• I've traveled to 90 countries, and I've been lucky enough to take my kids with me to 19 of them.
• Poland and Turkey have been some of our favorite places to explore as a family.
• However, we're not rushing to book return trips to Italy or the Dominican Republic.

I've traveled to over 90 countries and been fortunate to take my kids with me to 19 of them.

I can't wait to explore some of those destinations with them again. However, there were other spots I don't think I'd return to with children.

Here are five countries I'd take my kids back to ASAP and five I'd skip until they're older.

Poland was a surprise hit for us.

Poland may not be at the top of many must-see European destination lists, but I think it should be.

When I visited the country with my children, we went to Kraków, Warsaw, and Zapkone.

Our trip was relatively short and largely centered on seeing Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. However, we also visited some amazing historical sites like Wawel Castle and took a beautiful hike along the Polish-Solovkain border.

I really didn't expect Poland to be so charming, and we can't wait to go back to see more. Plus, I think it's a great base from which to explore other parts of Eastern Europe on multi-country trips.

I can't wait to hit the beach in Turks and Caicos again.

I've taken my kids to several Caribbean islands. Although they were all nice in their own way, I dream about returning to the crystal-clear waters and white-sand beaches in Turks and Caicos.

When my family visited, we spent most of our time at our resort, which was fantastic. Next time, I'd like to explore more of the island.

Even if I just sat on the beach on a return visit, though, I'd be very happy. I've visited beaches all over the world, and the ones in Turks and Caicos are among the most beautiful.

We'd go back to Iceland in a heartbeat.

From its welcoming, hip city of Reykjavík to its gorgeous glaciers, Iceland captured my heart. My kids and I explored the country's capital city before heading out on an expedition cruise.

We learned about the cultural legends of trolls and hidden people who are believed to live throughout the country and saw landscapes I could barely believe were real.

I felt very safe everywhere I went in Iceland, and I can't wait to bring my kids back to explore more. Next time, I hope we're lucky enough to see the northern lights or a volcanic eruption.

Dubai wowed us in the United Arab Emirates.

We only spent a few days in the United Arab Emirates. Before I visited, I thought of Dubai as a stopover city rather than a destination.

However, almost as soon as I landed, I knew I wanted to return. From desert safaris to seeing the tallest building in the world, there was so much for all of us to do together as a family.

Even though we did a lot, we still have yet to explore many of Dubai's best attractions and beaches. Next time, I'd also like to visit nearby Abu Dhabi and other emirates.

Turkey is near the top of our return list.

My kids and I had a magical trip to Istanbul. We all fell in love with Turkey's charm, and it was so fascinating to see the mix of European and Asian cultures since the country falls on both continents.

Taking a night-time ferry across the Bosphorus Strait and looking out at centuries-old landmarks bathed in warm light was a sight none of us will forget.

Wandering Istanbul's cobblestone streets while eating Turkish ice cream was a wonderful afternoon I hope to replicate soon.

I can't wait to go back and explore more of Turkey with my children. I know they'd love to check out more of the country's beaches, caves, and ancient ruins.

On the other hand, I don't feel compelled to go back to India with my kids.

We recently had a great trip to India, and I even wished I'd stayed longer. It's an incredibly big and diverse country with plenty to explore.

However, I wouldn't rush back there with my kids.

It was a little anxiety-inducing to ride in cars around New Delhi that regularly had to dodge wild cows on roads where most vehicles didn't stay in their own traffic lanes. Plus, the crowded city was just difficult to navigate in general.

I want to get a better handle on the country myself before I bring my children back.

I'm not rushing to bring my kids back to Italy.

This is an unpopular opinion among my friends, but I wouldn't bring my kids back to Italy. Because it's so popular, everywhere we went was incredibly crowded.

We mostly stuck to major cities like Rome and Venice, and we visited during a high tourist season in the summer, so it wasn't entirely surprising. However, my kids only have so many school breaks for international vacations, so we didn't have a ton of other options.

The stifling crowds made it difficult to get around, and some of the attractions we planned on visiting were sold out.

Moreover, although my family loves Italian food, it's pretty easy to find good pizza, pasta, and other specialties elsewhere in the world.

I'm glad we went once, but I'd rather explore other parts of Europe than return.

There are other places we want to hit before returning to the Dominican Republic.

I'm glad I took my kids to the Dominican Republic, but it didn't stand out to me as somewhere I need to return to. We stayed at a lovely resort, but it kind of felt like we could've been in any Caribbean destination.

It was ultimately our fault for staying in a touristy hotel and spending so much time on its property — the best part of the trip was when we ventured out to explore the country's beautiful mountains.

That said, I'd rather see a different part of Latin America or visit a new-to-me Caribbean island before going back.

We found places we wanted to explore more than Austria.

Austria is a beautiful country, filled with castles, world-class shopping, museums, and natural beauty.

However, my kids and I were more impressed by the brief stops we made in two of Austria's neighboring countries, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Before going back to Austria with my kids, I really want us to spend more time exploring those countries instead.

• When my kids were little, people told me I'd miss them when they were young.
• Now that three of my four kids are teenagers, I realize how much of myself I gave up to raise them.
• I regret not focusing on myself more and losing my identity to motherhood.

When my kids were young, I kept hearing the same things.

"Enjoy them while they are little. You will miss these days when they are gone. The days are long, but the years are short," seemed to echo from every corner.

I jumped into motherhood fully.

Most days, I enjoyed my kids and had no regrets. However, now that three of my four kids are teenagers, I realize how much of myself I gave up. I regret not focusing on myself more and allowing myself to lose my identity outside motherhood.

I am still facing the impact of my decisions from years ago, and correcting the course is difficult.

I gave up a job I loved

Even though I had doubts, after I had my first child, I left a job I loved. I felt pressure from friends and family to be a stay-at-home mom.

I was good at what I did and worked with colleagues I adored. Giving up the salary was hard, but I found that giving up a career I had worked hard to build, dear friends I got to see daily, and a core part of my identity as a lawyer was even harder.

Even if it didn't work out, I regret that I didn't try to continue working and didn't look hard enough for a part-time job in my field. Now that my kids are older, I feel this loss acutely, especially as so many of the colleagues I left are at the pinnacle of their careers.

I didn't spend enough time fostering friendships

After I started staying at home with kids, my social life largely revolved around them. I started spending time with other parents I met at the playground or grabbing coffee with other parents who happened to enroll their kids in the same music class as mine.

I made some good friends this way. However, I regret not spending more time fostering the friendships I already had, especially with friends who didn't have kids. Without realizing it, my kids started dictating nearly every aspect of my social life.

On the rare occasions, I went out without my kids, it was always for a "Mom's Night Out," and the conversation largely centered on children. Now that three of my kids are teenagers, I am no longer a part of their social lives. They hang out with friends and go to lessons without me. That's how it should be, but I acutely feel the loss of the friendships I let slip when they were younger.

I should have fostered my own interests more

I used to be someone with hobbies. I would hike, read, take photos, and even dabbled in knitting. After having kids, my hobbies fell by the wayside one by one.

Hiking was easy with babies but harder with toddlers. My toddlers were willing to be photography subjects, but my tweens were not. Many nights, I was too exhausted to read more than a page or two.

I became completely subsumed by my kids' interests. It was fun, but my deep knowledge of Lego, Marvel, and American Girl dolls is largely useless now that my kids are teens. I could fill some of the time I have to myself now that my kids are older with hobbies.

However, it's hard to pick up where I left off except for reading. If I had continued to foster my interests outside kids, even in a small way, I would have a better sense of who I am outside of a mother.

I should have taken better care of myself

Before having kids, I worked out daily and enjoyed preparing dinner every night. I occasionally treated myself to massages.

After having kids, I was obsessive about their health but let my own fall by the wayside. I wouldn't hesitate to take my kids to the doctor for a sniffle, but I skipped my own annual physical for years. I stopped going to the gym because I couldn't figure out how to work it into my schedule. I enrolled my kids in sports to keep them active but sat on the sidelines, exhausted. I pureed fresh fruits and vegetables for my kids but ate pasta and microwavable food myself. When I was achy or stressed, splurging on a massage didn't even cross my mind.

As my kids got older, so did I. The impact of neglecting my own health is apparent. It hits especially hard seeing my healthy, active teenagers at the peak of their physical fitness and knowing that I could have done more to take care of myself.

• On a recent trip to India, I went to Starbucks, Domino's, McDonald's, and Burger King.
• I would eat at Domino's and McDonald's more if they had similar menus in the US.
• My Starbucks experience was similar to home, but it felt much more like a sit-down restaurant.

One of my favorite things about traveling is getting to try new foods.

However, I often travel with my kids, who aren't very adventurous eaters. That means I find myself frequenting popular fast-food chains around the world more often than I'd like.

On a recent trip to India, we ended up at Starbucks, Domino's, McDonald's, and Burger King. In a way, seeing how the country adopted these familiar concepts was its own kind of cultural experience.

Here's how the American fast-food chains' locations in India compared to ones we're used to in the US.

The first familiar chain we visited was Starbucks.

On my first morning in India, I desperately needed coffee, and I had a feeling Starbucks would be reliable and easy to navigate.

When I walked in, it looked similar to almost every other location I've been to. The menu had many US standards, with some Indian-inspired drinks and food items mixed in, which I appreciated.

I stuck to the basic latte I usually order at home. However, I was more adventurous when it came to my meal: a delicious masala potato puff.

Sitting down to eat at Starbucks isn't all that familiar to me.

After ordering, I quickly realized there was a key difference between this Starbucks and the one down the street from my house. Instead of waiting around for my name to be called, I was told to take a seat, and my order would be brought out to me.

Drinks were served in mugs and glasses rather than disposable cups, and meals came on dishes rather than in thin wrappers.

I liked that my Starbucks experience in India felt more like a sit-down restaurant than a quick-service coffee shop.

Another notable departure is that the Starbucks I visited in Delhi didn't open as early as I expected.

I assumed the chain accommodated morning caffeine fiends like myself everywhere in the world — many locations in the US open as early as 5 a.m. — but I had to wait for this Starbucks to open at 9 a.m.

Domino's in India surprised me.

I find Domino's locations in the US to be mediocre, but my kids love the chain. I was intrigued when I saw the American pizza place scattered throughout India, and eventually, we stopped at one.

I had a hard time deciding between the peppy paneer, indi tandoor, and cheese volcano. I love cheese, though, so I went for the volcano, which included a huge cup of cheese in the center of a pizza topped with a variety of veggies.

I really enjoyed it — I wish Domino's would bring volcano pizzas to the US.

The tables were turned when it came to who enjoyed Domino's more.

My son ordered a kids' meal (which came with a drink and dessert) and stuck with his normal Margherita pizza.

He said it wasn't as good as Domino's at home because the crust didn't seem the same, but overall, he was happy. Domino's chains near us in the US don't even sell kids' meals, and he liked the novelty.

I wish McDonald's back home had some of the Indian offerings.

My family rarely eats at McDonald's in the US, but we went to two different locations in India. One was in an abandoned mall, and the other was in the upscale Connaught Place shopping area.

The ambiance at each was different, but the Indian-inspired menu was the same.

One of my biggest takeaways was that it felt odd to be at a McDonald's that didn't have hamburgers. Cows are considered sacred in Hinduism, the most common religion in India, so many places don't serve beef.

Instead, the chain had chicken, potato, and veggie burgers. My kids and I shared a few different types, all of which we enjoyed.

My favorite was the McAloo tikki burger, which consisted of a patty made out of potato, peas, and spices topped with a tangy tomato-mayo. I'd go to McDonald's more often if it had something similar back home.

My pizza-loving son tried a McPuff. The pizza puff looked promising, but we ultimately deemed it mediocre.

We got special drinks at McDonald's, too.

My kids and I shared fries and sodas at McDonald's that were nearly identical to what we have in the US. However, we also had the option to add ice cream to our drinks, which was new and exciting.

My daughter really enjoyed her orange soda with vanilla ice cream.

Burger King had all sorts of unexpected menu items.

On our final night, my son and I got takeout from Burger King and met friends who were eating at a nearby KFC. It seemed like an odd last dinner to have in India, but it was convenient and quick.

Similar to McDonald's, Burger King had a menu full of chicken patties and veggie burgers. The chain also served mutton in place of beef.

The menu included some locally inspired dishes, like a paneer wrap, but I was more surprised to see tacos and an extensive selection of desserts for sale.

Our food was flavorful and good.

I was tempted to try the tacos. However, my favorite curry in India was makhani dal, so I decided to try a crispy vegetarian makhani burger. It was very good.

I paired my burger with cheese fries and a side of Fiery Hell Dip, which luckily wasn't as spicy as it sounded.

I'm actually kind of glad my kids have made these fast-food visits a habit.

I wouldn't want to eat every meal at American restaurants when I'm abroad. However, I have to admit occasional visits to familiar chains are fun.

It makes my kids happy, but more than that, I feel like paying attention to the little (or big) differences helps me learn a little more about our destination.

Plus, it's always fun to try specialty items we can't get back at home.

• I love planning trips and am an independent traveler who looked down on group tours.
• My perspective of group tours changed when I took one with my kids to Morocco.
• I quickly booked another group tour to India.

I've always been an independent traveler. I've traveled to five continents and over 90 countries, planning nearly every aspect of each trip on my own. For years, I was happy with having complete control over my trips and the flexibility to make changes on the fly.

Group tours never interested me much. I thought they were for people who found planning overwhelming and didn't want to do the research to make sure they created a trip that aligned with their interests.

Then, I accidentally found myself on a group tour, and my perspective changed.

I was an accidental participant in a group tour

In the winter of 2024, I had planned a bucket list trip to Egypt and Jordan for my family. I had booked a tailor-made trip with Intrepid Travel that I had to cancel suddenly when war broke out in the region. Suddenly, I was faced with seeing my long-awaited trip disappear. To ensure we had somewhere to go over the holidays, I switched gears and applied my payment to a family group tour of Morocco.

I wasn't sure what to expect. I wasn't used to ceding complete control over my trip to someone else, and I was alson't sure how my kids and I would tolerate spending more than a week with total strangers.

I was pleasantly surprised

After spending three fantastic days in Marrakesh alone, my kids and I hopped on a train to Casablanca to start our group tour. I was immediately relieved to find several kids around my kids' ages.

A couple of days in, I was hooked. I was astonished that this trip, which included an incredible night of glamping in the Saraha and hiking the Torda Gorge, took almost no effort on my part and came with built-in friends.

I enjoyed having other adults to talk to, something I often miss when traveling alone with my kids. It was also a nice change of pace for my kids to have someone else to play with, especially when they started getting on each other's nerves.

The trip changed my perspective on group travel

Not everything was perfect. Some of the hotels were farther out than I would have chosen, but they were all clean and safe. We just drove by a few places I would like to have stopped. Once or twice, I got stuck waiting for others to shop when I would have rather been exploring.

However, with a very busy schedule that sometimes makes planning trips difficult, I thought these trade-offs were worth it. After my first group trip, I also learned some lessons I could use to make future group trips better.

I booked another group trip for the following year

I quickly booked another group trip for the following year. This time, I booked a trip to India, a country I had always wanted to visit but found intimidating. I thought this was the perfect choice for my family's next group tour. After exploring Morocco with a local guide, I felt confident I could tackle India with the same kind of support and guidance.

I looked at several options but decided to book with Intrepid Travel again. I liked that their specialized family tours ensured that I would travel only with other families, so I didn't need to worry about my kids bothering other guests. The family tour to India I selected also included family-friendly activities like a Bollywood dance class and a traditional block-printing class in Jaipur that aren't included on typical tours geared toward adults. The family tour included more downtime than typical tours and no late-night activities.

My second group tour experience was even better

After taking one group tour, I knew how to improve my second experience.

Although one of my favorite things about group tours is not having to do all the planning, the second time around, I did a little more research about where we were going and deviated from the group a couple of times. One detour I took to India's famous Rat Temple was a highlight. This sacred temple is filled with thousands of well-cared-for rats believed to be reincarnations of people and gods, was a fascinating look into Hindu culture and the deep reverence many Indians have for all living creatures.

Another time, some other adults and I explored a small town alone. I was warmly invited into a Hindu ceremony in progress and quickly adorned with a bindi, a red dot between my eyes meant to open my third eye and help me see beyond the physical world. This was only possible because early on, the parents on the trip had decided to trade off watching each other's kids. I also researched restaurants I wanted to try and made suggestions when it made sense.

I had another great experience, and I'm already planning my next group tour.

• I took my kids to Dubai, and our first trip to the city was amazing.
• However, I should've budgeted more time and money because we didn't get to do everything.
• I also wish we'd spent more time in the desert and had a little more downtime.

Dubai boasts the tallest building, the biggest mall, and the water park with the most water slides in the world. Despite these claims to fame, I still considered it a stopover city, not a full vacation destination.

When I booked my family's flights to India, which included a stop in Abu Dhabi (less than an hour from Dubai), I decided to extend the layover so we could explore for three days.

My kids and I had a great time, but now that we've seen all the city has to offer, I wish I'd done some things differently.

I should've booked a longer trip.

Once I started looking into how to spend our time in Dubai, I realized that the three days I planned were not nearly enough.

If I had to plan the trip over again, I'd schedule at least four or five days in Dubai.

Even though I am not a big shopper, I surprisingly wish I had more time to explore the Dubai Mall. In particular, I wanted to try the indoor skating rink and ski slopes and explore more of the impressive indoor Chinatown.

I also should've planned further in advance.

Since this was just a stop on the way to our larger vacation, I didn't do much advanced planning.

Unfortunately, that meant we weren't able to do everything we had originally hoped.

I discovered too late that tickets to Dubai's Museum of the Future, which I'd wanted to visit, sell out months in advance.

We definitely needed more downtime throughout the trip.

Since our time was limited, I felt pressure to be constantly on the go. Nevertheless, I wish I'd squeezed in a couple of hours of downtime to relax.

That also probably would've helped us acclimate to the time difference from the East Coast.

I carefully selected a beautiful hotel, Andaz Dubai The Palm, that's right on the beach and has a gorgeous infinity pool. However, it would've been nicer if we'd had a little more time to actually enjoy its relaxing amenities.

The city was even more expensive than I'd budgeted for.

I knew Dubai was expensive, but I didn't realize how pricey it was until I started looking into activities.

I originally planned on taking my kids to the top of the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, and visiting its observatory. However, once I saw the price of the tickets, I abandoned the idea.

I couldn't imagine shelling out nearly $200 for the three of us to have what would probably be an hourlong experience.

Even though we skipped it, my kids and I posed for plenty of photos in front of the Burj Khalifa and appreciated its height from afar.

Other activities were more expensive than I expected as well, including the Dubai Mall Aquarium. Tickets started at about $50 a person.

I didn't realize how far apart some of our must-visit stops would be.

The Burj Kalifa is right next to the Dubai Mall, but the city's famous mosque, markets, Global Village shopping area, and local cultural center are all fairly spread out.

The distances between sites made getting around time-consuming and expensive. I wish I'd paid more attention before booking activities to make better use of my time and cut down on transportation costs.

For example, since we visited the Dubai Mall during the day, we weren't able to see its spectacular evening fountain show. I thought we'd be able to dash over one night, but we always found ourselves too far to make the trip worthwhile.

We didn't spend nearly enough time in the desert.

Some of my favorite travel experiences have involved being in the desert, so a desert safari was at the top of my list for our Dubai trip.

I booked the least expensive option with the luxury tour company Platinum Heritage.

Although I enjoyed everything I did in Dubai, this was the most fun and unique. My family spent a fantastic evening climbing sand dunes, spotting wildlife, getting henna tattoos, riding camels, enjoying a traditional Arabian feast, stargazing, and more.

When it was over, I wished I'd booked more time in the desert — or at least had us spend the night.

• My kids and I flew from the US to India in economy on Etihad Airways.
• The seats were comfortable, our meals were good, and there were plenty of entertainment options.
• It was a great experience, but I'd do things a little differently next time.

When my two kids and I went to India, I knew we'd be flying economy. However, I wanted to try to make the long-haul experience a little more enjoyable, so I splurged on flights with Etihad Airways.

The airline is known to offer luxurious, comfortable flights and famously has planes with first-class "apartments." I knew flying economy wouldn't match that experience, but I still expected an above-par journey.

Since I booked close to our travel date in December, which is already a popular travel time, our tickets were fairly pricey — almost $10,000. Luckily, I was able to use credit-card points to cover three round-trip economy flights from Washington, DC, to New Delhi.

Our trip was divided into four legs: 12 hours and 40 minutes from DC to Abu Dhabi, three hours and 25 minutes from Abu Dhabi to New Delhi, four hours from New Delhi to Abu Dhabi, and 15 hours from Abu Dhabi to DC.

Here's how our 35 hours in Etihad economy went.

There were nice amenities on every flight.

On all four of our flights, Etihad had soft blankets tied with a ribbon, fluffy pillows, and good-quality headphones waiting on our seats when we boarded.

All the flights also had meals and full-size screens for entertainment.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the shorter flights had almost the same amenities as the longer legs — I'm used to bare-bones.

On the longer flights, we even got special take-home kits.

On the longer flights, Etihad also provided amenity kits with things like eye masks, earplugs, and toiletries.

I especially appreciated the included dental-hygiene kit. Brushing my teeth on long flights helps me feel less grimy.

There was even a special kit for kids themed after the DC Comics superheroes. It came with a water bottle, a coloring book, and a small pouch.

The food was good and plentiful.

Everything I ate on Ethiad was good — and not just good for airplane food.

Each meal was big, including a hot dish, sides, bread, and dessert. I had everything from pasta with pesto to the traditional Indian dessert of gulab jamun.

My picky kids and I appreciated the variety of options.

On our longer flights, we also got hot snacks, including pizza, which was a huge hit with my kids.

Entertainment options felt extensive.

The big touch screens on the seatbacks offered an extensive selection of movies, TV shows, games, and music. They also had some other bells and whistles, like a "do not disturb" function to cue the flight staff and a flight tracker.

I watched several movies and spent some time playing Uno with my son.

The integrated Bluetooth system meant I could use my own headphones without any special equipment. I also had the option to use my phone as a remote.

We were comfortable throughout our journey.

I'm not that tall, and neither are my children, but we had enough room to stretch our legs fully and move our feet around when we got antsy.

The seats were also well-padded and reclined enough that I could doze off easily.

Another nice touch was that the windows had options beyond open or closed. We could darken them, keep them clear, or select a calming blue tint that allowed some light in without being overly bright.

This helped keep me awake without having to deal with blinding light.

Overall, I'd happily fly with Etihad again.

I made a few mistakes along the way, but I still think flying Etihad was a great choice.

Because I booked my flights late using miles through my credit card's travel portal, I missed out on some benefits that make Ethiad so well-loved.

For example, the airline offers a free hotel stay to some economy passengers with longer layovers. However, I wasn't eligible because I didn't book directly.

Regardless, the provided amenities made all four of our flights more comfortable, and my kids and I had plenty of entertainment options. We also had access to good food throughout the journey.

The airline's economy class may not be anywhere near as luxurious as its in-air "apartments," but we still had a great time.

• I went on a trip to Venice with two of my children and made travel mistakes I wish I'd avoided.
• Our gondola ride felt overrated and I wish I'd researched more about the best places to eat.
• The hotel I booked was actually on a different island in Venice, not the main one.

I've visited more than 65 countries and consider myself an experienced traveler.

Sometimes, I prepare for trips by doing exhaustive research, and other times, I wing it and hope for the best. I've been to Italy a few times so, on a recent trip to Venice, I decided to play things by ear.

I thought it would be a better use of my time to concentrate on other parts of the trip, which involved taking two of my children through Europe from Rome to Warsaw.

Although my kids and I had a great time in Venice, there are five travel mistakes I wish we'd avoided.

Not staying on the Venice mainland

Most visitors to Venice, including us, come for the sites on the main island, like Piazza San Marco and Doge's Palace.

However, Venice is made up of over 100 islands that all include "Venice" in their address. This confused me when I was booking hotels and I ended up accidentally selecting an accommodation in Murano.

We had to take ferry rides to get from there to the main island of Venice and back throughout our trip, which ate into our travel time and budget.

I met plenty of people who intentionally chose to stay on quiet, laid-back Murano, but I wish I'd booked a hotel on the main island.

Going on a gondola ride

Like many visitors to Venice, I was convinced the highlight of our trip would be being paddled through the city's serene canals by a gondolier. However, our gondola ride was anything but the bespoke experience I'd been dreaming of.

Instead of leisurely floating through picturesque waters, our ride along Venice's main canal was mostly spent bumper-to-bumper with other boats while we listened to our gondolier chat with the gondolier in front of him.

Fortunately, we found a better way to enjoy the waters of Venice.

Later in the trip, my children and I took a laid-back rowing lesson with Row Venice, which was more fun than the gondola ride.

We learned to row a traditional Venetian boat on a nearly empty canal, and the instructor gave us a ride as part of the lesson.

Next time, I'd skip the gondola ride and book another rowing lesson.

Not getting up early

I'd heard Venice gets crowded (especially in the summer) and that getting there early is important to try to dodge crowds, but I'm a night owl.

I ignored this advice and figured that, as an experienced traveler, I'd be fine to navigate the crowds.

However, I was not prepared for just how crowded Venice's narrow streets would get during the day. We regularly found ourselves squeezing around other sweaty tourists in the narrow streets or waiting behind groups of people to look at landmarks.

I still had a great time in Venice, but I regret not setting my alarm earlier at least once to enjoy the city when it was calmer and less crowded.

Believing all Italian food is delicious

At home in the United States, Italian food is a staple of my family's diet. It's usually hard to go wrong with any pizza or pasta, so I didn't research where to eat in Venice.

I assumed all of the food in Italy would be delicious. Unfortunately, by being open to eating wherever, we wound up at a number of tourist traps with mediocre pasta and even worse pizza.

Toward the end of the trip, I started putting effort into finding the best traditional Italian food in Venice and found a few gems, including the oldest pizzeria in the city.

If I ever go back, I'll do more research about where to eat ahead of time. After all, Italy has so much incredible cuisine that there's no excuse for eating even one subpar meal there.

Not giving ourselves enough time to leave

There are no cars in Venice, so it's not possible to hop in a cab to get to the city's airport, train station, or bus depot.

On our way to leave the city, we had to navigate narrow walkways and bridges — with our luggage — on foot. Doing so took longer than expected and was stressful.

Next time, I'd allocate more time to just getting to our exit point in Venice.

• I took my 14-year-old daughter on a trip to India.
• When we arrived, she realized she couldn't access TikTok for our trip.
• At first, she panicked, but then she realized she didn't need TikTok to stay connected.

Recently, I took my 14-year-old daughter on a once-in-lifetime trip to India. When we landed, I was excited to see the Taj Mahal and embark on a safari for a chance to see one of the country's famed Bengal tigers.

My daughter was also elated when we landed in India but for a much different reason. After a long flight, she looked forward to connecting to WiFi to see what she had missed. However, her joy quickly turned to despair when she discovered that TikTok was banned in India due to national security concerns posed by the Chinese-owned app, concerns shared by the United States that may lead to a national ban later this month.

In contrast, I was thrilled. I spent years trying to limit my daughter's access to TikTok. At times, this caused my daughter to crumple in tears, insisting that she was the only one without access to the creator's "everyone" was following. Eventually, I lightened up, but I still question that decision.

I was happy that for the next two weeks, the government of India and I were perfectly aligned on this issue. They could be the bad guys in my teenager's eyes instead of me.

My daughter wasn't convinced she could live without TikTok

After a few minutes without TikTok, my daughter declared, "I can't do this. I am getting on a plane and going home right now." I reminded her that a TikTok ban is looming in the United States and that a world without the app might be her new reality. While challenges are still pending, the app could disappear as soon as January 19th in the United States.

I reasoned that our two weeks in India might be her chance to ease out of using the app and see what life is like without TikTok. That would make the transition easier if the TikTok ban goes through at home, I reasoned. She didn't find my logic compelling, but since I told her she would have to pay for her own ticket home, she decided to make the best of it and stay.

She asked her friend for updates

At first, my daughter brought up how unfair it was that she could not access TikTok several times a day. I gently teased her that skincare and fashion trends wouldn't change before we got home. She was not amused, but I was happy not to be the bad guy in this scenario.

My daughter texted her best friend, who had the good fortune to still have access to TikTok back home, to ask what she was missing. Her friend shared news about some new reels she thought my daughter would like, but nothing earth-shattering. Gradually, my daughter stopped asking and stopped complaining.

She realized she could live without TikTok

After our first week in India, I asked my daughter how her TikTok detox was going. She snapped back that she hadn't been on her phone that much. I gave her a wry smile and asked if she thought there was a connection. My daughter was adamant that the two were unrelated, but I wasn't convinced.

We were busy in India. However, I think that my daughter did not feel as compelled to reach for her phone because the pull of TikTok — which can be harmful to teens, according to the company's documents — was absent.

She found substitutes

A TikTok-less world didn't end my daughter's obsession with her phone. She told me that she started watching Instagram reels instead, which she enjoyed more than she thought she would.

We talked about what she would do if a TikTok ban were enacted in the US. Although my daughter was emphatic that she did not want that to happen, she told me that she would follow her favorite creators on Instagram but would cut some others loose. As a parent, I wonder if it'd make her reassess her relationship with social media, too.

I am not naive. I know that it's unrealistic to expect any teenager to abandon social media entirely. I know that if TikTok is banned in the United States, my daughter will fill the gap with other apps, which is what happened in India. However, I still feel comforted knowing that those apps will not pose the same threats as TikTok.

Nevertheless, I am glad that the two weeks my daughter spent without TikTok showed her that she can survive in a world without TikTok.

• I usually fly economy, but I splurged on a first-class Alaska Airlines ticket to Hawaii.
• The round-trip flight cost over $2,000, but the amenities really let me down.
• It definitely wasn't worth it for me — I hope I actually get a first-class experience someday.

I travel often and have only flown economy. However, faced with long-haul flights from the East Coast of the US to Hawaii, I decided to spring for first-class tickets.

I was traveling without my family, so I thought it might be my only chance to see what it's like at the front of the plane without shelling out for multiple tickets.

After looking at different itineraries, I picked a round-trip flight on Alaska Airlines that cost over $2,000. I'd never flown with the airline before, but I excitedly hit buy on the nonrefundable first-class tickets.

I thought the luxury experience would be worth the investment. Instead, in my opinion, what I got wasn't much better than economy.

Unfortunately, I should've done my research.

My first incorrect assumption what that my first-class ticket would automatically get me access to an airport lounge. I thought this would be especially nice since my itinerary included a layover in each direction.

Unfortunately, there weren't Alaska lounges at any of the four airports I flew through during my trip, and you have to be an Alaska Lounge+ member to access any of the airline's partner lounges.

To make things worse, I assumed the first-class seats would be as nice as those I've seen on other airlines. My heart sank when I learned that Alaska Airlines' first-class seats don't recline much and don't have seat-back screens.

I'd been looking forward to a deep recline to help me sleep and zone out while watching movies and catching up on emails throughout my 18-hour travel day.

At this point, I wondered if it would've been better to fly economy on a different airline, but it was too late to change my ticket.

Still, I tried to look on the bright side.

When I boarded my first flight, I was cautiously optimistic.

I was glad to see my first-class chair was noticeably bigger than a typical economy seat. Plus, it had plenty of padding to make it more comfortable.

Unfortunately, the seats reclined even less than I expected. I also didn't get a pillow or an amenities kit, just a blanket, which is what I'm used to on longer economy flights on other airlines.

Unfortunately, things only got more boring from there.

I packed a tablet with a big screen so I could watch movies and TV shows through Alaska's app, which seemed to have a pretty good selection. However, there wasn't a tablet holder on the seatback for either of my flights there.

Because I had only one tray table, I had to choose between watching movies or using my computer to catch up on emails. Given the limited space, things got even tighter when the food came out.

I also had to pay an extra $32 ($8 on each leg of my flight) for WiFi.

I subsisted on snack boxes throughout the long flights there.

When it was time to eat, I was hoping for a hot meal. I left my house at 4 a.m. without breakfast and was starving.

I waited to see what would be on my tray, only to discover that because I had not selected a meal in advance (which I didn't know was a thing), I was stuck with a snack box and a couple of mediocre sides.

I got the same snack box (sans entrée) on my second flight, leaving me hangry when I landed.

As I deplaned, I longingly thought about the delicious food I had on a recent Turkish Airlines flight in economy.

The return flight was slightly better but still far from luxurious.

When it came time to board my first flight home, I was happy to see that the plane was nicer.

This time, I had a tablet holder on the back of my seat so I could watch from a comfortable distance and save some tray space.

The seats didn't recline more than the other plane, but they did have footrests. My flight left at 11 p.m., and I was so tired that I dozed off easily.

Unfortunately, I was soon disappointed again when I boarded my connecting flight. The plane was an older model without a tablet holder.

I had at least preordered a meal for this leg, which was better than the snack box.

I'm looking forward to having a better first-class experience someday.

I can't totally blame Alaska for my underwhelming first-class experience.

If I had done some research before booking, it would've been much clearer that the airline is known for its no-frills planes. However, it still felt like I was paying first-class prices, so I think some disappointment is appropriate.

I won't be flying first class on Alaska again, but I hope to have a real, luxurious experience on another airline in the future.

Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• I always thought I'd only have two kids.
• My oldest has significant medical needs, and I wanted her to have lots of siblings to help her.
• I know there will be times when I can't care for her, but her three siblings can step in.

I always wanted children but never imagined having a big family. I assumed, wrongly, that I would have two happy and healthy kids.

Kids who would keep me up at night worrying about mundane, average concerns like whether they ate enough vegetables as toddlers, stayed out too late as teenagers, or didn't call me often enough when they moved away.

My job, I thought, was to launch my children into the world as independent adults.

My first child has significant medical needs

All of that changed when my first daughter, Claire, was born.

She came into the world quiet and struggling to breathe. From her first moments, she required intensive support to manage a myriad of complex health conditions. As the months wore on, Clarie did not progress along a typical timeline. She didn't crawl, sit up, or babble at the same time as other babies.

With each milestone she missed, her future looked increasingly bleak. Instead of wondering where she might one day go to college, I worried that she would never be able to live on her own.

As Claire grew, it became clear that she would always need help with basic tasks most people take for granted. She was unable to feed, dress, or bathe herself. Worrying about who would take care of her when her father and I were no longer around to care for her consumed me.

She has a team to support her

As Claire got older, the amount of care she needed to get through each day was staggering. She has one-to-one aides at home and school and works with physical, occupational, and speech therapists almost daily. She sees several doctors a month.

Claire needs help with every area of her life, from taking her medication to brushing her teeth. She can't walk steadily or speak. Claire is a joyful young woman who loves the same things a lot of teenagers enjoy: going to the movies, being near water, flipping through fashion magazines, and eating big bowls of ice cream.

Yet, she requires a tremendous amount of support and attention to be able to live at home and be a part of our community. So many people are a part of making sure she stays healthy and can thrive, and I call them "Team Claire" for short.

I wanted her to have an army of siblings on her side

All of the support Claire has in place is hard-won. It is a struggle to ensure the delicate balance required to keep her healthy and happy stays in place. Resources for home care are scarce, specialists are hard to see, paperwork is crushing, and there is an ever-present threat that services will be cut.

Managing Claire's care is a part-time job. It is rewarding and necessary but often time-consuming and frustrating. Claire's father and I, naturally, shoulder this responsibility and fill in the many gaps. But we are not immortal.

When Claire was young and the amount of support she needed became apparent, I knew she would need a big family to help her when I could no longer. We first gave Claire a brother, one who still adores her. I know he will do everything he can for his big sister, but I didn't want him to have to shoulder this immense responsibility alone.

Eventually, I had another daughter, a sister who was born to nurture. She wants to be a doctor when she grows up, a career aspiration borne in part from wanting to help other kids like Claire. However, as the weight of the responsibility I would eventually leave on their shoulders grew, I thought about adding another child to our family.

I decided to have a fourth child

As years went by and I grew older, I knew the day I could no longer care for Claire would inevitably come sooner than I would like. I worried that the burden on Claire's two siblings, each with their own full lives and aspirations, might interfere with their ability to spread their wings and start their own families.

I began thinking about whether it made sense to have a fourth child, someone else, to love and help care for Claire. Even though I knew having a baby would pull me in even more directions, eventually, I decided it was the right decision for Claire and for our family.

That fourth child, now 10, has protected his sister from the start and is the perfect bookend to our family. While I don't know what the future holds, I am glad Claire has three siblings who adore her. I sleep better at night knowing that my four kids will always be a team and rally around their sister and each other.

• My kids and I went to Venice, and we preferred a rowing lesson to a gondola ride.
• The gondola ride was disappointing, but the rowing lesson I booked was exciting.
• Next time, I'd skip the gondola ride altogether.

A gondola ride in Venice is one of the most iconic experiences in Europe. When I recently visited Italy with my children, it was one of the experiences I was most looking forward to sharing with them.

I booked a 30-minute ride for 80 euros, or about $83.

When I first stepped into the gondola, I was thrilled. However, I quickly realized that my expectations were too high.

Our ride was down Venice's Grand Canal, the most famous one in the city, and I knew that was a mistake almost right away. Pulling away from the dock alongside several other boats reminded me of rush hour.

Things didn't get much better once we were on our way. Our gondola was sandwiched between two other boats, and I was worried about getting bumped the entire time.

Instead of telling us about the buildings we were passing, my gondolier spent most of the ride talking to the gondolier rowing the boat in front of us.

After the 30-minute ride, we were left disappointed and looking for more.

I didn't want to leave Venice without having a better experience on the canals

Although Venice has great gelato and pizza and a stunning cathedral, that's not what makes the city unique.

It's one of the few places built entirely along canals, and they're a huge part of life in the city.

I didn't want to leave without getting the fully immersive experience of being rowed through the city — in a way that didn't feel chaotic and rushed.

When I was looking for activities in Venice, I had initially breezed past a rowing lesson with Row Venice, an all-female rowing company. However, after our disappointing gondola ride, I gave it another look and decided to book a 130-euro lesson.

Luckily, our rowing lesson was way more exciting

After a brief delay due to rain, my kids and I hopped in a boat called a batelina with our rowing instructor. I was initially disappointed that we wouldn't be in a gondola, but batelinas are so similar that I could barely tell the difference.

Our instructor explained that batelinas are more stable — and, therefore, better suited for inexperienced rowers.

Row Venice offers lessons in the Grand Canal, but I chose to have ours in a quieter canal.

Stepping into the batelina, I immediately felt more relaxed. Our instructor was attentive and gave us her full attention — I didn't feel l like I was intruding in a private a gossip session with the boat next to us.

Within the first couple of minutes of the rowing lesson, I knew it was going to be a lot closer to what I imagined my gondola ride would be like.

I wish we skipped the gondola ride and just did a rowing lesson instead

Our lesson was cut a little short because of the weather, so we didn't get to experience the full 80 minutes in the boat. Still, it was close to an hour, which was a lot better than the 30-minute gondola ride.

During our time in the batelina, my kids and I each spent some time rowing and the rest being rowed by our instructor. We also learned about traditional Venitian rowing techniques, the different types of boats used in the city, and some of the buildings we rowed past.

Even though it was more expensive, the rowing lesson was a much better value

If I ever visit Venice again, I wouldn't hesitate to book another one, but it would be hard to convince us to give a gondola ride another try.

• I tried my regular Starbucks latte with 2%, soy, coconut, almond, and oat milk.
• The only option I wouldn't order again was almond milk, but at least it doesn't cost extra anymore.
• I've been drinking 2% lattes for years, but soy is undeniably my go-to.

I used to pay extra to have my daily lattes made with a non-dairy alternative. At the time, I preferred the taste and often felt better on days I didn't consume as much dairy.

However, the cost of the substitution — often around $0.80 a drink — added up quickly. Eventually, I abandoned the habit and started ordering my lattes with 2% milk.

Luckily, Starbucks stopped charging extra for alternative milks in November, so I decided to give them all another try.

I ordered my standard 2%-milk latte alongside ones made with soy, coconut, almond, and oat milk. Then, I tried them all with and without sugar to compare.

Here's how the lattes stacked up.

Two-percent milk is a classic that's hard to beat.

I wasn't sure if I'd really taste much of a difference between the coffee drinks, so I also brought along a friend who has received training in discerning tastes from a professional sommelier and recipe developer.

He found the 2% latte boring and lacking "personality." Adding sugar made the taste more interesting, but he didn't think he'd order it again.

I've been drinking lattes made with 2% milk for years, and I wouldn't buy one (sometimes two) daily if I didn't like the taste.

This was almost like the experiment's control group for me — something to compare the others to.

Although it didn't end up being the best of the bunch, it's a good choice for purists like me.

Soy milk used to be my go-to.

When I was drinking non-dairy lattes, soy milk was my preferred alternative. I was really looking forward to seeing if it was as tasty as I remembered.

Luckily, it didn't disappoint — I knew I was onto something back then.

My friend described the drink as smoky with chocolate notes. Although I hadn't noticed that before, I'm starting to think the hints of flavor may be why I'm drawn to it.

Sugar detracted from the taste of this one for me, which is also a plus since I'd rather not add it.

The coconut milk made the coffee a little tropical.

I strongly associate coconut with tropical drinks, so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about a coconut-milk latte. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

In my friend's words, the coconut milk had a dry, caramel taste with a slight acidity.

Adding sugar really brought out the coconut flavor, which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your tastes.

For me, a stronger coconut taste was welcome. However, my friend isn't a big fan of coconut and preferred this drink without sugar.

The almond-milk latte didn't wow me.

I like snacking on almonds and was looking forward to a latte with a nutty taste.

Unfortunately, I didn't like it.

There was a distinct almond quality, but it felt a bit watered down. I didn't think the milk added much flavor to the latte, and my friend agreed.

We both thought that adding sugar would dramatically improve the taste, it didn't.

Once I added sugar, the oat-milk latte was decent.

I enjoy Starbucks' iced brown-sugar oak-milk shaken espresso on warm days, so I was looking forward to seeing how oat milk translates into a hot drink.

Unfortunately, I was a little underwhelmed.

My friend said the oat-milk latte almost had a "cigar-smoke flavor," and neither of us liked that very much.

When I added sugar, the flavor was much better — mostly because it largely covered up the oat milk, making it taste closer to a 2% latte.

There was a clear winner for me.

Although I'll still order it occasionally, the 2%-milk latte is no longer my go-to at Starbucks. After just one sip, I knew I'd be going right back to soy.

The delicious — perhaps chocolaty — flavor is perfect without any added sweetener.

Even though the coconut-milk latte wasn't my favorite drink, it was a close second. The tropical, caramelly flavors really work.

With sugar added, the oat-milk drink was also OK, but I didn't like the almond-milk latte and won't be ordering it again.

• Our home is within walking distance of a good school, but it wasn't the best fit for my daughter.
• To get to her school, we learned she would have to rely on Washington, DC's public transit system.
• She was just 10 at the time, but the experience taught her independence and confidence.

Just before my daughter was born, our family purchased a house in a quaint neighborhood in Washington, DC. We stretched our budget to buy a home on a quiet, tree-lined street in a "good" school district. Like many families, schools were the driving force behind our decision.

Our house is within walking distance of what were then well-regarded elementary, middle, and high schools. We thought we had created a perfect lifestyle, one that included our children walking to and from school until they graduated from high school. I was grateful for the privilege to be able to do so. The plan worked brilliantly for my daughter's elementary school years. We made the seven-minute walk to school and back together until she was in fourth grade. Then, she preferred walking with a friend. No one batted an eye in our nearly crime-free neighborhood.

The middle school in our neighborhood wasn't a good fit

Everything changed when my daughter started middle school. Although we originally intended to send her to our neighborhood school, we found a charter school that was a much better fit for her. I rejoiced when she got in. However, my joy was quickly replaced by despair when I realized there was no good way for her to get there and back. For the first time in my daughter's life, she wouldn't be able to walk to school.

Our school district doesn't provide transportation to students. Because my four kids attended four different schools, each in different parts of the city, driving her wasn't realistic either. Nevertheless, I wasn't willing to let this logistical nightmare get in the way of sending her to a dream school.

I realized putting my daughter on the city bus was the only feasible option

Washington, DC, is a city with a robust and reliable public transportation system. As I frantically searched for a solution, it became clear that taking the city bus was the best, and perhaps only, solution. My daughter, who has a late summer birthday, was only 10 when she started middle school. I worried about sending a child so young on the bus alone but decided we would have to give it a try.

My daughter has taken public transportation around the city since birth, but never without an adult. Even though she is a born-and-bred city kid, I still worried about her navigating public transportation alone at such a young age. Although she had already been walking to school without supervision for two years, she had done so safely enclosed in a familiar neighborhood, surrounded by families I knew would have treated her like their own if she ever needed help. Now, I was thrusting her alone into a big city. I worried but took a deep breath and committed to the plan.

We taught her the ins and outs of public transportation

My husband and I did our best to prepare our daughter for her new responsibility. We took her on a few practice runs, not telling her when she made mistakes like missing her stop and guiding her as she course-corrected on her own. We taught her lessons about safety, like always keeping her backpack on her lap to avoid theft, sitting near the driver so she could ask for help if anyone bothered her, and never wearing flashy jewelry. We made sure she understood how to use our transit system's app so she could check what time she needed to catch her bus and plan her route.

The first day of school arrived, and she was on her way. She had a couple of mishaps during the first few weeks. Once, she got distracted and rode right past her stop. Another time, she got on a bus going the wrong way. When these mistakes happened, as I knew they would, she called and we talked her through a solution. She always found her way home, more confident in her navigation skills and ability to adapt if something went wrong.

My daughter loves her independence

Some other parents thought I was being irresponsible by allowing my 10-year-old to ride the bus alone. However, my daughter rose to the challenge and thrived. Now, she is 14 and in 9th grade. She not only takes the bus to get home from school, but deftly navigates all forms of public transportation around the city. She loves her independence, and so do I.

When we travel, my daughter is adept at navigating new public transportation systems with ease. College, and even more independence, is approaching faster than I would like. Seeing my daughter find her way in vast, unfamiliar places gives me confidence that she will be okay on her own when she eventually launches.

If I had listened to those who thought my daughter was too young to handle this type of independence, she would not be at the fantastic school she goes to today. She would not be able to zip around the city, go shopping, see movies, or visit friends with such ease and without her Mom's help. She wouldn't have as much confidence as I see daily, confidence that spills over into other areas of her life. It's bittersweet to see my daughter so deft at a skill that takes her one step closer to complete independence, but it's one she needs. I'm glad she developed it early.

• It's not the most popular take, but I don't like celebrating the holiday season.
• Instead, I book long, international trips to places I've always wanted to visit but never had time.
• I love getting to see a new part of the world and give that priceless experience to my kids.

When my children were little, I felt the magic of the holidays deep in my bones.

Nearly every weekend, we dashed to see a light display or rode the Polar Express while drinking cups of rich hot chocolate.

Then, my kids got older.

As tweens and teens, they became hard to please. They seemed impervious to the joyful spirit of the holidays, grumbling when I booked holiday events and complaining about the gifts I chose for them.

I know this is developmentally appropriate, but it hurts. Last year, I decided to opt out of Christmas in favor of something I love: travel.

Instead of spending time and money on creating an extravagant day that would be stressful and (likely) unappreciated, I took my family on a trip to Morocco.

It was such a great experience that I've made international travel our new holiday tradition.

December happens to work for all our schedules

There's no substitute for seeing the world and getting an up-close look at different cultures and ways of life. I also think it's the best way to raise empathetic, open-minded children, and I'm very fortunate to be able to provide them with these experiences.

However, my kids' school schedules make it hard to go anywhere for more than a few days. I try to make the most of our summers, but that's when it's hot and crowded in many parts of the world.

Luckily, the kids reliably have an extended school break around Christmas each year, making the holidays an ideal time for our family to travel.

It's refreshing to visit parts of the world where Christmas is just like any other day

Another big reason I travel during the holidays is to escape the stress of them, so I like to pick destinations where Christmas isn't widely celebrated.

In many parts of the world, it's just an ordinary day, so attractions aren't closed — aka, we don't sacrifice any vacation time.

Last year, in Morocco, I saw a smattering of holiday lights and small Christmas trees, mostly in hotels. That was perfect for me because I felt very little pressure to make Christmas Day magical.

I've figured out how to make holiday travel as easy as possible

In order to make holiday travel easier, I book group tours.

Although I didn't originally intend to travel this way, I planned last year's trip in a rush, so it was the easiest and fastest way to make sure we could cover a lot of ground in the time we had.

It turns out that not having to worry about booking hotels or planning the logistics of getting from place to place was a welcome reprieve.

Even though I had more time this year, I decided to skip the stress and use the same tour company as a gift to myself.

I may not like Christmas, but I'm not a complete Scrooge

Skipping the holidays isn't for everyone, but it works for me.

Even though I no longer have the will to create an elaborate Christmas at home, I don't want my children to miss out completely.

Every year since my kids were little, I've taken them to the over-the-top Christmas displays at Gaylord National Resort in Maryland, and that has continued. We do all the Christmas things in a single day, from building gingerbread houses to seeing Santa.

It's the perfect way to continue a holiday tradition without any pressure to be perfect — and minimal whining from my kids.

Additionally, I've always believed that experiences are better than physical gifts, and now that we travel, I keep presents to a minimum. However, on Christmas Day, I let my kids choose a special souvenir to commemorate the holiday.

• Taylor Swift's Eras Tour strengthened my bond with my teenage daughter.
• The shared experience of attending the concert and streaming others brought us closer in many ways.
• Swift's influence extended beyond music, teaching valuable life lessons and I'm forever grateful.

When Taylor Swift's Eras Tour started, my daughter had just turned 13. Typically, teenage girls pull away from their mothers, declaring as much independence as possible, and my daughter was no exception. After all, she already had a full life full of friends and sports apart from me. Even though she lived in the same house, I missed her. Then, Swift burst into our lives. It was spectacular.

Taylor Swift brought my daughter and I closer

Like much of America (and the world), my daughter was desperate to see the Eras Tour. With each show she live-streamed, her desire grew and grew. She eventually asked for my help getting the impossible-to-find tickets. We searched together for weeks. It wasn't the bonding experience I would have chosen, but texts from my daughter morphed from brief three-letter responses like "OMG" to coded messages using Swift's lyrics that only we understood. She even started saying "Thank you" and "I love you." My smile could have it up the whole town.

When kind relatives unbelievably gifted my daughter tickets to the Philadelphia show, we spent time together making friendship bracelets, shopping for outfits, and listening to Swift on repeat. Just as my daughter was pulling away, we suddenly had a reason to spend more time together — all of it joyful.

The Eras Tour brought us closer

When we finally saw Swift in May 2023, my daughter was bubbly and talkative. We arrived hours before the show began to take it all in. It had been years since we spent that much uninterrupted time together and I savored every moment. The show itself was, of course, incredible. But while most of the audience was watching Swift, I was watching my daughter. I teared up when Swift described how music brought her closer to her own mother. When we left, I told my daughter, "I had the best day with you."

After the show, lyrics spanning all of Swift's eras morphed their way out of text messages and into everyday parlance. We often told a younger sibling, "You need to calm down." We told each other, "By the way, I'm going out tonight," while a secret grin passed between us.

I wanted to see the Eras Tour again

Experiencing the Eras Tour with my daughter was so transformative that I wanted to do it again, and so did she. I had my chance when I got tickets to a show in Warsaw a year in advance. Traveling halfway around the world for a concert seemed like a wild move. Nevertheless, I jumped in and committed myself fully, wanting to extend the magic Swift created between my daughter and me for as long as possible.

That year was a gift, one that allowed me to continue to share a bond with my daughter as I morphed into almost as big as Swiftie as she is. We used the opportunity to plan a trip of a lifetime through Europe, in a fever dream high. We continued watching live streams of Swift's shows together and made more friendship bracelets. My daughter quizzed me on Swift's discography and I got pretty good at answering her questions.

We talked about what makes Swift great beyond her music

As I learned more about Swift, I discovered she was a great role model. Swift embodied many lessons I wanted my daughter to learn, lessons she may not be open to hearing from me but would gladly take in from an idol.

We talked about how Swift boldly stood up for herself time and time again. She was not quiet when she was sexually assaulted. She rerecoded most of her albums when her label sold her original recordings over her objections. She was not afraid to speak up about politicians she opposed, even though those around her advised her to keep her head down. Swift confronts sexism and ageism boldly. She does not seem to settle when it comes to love. She is creative and savvy in business. Most of all, she appears to love her mother deeply. These are all lessons I want my daughter to take to heart as she grows. Swift was the person who opened the door to allow me to talk about these life lessons with my daughter. For that, I will be forever grateful.

I will keep the lessons of the Eras Tour with me

I wish the Eras Tour would last forever, but I know it has to end. As we prepare to say goodbye to Taylor Swift for now, I will remember to be open to sharing my children's interests. I will say yes more often, even when a plan seems outlandish. I will look for more opportunities to create magic with my children. I will remember that these things are possible, no matter how old they get.

My daughter and I have plans to watch a live stream of the Eras Tour one last time when Swift takes her final bow on December 8th. Thank you, Taylor, for the incredible gift of the Eras Tour. But I am especially grateful for the gift of togetherness you gave to my daughter and me.

Long live the Eras Tour. I had the time of my life.