Modern nomadic families...

[akmom]

What do you think about raising kids with this lifestyle? A few months ago I read a similar article about sailing families.

http://todaynews.today.com/_news/2013/01/28/16696496-american-story-family-with-12-kids-roams-us-full-time-in-rv?lite[/URL]

Basically, it's about a family who lives in an RV, travels constantly, and homeschools their children. I have a rather favorable impression of it. Of course, I don't think every family has the opportunity to do it; it takes some unique circumstances. (This family happens to have decent employment that requires only a computer.)

The sailing lifestyle seems a little more practical, in terms of more versatile employment and lower expenses. (Sailing families can use their boat for charters, as well as fish for themselves, and don't have the fuel costs of an RV.) I think both are intriguing.

Here's the sailing article: http://todaytravel.today.com/_news/2012/07/20/12814250-sailing-a-way-of-life-for-some-families?lite[/URL]

What do you think? Are the kids getting a good upbringing?

 

[cybele]

Violet's upbringing was somewhat similar to that, minus the homeschooling, she attended several public schools over the world.

I think you really have to get it 'right' in order for it to work. Violet is quite socially stunted, which I guess comes from not maintaining friendships throughout her childhood and only socialising with her parents on a consistent basis. When I asked her, a few years back if she would do that with her own family she snapped at me with "never, it's cruel". Following that reaction we never brought up the topic again.

I don't know enough about it to make any other judgements. Just on what I have seen.

 

[cybele]

Also minus the boat, I cant seem to edit on my phone.

 

[akmom]

Perhaps it's a different experience being an only child. I didn't grow up nomadic or anything, but my fondest memories of childhood are traveling and camping. On the other hand, I didn't enjoy my brief experience homeschooling, but perhaps that is because we never left the house!

My dad was in the military, so we moved often and didn't form lasting friendships either, but with two siblings, perhaps it wasn't as crucial. And we did have a home, complete with neighbors, each time we did move... I suppose that is quite different than always being on the run.

 

[cybele]

I would say that the only child thing would have certainly played into it.

I also imagine that attending a different school every 6 months or so where all the children speak a different language would be very isolating. It's not like you could just make new friends when you can barely communicate.

 

[Mom2all]

I was talking about this family with my darling yesterday! Although living with 12 children inside an RV would never work for me, the lifestyle of roaming and experiencing the world seems lovely. Not forever. I think there always has to be a "home" to come back to. Everyone needs roots somewhere. But if we had the chance, I'd love to spend a few years exploring.

 

[Xero]

Like the Wild Thornberrys! lol

I probably wouldn't do it, though it sounds really neat and exciting, I do think it's important for kids to have stability, a real home, and life long friends etc. I didn't grow up like that, but I did go to so many different schools (at least 6 or 7) growing up and it was very hard, I would never wish it on any child. Its very important to me that my kids are able to stay rooted in a place we love going to the same school their whole lives etc probably because of all that.

Maybe when the kids grow up and go off on their own though.

 

[akmom]

Thinking about it, I guess I am too attached to gardening and raising animals to live like that full-time. But it would make for a great double-life! I think I'd prefer the sail boat idea. You'd have to have a pretty good income to afford fuel for an RV like that. (At least I think so. Maybe if you cut out the mortgage, utilities and daily commute, you could break even.)

I would have to change the whole way I shopped and cooked, too. And I just spent the last five years learning to make more things from scratch, from bulk purchases. It'd be hard to go back!

 

[mom2many]

No, no, no, no I'd need a straight jacket. It's not the travelling, it's not the RV or boat. It's how small it is in relation to the number of people.

 

[NancyM]

It sounds exciting, for a year or two I think.
My husband and I flirted with the idea once, and thought we might do something like this when we 'got old' lol but just for fun.

I don't think I'd like it as a lifestyle, and I don't think it's a good life for kids., maybe as a traveling vacation, but not a permanent lifestyle.
I think they fair better with stability, and interacting with other children.

 

[Shaun Austin]

When can we start doing that? I think it would be great for our family but sadly like akmom says it takes certain unique circumstances to be able to do that, and we don't have them. I have always dreamed of having a lifestyle where I could just go out and live each day for what it was.

 

[TabascoNatalie]

I know a family like that. They have a very alternative lifestyle and worldview. As for kids... I think kids can adapt much more easily than adults. If they're homeschooled, i believe the stress of changing schools is out of question