This UK-based couple made use of their year-long maternity leave and traveled the world with their babies. Traveling is the last thing on any new mom’s mind. Or so we think! This London-based mother redefined traveling with a baby for all new moms out there and her story will blow your mind.
Also read: Not Marriage, This Mom Is Funding Her Daughter To Travel Around The World
Seeing The World With A Baby In Her Back
Karen Edwards, a full-time nurse and her husband Shaun have always been smitten by the travel bug. And when news about their pregnancy broke open, the couple was determined not to let it affect their travel plans. Instead, they decided to carry their baby along!
The couple grabbed headlines way back in 2015 when they decided to use her year-long maternity leave to travel the world. Perks of having a nurse job, maybe? Little Esmé was 10 weeks old when the couple visited over 20 countries, making headlines and memories. They chronicled their journey on Karen’s blog which she calls the Travel Mad Mum blog. Karen also reviews travel-friendly baby products and of course, there’s plenty of tips and advice for parents who love traveling with babies. Here are 7 Mistakes Every Parent Must Avoid When Travelling With Kids.
Two years later, the couple was blessed with a baby boy and history repeated- you know what they did with the one-year long maternity leave! “I am a nurse in the UK and I am very lucky to be allowed to take a year off work,” Karen mentioned in her blog.
The Journey Was Not Without Challenges
However, not every moment is Instagram-Worthy when you travel with kids. Everything has a downside and Karen says traveling with kids came with truckloads of problems too. From whinny toddlers (who are also sick at times) to missed buses, and lost luggage, the couple has braved it all. After all, the Travel Mad mom and dad are well-versed in handling their kids!
However, that did not stop Karen and her family from seeing the nooks and corners of the world. Karen, in her blog also adds that the best part about traveling with her family is the bond they share, the time they spend together, and the memories they make in the process.
“Travelling is an incredible way to bond as a family, introduce your child to a variety of sights, smells and sounds and prepare them for a life surrounded by other cultures,” she says.
The Funds For The Trip
World tours don’t come easy and it certainly did pinch this couple too. Karen and Shaun rented their house when their son Quinn was 9 weeks old. They also sold all their belongings, including their car to put aside additional money for their travel. in addition, Karen also worked as a lecturer in a university, on days when she was off duty. Shaun’s job permits him to work from remote locations, which helped them keep the money flowing in.
Karen and Sahaun have over 50,000 followers on Instagram and regularly update their profiles with travel photos. The family flew to Canada in 2017 and have now visited over 20 countries including the Caribbean, North and Central America, Thailand, Cambodia, South Africa, Spain, Cuba, and Italy.