What We’re Giving Up to Spend a Month in France

A month in France sounds pretty dreamy.

And it is.

But we're not magically pressing pause on our normal lives for 32 days. We're giving some things up to make this happen.

My daughter is giving up her first summer with a driver's license. She's going to miss spontaneous sleepovers, last-minute plans with friends, driving around with them, and time she could be working at her hostess job and saving money for senior year.

My boys are giving up summer swim team. I know, for many, this is a relief. I know my husband feels that way. But I looooove swim team, and the routine and skill building of it is second to none.

And my youngest may miss his first opportunity to play in Little League All Stars. He’s grown so much this fall, and he’s going to be a rockstar in the spring season.

Those aren't insignificant things.

And while this trip is all my idea and I am so excited about it, I’m giving up stuff too. I'm giving up my regular exercise routine at OrangeTheory. The meals I make that I know the kids will eat.  My friends and the little village that grows just a little stronger in the summers by the pool.

And my hubby. I really love our partnership, and I’m nervous to tackle this on my own for the most part. That part is probably the strangest for me, because I've done it before. I was a single mom with toddlers. But I've gotten really comfortable having someone to share the load with.

So there are definitely moments when I look at everything we're giving up and think...

Are we crazy?

Maybe a little.

But there are also things we're gaining that we can't really put a price on, or even really understand until we’re in it.

My kids will spend a month somewhere completely different. They'll hear another language every day. They'll learn how to navigate unfamiliar places. They'll eat things they don't recognize. They'll have to be flexible and figure things out.

And we'll have a dedicated month together that we can't recreate when they're older.

There will be more summers by the pool.

More baseball.

More summers for my daughter to work and hang out with her friends.

But there won't be another summer when these three kids are exactly these ages, all still at home, and we're able to say:

Let's go live in France for a month.

So yes, we're giving up some stuff, but I’m thinking we're gaining something we'll remember for a whole lot longer.