From the Mind of a 6 Yr. Old Global Citizen: Hanalei Swan
GLobal Citizen
Lately we have gotten a number of people that have responded to our posts about traveling with our little girl and how “selfish we are to be “dragging her around, place to place with no stability”.
Well, I have to share this conversation we had with Hanalei…(not for the haters, but for those of you that would ever consider taking your child on a world venture of discovery, learning through a passport not only a textbook, creating a family bond and knowledge that develops from time spent together in front of Macchu Picchu, Panama Canal, Temples in Bali, Islands of Fiji, and the beaches of Mexico.
So, here is what happened yesterday that clears it all up….
Hanalei has been learning about the cycles of life in her class, first it was flowers, then frogs, and now a new life cycle has been created by Hanalei.
So yesterday we asked her how she felt about traveling from place to place and if she wanted to continue or if she felt like she should stay in one spot.
and this was her response….
” You know Mom, whenever we get to a place I really like it, I meet friends, have play dates, do cool stuff and when we leave I feel sad, because I will miss all my friends” and we sit there listening ( because we actually do care what she say’s oddly enough;)
Then she throws this out that says it all…
“But then we get to our new place, and it is so cool and new, then I meet new friends and see new things, I get to Skype my old friends and then I fall in love with our new place.
Wait for it……She says….
” It’s the cycle of life for traveling, Mom.
The mind of a Global Citizen at 6!
I think she’s rather secure…what do you think?
GLobal Citizen
Wow what an awesome experience… Believe it or Not my Mom sent me on a plane at 3 yrs old to visit my grandparents in Mexico something I will forever be grateful for as it has lead me on a path of World Exploration I grew up believing I was a descendant of Christopher Columbus lol!! Keep up the great work Unstoppable Swan Familia 😉
Wow Martin, 3! That’s crazy but so cool. Look at you now….travel and freedom is in your blood
If I knew then what I know now, my kids would have grown up like yours is.
I think giving your children a traveling education is the best way to teach them about our world. You are doing a great job. She’s awesome.
THank you MAureen, she is a special girl, and we are a very close family.
That answer from your daughter is the only thing that really matters, the opinions from other people that haven’t experienced anything even close to your experience do not count.
With the very deficient education our kids get from schools nowadays I think that the experience of learning from the real world is much more valuable than anything else.
I congratulate you for having taken a stand and continued to follow the path of your dreams. If more people had the “cojones” to do that we would live in a very different and amazing world. Keep it up!!
Thank you for your kind words! Yes, I agree JP, she is an amazing girl and we are doing our best for paving the way!