This is NOT coming with us.

I found my kid in bed this morning, again, learning about chemistry and drawing molecules...

1.) My kid is in LOVE with chemistry. Yesterday we went to the Hall of Science (with some new homeschooling friends who found us on this blog… YAY!). To be expected, my sweet girl’s favorite thing was to sit for a spell and put together a molecule. She dives into her study of the science here at home, begging me to let her stay up late to read and draw molecules, and, as I found this morning, she even wakes with chemistry on the brain. But bringing a molecule kit to Europe and Africa for the summer? I think I’m going to say no. We’re bringing less than 20lbs per person. That’s it. This will help us stay within the carry-on guidelines for the airlines. Besides, we’re going to be spending our days roaming new cities, seeing amazing sites, and visiting people. The likelihood of my daughter actually spending hours with a molecule kit is slim. I’ve told her she can bring two soft cover books on our travels, and we’ll have my computer along in case she’d like to look up anything. Also, I’ll print out diagrams of molecules so that my little science professor can copy them, on paper, to her heart’s delight.

Sadly, to pack light means we need to prioritize. Plenty of underwear? A priority. A molecule kit? Not so much.

At the end of the day, we compromised. I told the kid we could order the kid and have it sent to Rhode Island, where, after our trip to Europe and Africa, we’ll be ending our summer with family. She can spend as many hours as she likes on the beach with her kit, and it’ll be easy to haul it back to New York on the Amtrak.

2.) Ok, I’ll admit I’m not the most practical person, but, in addition to the molecule kit, I’m drawing the line at my kid bringing her viola along for our adventures. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’d love for my kid to practice every day, all day, but I’m not sure if our AirBnB hosts and/or the people we’re visiting would agree. After a couple of conversations with my daughter, she agreed not to bring her instrument. As she said: “If you’re not going to carry it for me, then I don’t want to bring it.” Well, I’m definitely not toting it all over the place, so that’s that.

Question to my fellow travelers: What special items have you decided to leave at home? Or- GULP!- what strange things have you decided to bring along on your adventures?

Thanks for reading and please, follow our adventures and ‘like’ my Facebook page.