlight in any city, and, often tells you as much about a place as the local history museum. Keep this in mind the next time you are planning a trip. I am always seeking a healthy balance in my life and it is no different when traveling. Strike that right balance and you are sure to experience the ideal trip wherever you are in the world.
How do you stay balanced while traveling? Do you have some great tips, tricks, or techniques to share? Click on “Add Comment” below or email me at theidealtrip@gmail.com to tell me about it. I look forward to your comments! The most recent trip with my daughter was a tremendous success. What made it that way? We shopped 'til we dropped, ate our way through the city’s best restaurants, went to the gym together, talked for hours on end, enjoyed our spa appointments, and connected deeply on many personal topics. It is not unusual for us to do many of these things whenever we get together. We truly enjoy each other’s company. But, for some mother-daughter duos, this comfort level does not come easily. Perhaps there is a difficult history to overcome, perhaps personalities or ages are too far apart, or perhaps the time and emotional distance is too large. Whatever the cause, it is often true that we do not always like the people we love the most. If this is the case, travel is a great way to re-connect or bond in a new way.
The secrets to success for our mother-daughter travels: • Clearly communicate your desires for each day, but be prepared to be extremely flexible • Allow the other person to take charge, if that is their desire • Keep a very open itinerary with only a few scheduled appointments • Be sensitive to their needs • Don’t bring up difficult topics first • Don’t respond negatively to challenging remarks • Avoid stressful situations (you know how you get when you are cranky) • Avoid lecturing and never start a sentence with “What you should do is…” • Keep a positive and upbeat attitude • Be a good conversationalist • Don’t forget your main goal of the trip: getting to know each other better Care and concern cannot be faked. Genuine care and concern for another human being is always recognizable. Don’t get caught up in a negative situation, should one arise during the trip. Remember your ultimate desire should be to build new, positive, and happy memories together. For more information on improving your mother-daughter bond, check out these helpful articles: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200104/the-mother-daughter-bond http://psychcentral.com/lib/2011/15-insights-on-improving-mother-daughter-relationships/ |
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