Kids & ER are definitely a choice, but I don't think they have to be mutually exclusive. Perpetual travel with kids is more challenging but ERs have done that too. Millions of kids have been raised by military parents with frequent moves & schools, but they cope with their parents just as well as any other teenagers.did not expect a reply from you directly. It is still a choice.
i dragged my young children(at the time) to several states for
job changes. Made them change schools multiple times.( had to make
new friends) etc.
Have never really forgiven me.
your prompt reply leads me to belive this is a touchy subject.
Yes, having a family makes one's whole life different. Not better or worse, just different.
One of the (seeming) 'knocks' on us and our ability to retire so early is that we didn't have children. No one seemed to believe us that you can raise a family and still retire - I mean, what do we know, right?
So we interviewed two families who are or have done just this.
Take a look. They have great information and are very inspirational.
Family on Track and Family with a Focus.
Be well, and keep the dream alive!
Akaisha
Author, The Adventurer's Guide to Early Retirement
did not expect a reply from you directly. It is still a choice.
i dragged my young children(at the time) to several states for
job changes. Made them change schools multiple times.( had to make
new friends) etc.
Have never really forgiven me.
your prompt reply leads me to belive this is a touchy subject.
The number of ERs on this board with kids far exceeds the number without kids. (It's been a while since the last tally, so you might want to start a poll.) It may even be possible that kids are a top motivator for ERs who want to be able to spend more time watching their families grow up.
Thank you for your kind words. I do appreciate them.Akaisha,
Such a graceful reply! I unfortunately hold onto a bit too much of the male fight-or-flight syndrome when faced with aggression. You've given me a helpful reminder that often the best response is to stand down.
The Kaderli's, Nord's, and ESRBob were the inspiration for DW and my ERs at 43 with two kids. That was five months ago and it is just getting better everyday. We wanted to be a part of our kids lives and to teach them values they do not get in school. ER provides that time and so much more. Watching them learn to make good choices from seeing our actions not just words is very rewarding. I'll try to post many of the positives we have seen later.
Today is Mothers day and we are all cooking her dinner tonight, doing extra cleaning, and generally trying to make her day special after we visit my Mom which is next.
2fer I completely agree with you. This is the stand we take. You were given an opportunity and you have benefited from this. Sure, it stretched your (childhood) limits, but you made the most of it -- you met the challenge. And now, you have skills that other people with a more ‘stable’ background don’t necessarily have.I have never met a stranger and can be thrust into difficult situations and always manage to come out with my head above water. I attribute much of this to my upbringing, including the moves and new experiences I received while meeting new friends and learning new routines in different places and schools.
Forgive yourself. You did not damage your children.
2fer
unless you are standing on a geological fault, location is not the determining factor of stability in neither relationships nor individuals.
Akaisha, Billy,
I met these people recently and showed them your site. They were biking from Washington State to Arizona. I suggested that they contact you (I thought you were in Thailand at the time. They have a boat in Thailand (now).