Embracing the Journey: Why I No Longer Pull My Kids from School for Adventures

• I began taking my children out of school for trips when they were young.
• Traveling outside the usual vacation periods allowed me to save on airfare and lodgings.
• Now that they are in high school, schooling and athletics take precedence.

During my childhood, I did not skip school. Ailments like Chickenpox and severe stomach upsets that didn’t yield to ginger ale and saltines were the only justifiable reasons for being absent. Holidays were reserved for summer and the rare Christmas trips to see grandparents.

My children — the two youngest are currently in high school — have undeniably had more exciting travel experiences. Taking them out of school to explore the world was never the intention; it just kind of unfolded.

It originated with living in Europe while my daughter attended elementary school. I discovered budget airlines offering affordable weekday flights from Frankfurt to London. I decided that witnessing the crown jewels firsthand was far superior to observing them in pictures, and that missing a few days of third grade wouldn’t be detrimental.

Traveling during the academic year leads to additional savings

When my sons were in first grade, I discovered significant savings by traveling to the Caribbean in early autumn rather than late summer. Resorts, amusement parks, and other family-friendly destinations charge more in the summer, and I found I could save nearly $3,000 by shifting my early August cruise to late September. I reasoned that my kids would likely still gain admission to college even if they missed a week of first grade. The jury is still out on that — they’re halfway through their freshman year, but so far, so good.

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Off-season holidays are simply better. Accommodations and flights are less hectic, and we avoided the most intense summer heat. Missing school during elementary years was manageable, and my children coped well with their assignments. Our journeys were generally appreciated by teachers, and we made an effort to maintain communication and maintain good relations, even if sometimes just barely. Our district permits up to nine unexcused absences per term — anything beyond that would require us to justify to the administration.

We were close to the maximum on the amount of absences a few times but never reached that elusive number nine.

They began requesting not to miss school

However, as my children advanced in age, we encountered more educators who were not particularly pleased with our method of managing family travel. We managed to alleviate tensions when required and instructed our children to proactively ask for assignments in advance. When that wasn’t feasible, we supported them in keeping up with their make-up work.

Upon reaching middle school, I observed that my “Hey kids, guess where we’re headed!” declarations were no longer met with as much excitement. Instead of enthusiasm for new adventures, the first inquiry became, “Do we have to skip school?”

We now emphasize academics over travel

As my children matured, they applied themselves more diligently in their studies. Teachers assign more homework and projects, and once they started high school, each grade plays a role in the broader picture.

My children became increasingly aware of the ramifications of not achieving high grades and grasped the significance of cumulative learning. Missing a week of algebra and catching up on missed content while not lagging behind the rest of the class became stressful for my children. Although they don’t struggle academically, catching up became challenging after a certain point.

My sons are also athletes, and absences were not endearing them to their coaches. One of my sons serves as a starting pitcher and missed practice due to travel, leading to him being sidelined for a game. These factors began to detract from the joy of exploring the world together, and I realized we needed to rethink how we scheduled our trips.

I can’t deny that I miss the times when I could easily take them out of school after scoring a fantastic airfare deal. They learned about fine art and architecture during visits to an art museum featuring a moveable sunscreen on the roof, along with practical lessons on currency exchange and navigating a large airport. They’re now also more adventurous with their food choices beyond just mac and cheese.

Most importantly, travel has enlightened my kids about the vastness of the world and fostered open-mindedness towards diverse cultures and perspectives. Family travels have fortified our connection and equipped us with collaboration and problem-solving skills. I wouldn’t have preferred to do things any other way.