Traveling with Parents

December break is almost here!

This is the time when BMSers are out of the classroom and in vacation mode. Yes the trips are fantastic, but to be honest there is a slight downside. Parents. We all love them, but sometimes they can be a bit much for we middle schoolers looking for our own relaxation.
Here are three parent troubles to look out for and perhaps a suggestion or two on how to deal.

The Overprotective Parent
When traveling, parents always find something safetywise to remind you about; whether it’s fastening your seatbelt, slathering you in sunscreen, or holding your hand when you cross the street. If those don’t sound like your parents, there is more: swimming in waves an inch too tall or walking close to the edge of a path. Parents are always making sure you’re safe and sound. You may feel like they are treating you like a little kid, but they always have your best interest at heart.
Keep in mind that if you happen to get hurt, medical care is not as strong in some countries outside of the United States, and your parents might not want to take that risk. Also, in places closer to the equator, the sun is stronger which makes it extremely important to wear sun sunscreen. So on this one, our advice is to do as they say, because they’re just making sure that you stay safe.

The Shutterbug
Standing in front of statues. Click. Staring at paintings. Click. Wading into water. Click. Every moment of every vacation day they love to capture us on camera. It may be a selfie, portrait, or landscape. Parents love to take pictures while traveling for scrapbooks, but the cloud works too.
Almost every parent has gone through this phase, but not all will admit it. Climbing up a flight of stairs? Click. Walking through a hallway? Click. In case you forget a single moment of your trip, no need to fear. It’s somewhere buried among your parents thousands of photos. We recommend to just pose for the photo. It will be over with faster and you can get back to the sites.

The Communication Blackout Parent
To get the full cultural experience, your parents may ask you to go unplugged. No Snapchat. No Instagram. No Facebook. No phone. Many kids complain about this tactic, but parents may be onto something.

In some parts of the world, people are still off the grid. You may think that it is enough to just know this, but it’s completely different to experience it. You may hate your parents for it, but they are just trying to help you connect to the real world. Our advice is to just hand over your phone. Who knows, you just might learn something.