The Most Difficult Decision

By far, the hardest choice for this trip was whether or not to bring our children.  We have two kiddos, Keegan (7) & Averi (3), and each would benefit from the trip.  Keegan has been to Europe twice now, but Averi has yet to leave the country and every experience abroad is useful & enlightening. I know our friends in Europe would love to see the kids.

However, for both financial & mobility reasons, we decided to leave the kiddos at home this time. We need to be mobile as I will attempt to secure summer work in Austria (so we may return with the kids & not break the bank). Financially, I'm not sure two teachers can afford a trip like this as often as we'd like if we have four people on board. We know that both Keegan & Averi will be having an amazing time with friends & family while we tromp around Central Europe without them.

Daycare logistics for a three-week trip is rather complicated.  However, we have some unbelievable family & friends without whom, quite frankly, none of this would be possible.

Keegan will roll with this like a champ; he knows we are returning & likely bringing him some gifts.  So, he'll play with cousins & neighbors then milk his grandparents for all the love they have to offer.

Averi's emotional stability over the next three weeks will be an entirely different animal.  We suspect that this might be a very difficult time for her. While we're gone, Keegan's "job" is remind Averi that we are coming home.  Though Skype & the miracle that is the internet are godsends for staying in touch, unless an end is in sight, such brief contact will only make her sad & remind her that she misses us.

So, Niki & I have decided to go a step further.  Niki gave me the task of writing a children's book that chronicals our trip through the eyes of a Czech frog named Molly.  We conveniently meet in Dresden when Molly escapes from the zoo. There is an important, Goldilocks-style plot in which Molly is looking for a home...with, of course, a sweet little girl to call her own.  Along our trip, we introduce Molly to girls that are too young & too old only to realize, in the eleventh hour, that Averi is the perfect match.

In addition, we will bring a toy frog along with us & include this "Molly" in several of our trip pictures.  Keegan will read Averi the book at night (or whenever she asks) & she will be able to connect with our trip in a way a 3-year old could otherwise not do.

So, when you see the frog in our travel photographs...you now know why.