When most people talk about investing, they mean money. Numbers. Plans for the future. But the most important investment we make as a family every year has nothing to do with a bank account. We invest in time!
Life at home is busy in the way only a house with five kids can be. School schedules, sports practices, dinners, laundry, and the constant feeling of moving from one thing straight into the next. We’re together a lot, but I realized being in the same place doesn’t always mean being present.
That’s why once a year, we do something a little different. We take an extended family trip. Not a quick getaway. Not a rushed vacation. We step away from our normal routine long enough to actually slow down. Last year, it was Puerto Rico. This year, we spent seven weeks in the Dominican Republic. Every time, it changes us for the better.
The pace shifts. Mornings aren’t rushed. Conversations last longer. We sit together without checking the time. The kids play differently, rely on each other more, and just get to be kids.
Education matters to us, but learning doesn’t only happen inside a classroom. Being in another country teaches our kids things a traditional school day can’t. New cultures, new perspectives, and different ways of life build confidence and empathy in ways books alone never could.
Some of our favorite simple things we do on these trips that rarely happen at home:
• Eating dinner together without rushing off to practice
• Slow mornings with no alarms
• Letting the kids play outside until the sun goes down
• Exploring new places
• Going days without saying “hurry up” (a true luxury!)
People always ask if it’s worth it. Every year, the answer is YES. We come home closer, calmer, and more connected. At the end of the day, our kids won’t remember how full our schedules were. They’ll remember how it felt to be together. And for us, that’s an investment worth making.
Follow along for our family adventures on @felishalynchxo