Presence > Presents
Growing up, it was just my mom and I. Finances were always tight - I didn’t have name brand anything until I bought my own volleyball shoes in junior high - and I can remember more than a few Christmases that were a little skimp on presents. We may not have had a lot of money, but Mom made sure that what we lacked financially, she gave to me in experiences.
I’ve still yet to go to Disney World (shoot, I was lucky if I got to go to Six Flags!) BUT I have seen the world’s largest ball of twine and the country’s largest ketchup bottle!
Every summer, she would take a week off from all of her jobs to go on a random road trip with me. North Dakota and Pennsylvania were particular standouts. [Ask me why if you care to know.] Those few days every summer gave us sorely needed mother-daughter bonding time and it got me out of our blink-and-you-miss-it town, if only for a little while.
But our travels also had practical lessons. The trips helped me learn to read maps and figure out how to navigate; it made me self-confident in speaking to anyone from any background and any age; it gave me an appreciation for scenery; and maybe most of all, it taught me that the cornerstones of any great road trip (and of life in general) are snacks, good company, and a great soundtrack!
