Burn The Picket Fence

Olivia Currie
Aug 27, 2017 · 4 min read

I’ve been putting off this post and honestly, I wish I could keep putting it off. Putting yourself out there isn’t exactly the easiest thing to do and it makes you totally vulnerable which, for me, is a seriously uncomfortable feeling. But, the truth is, if I am really going to make a go at this (traveling with my kiddo, documenting, and hopefully building a business), then I feel like I have to be open and raw.

So, here’s the deal…

I graduated from college, got married, started teaching, bought a house, had a baby (who I love with all my heart), got my Master’s degree, and settled in. I even have a picket fence. That’s the American dream right? I mean, apart from the fact that most women (including myself) work these days, I have the picture perfect 1950’s, Leave It To Beaver lifestyle. But, for me it wasn’t right. Teaching was, frankly, sucking the life out of me and I felt like I was missing out on a whole lot of my kiddo’s growing up. Don’t get me wrong, teaching is such a worthy, valuable profession and teachers deserve SO much more than they get. But, I struggled with feeling like I was losing myself, a little more, each day. Several months ago, my brother came to me with the opportunity to leave teaching, keep my salary, and find something that brought the passion back. Naturally I jumped at the chance.

But, what did I want to do? I had a hard time answering that. It was like I had spent so much time pushing aside everything I wanted to do that I couldn’t even pull up that inspiration anymore (see losing myself, above). Make a difference in other people’s lives and give my son every opportunity I possibly can, were never hard for me to figure out. I just wasn’t sure where to go with it from that point. Eventually Treks With Tykes was born. And while I have all these big hopes and dreams for it, right now, it’s more of a journal of mine and Westin’s adventures.

So why the whole traveling thing? Well, I believe getting out and discovering the world around you can do far more for a person’s health and well-being than just about anything else. Travel is educational in a way a school can never be, it’s builds confidence, it’s empowering, it elicits compassion, and it motivates a limitless mindset. These are all things I want for my son and I have a pretty good feeling I am not the only one. People ask me if I get nervous about traveling by myself with him and the answer is, YES! That is part of what is driving me to get other moms involved too. I hope my journeys will inspire other moms to get out with their children and I can build a community of moms who want to give their children the world (literally) even if it means stepping out of a comfort zone.

We don’t have to settle for normal. There is a new generation of moms out there who don’t want the same things that other generations have wanted (and honestly some of them didn’t/don’t either). This group is bold, independent, free thinking, and driven to make things change. Maybe that’s the millennial in me coming out ;) But, regardless, I don’t think I am the only one who wants to burn the picket fence down (not literally because my dogs would get out and I would have to chase them down).

So, I am traveling with my fantastic kid, hoping to take him to really cool places, immerse us into other cultures, and hopefully take some awesome photos along the way.

Want to join in? Bring it on! > Here’s my email and I promise I will answer. liv@findingfox.me

Treks With Tykes

Mom and son adventure duo traveling locally and abroad > hoping to inspire others.

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Olivia Currie

Written by

https://about.me/trekswithtykes https://www.instagram.com/treks_with_tykes/

Treks With Tykes

Mom and son adventure duo traveling locally and abroad > hoping to inspire others.

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