Becoming The Wild Bradburys: Adventures with Kids Abroad

When I met my Marine in 2009, I had just returned from a year abroad in Greece, Italy, and Turkey. I fell in love with Greece; my heart ached for a reason to call it home. I returned to my undergraduate classes in the Midwest to finish my degree with plans to return to Athens for graduate school. That’s the funny thing about plans; they change, but dreams don’t change as easily.

Becoming The Wild Bradburys: Adventures With Kids Abroad 1 Daily Mom, Magazine For Families

Becoming the Bradburys

I married that Marine, but I married him on conditions. Some people sign prenuptial agreements; we had one of a different nature. I said, “Every time you leave the country, so will I.” I had no desire to be stateside. A piece of me was left in the Bay of Sounio, and I needed her to be happy as well. We did exactly that. After years of flight school and workups, he deployed, and I set off on my own international adventure with our three small children. We have three boys ages 5, 4, and 1, and together, the children and I have now covered six countries with plans for four more this year. My husband will be deployed for six months, and the children and I are traveling for 11 months. Then we’ll go back to North Carolina, where we are stationed, to find a new home.

Gearing Up to Travel with Kids Abroad

Before I set out to take the kids abroad, we made a point of traveling all over the United States. I have done two cross-country moves, driving alone with the children. I also make regular solo trips from North Carolina to Kansas and back, as well as spend at least 10 days each month traveling. Each trip is fantastic, and personally, I prefer traveling by car with the kids. What I didn’t realize was that I was conditioning myself for a much greater journey: solo traveling with kids abroad.

Every single day someone told me that I was crazy — everyone except my husband. He knew that this kind of crazy was always in the cards for us. I have never been one to sit around and wait for a man. So, in January of 2018, the children and I set off for our first stop, North-Central Mexico, and my husband boarded his ship. We all set out on a new phase of adventure, and the outcome has been far greater than we could have possibly imagined.

Becoming The Wild Bradburys: Traveling With Kids Abroad

Taking the kids to Japan? Take a Crash Course in Japanese Culture.

Photo Credits: Lydia Bradbury

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Daily Mom Military
Daily Mom Militaryhttps://dailymom.com/category/for-military-life/
Daily Mom Military is a resource dedicated to serving the unique needs of military moms. Through our website, we provide comprehensive advice for all things concerning military lives and families. Our mission is to equip these incredible women with the necessary tools, resources, and community to navigate the challenges of military life. We understand the unique struggles and triumphs that come with being a military mom and strive to be a one-stop-shop for advice, tips, and support.

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