Visiting Rome With A Teenager (Or Child)
There's nothing like a family trip to building memories that will last a lifetime, especially one memorable month (1978) in Europe with five children, age 9 to 16 years. This never-to-be-forgotten chaoatic, frustrating, dramatic experience did nothing to change my mind about traveling with children. Even with the unforgettable memories of:
- Robyn (14) upchucking her spaghetti dinner in our pensione sink, clogging up the drain and driving the little maid crazy trying to unclog i;
- All five youngsters rooting through and under the garbage in Florence, looking for unique empty beer cans to take back to America because Michael (16) decided it would make a great collection;
- Tracie (15) sulking because she was missing "parties" at home until Nice when cute French boys materialized;
- Jamie (9) only loved the pigeons and remembers nothing else about Europe;
- Joel (14) kept us in stitches when he wasn't reducing Jamie to tears by calling her "monkey";
- ex-Marine (husband, Steve) pounding down an Amsterdam street, shouting he was going to kill the first chld he could get his hands on after they send him "over the bend" one too many times;
- A noteable crying scene in a Rome restaurant (not far from the Spanish Steps) when the entire family melted down in tears, and stormed out with ex-Marine shouting he was returning to the U.S. (That lasted until he found out how much return tickets would cost!)
And, that was just a few of the highlights (or lowlights). Why would would any sensible person want to subject themself to this...or even consider a repeat? Because it's important for children to learn about and experience different culture and countries. Because what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Because they really did experience and learn a great deal - it might have been subliminal, but learn they did. And because it's all pretty funny now.
This happens to be my favorite photo of the entire trip. I ask you....have you ever seen a more ecstatic child than 9-1/2 year old Jamie with her pigeons in Venice?
With all this in mind, it was 13-year old Sarah's turn to travel with us. We gave this granddaughter a choice (within reason) of where she'd like to spend a fast three days. Where did she chose? Rome. Probably because Lizzy McGuire went to Rome, met a rock star and rode on a Vespa. We assured her that she was not going to be riding around Rome with the back of a Vespa with a rock star. She would...gasp...have to visit the Vatican, Roman Forum, Colosseum and much more. Sarah stuck to her guns and Rome it was.
It would have been easier to plan a six-month round-the-world trip or summit conference than three days with Sarah. There was school, homework, tests, vacations, party schedules, extra-curricular activities, summer camp, and summer school to work around. Then, Mom and Dad wanted her to have at least one to two days after the trip to recover from jet lag.
Spring break would be the ideal time but 2008's major glitch was Easter fell the weekend Spring Break started. Nevertheless, Spring Break it would have to be. We'd just work around Easter in Rome and leave a few days later.
Time to plan a whirlwind trip...
