Our Family’s ABCs: Turning Birthdays into World Explorations
How a Family Tradition Turned Birthdays into Unforgettable Journeys Around the World
As a mom, I’ve always felt that parenting is about cherishing both the big occasions and the little moments that make up our children’s lives. From bedtime stories to spontaneous dance parties in the kitchen, these everyday experiences make the parenting journey so special. But when our daughter’s first birthday came around in 2014, my husband and I weren’t sure how to celebrate the milestone.
We first thought about throwing a typical children’s birthday party—you know, the big event with cake, balloons, and a long guest list. While we admire parents who love organizing children’s parties (kudos to you all!), we realized that large gatherings weren’t really our thing. We wanted something that reflected our family’s personalities and passions.
That’s when inspiration struck. Since we love to experience unique places, learn about other cultures and see the sights that the world has to offer, we decided to start our own unique family tradition: celebrating our daughter’s birthdays by traveling to destinations that match the corresponding letter of the alphabet for her age. For her first birthday, “A” led us to the beautiful Amanpulo—the perfect island getaway for our first adventure.
The Travel Alphabet begins!
We were all excited about this idea. It wasn’t just about visiting new places; it was about making special memories together. For her second birthday, “B” brought us to the cool mountains of Baguio, where we enjoyed fresh air and scenic views. For her third birthday, the letter C took us to the charming city of Chiang Mai, where we learned about traditional Thai handicrafts.
We believe in learning through experiences and feel that exposing our daughter to different cultures, languages, and places helps her understand the world. Travel became our classroom, with each destination teaching us something new. When she turned four, “D” took us to Da Nang in Vietnam, where we relaxed on the beach and immersed ourselves in the local culture. Her fifth and sixth birthdays were spent in El Nido and Fukuoka (Japan), respectively.
But then, in 2020, the pandemic put our travel plans on hold for the next two years. Like many families, we stayed home and focused on our health and well-being. As the world began to open up again, we were eager to continue our tradition. To catch up, we took several trips between 2022 and 2024. We visited Guam, enjoying stunning sunsets and learning about the island’s history. Next was Hong Kong, where we spent most of our days at Disneyland.
Continuing our journey, we traveled to Italy for the letter I, experiencing the fashion-forward energy of Milan and exploring the historic beauty of Venice. Next was “J” for Japan, where we combined the trip with the Osaka Marathon in February 2024. Our daughter surprised us by choosing the Cup Noodles Museum over Universal Studios—it was entirely her choice, and we were thrilled to follow her lead. Experiencing Japan through her interests made the trip even more special.
We finally caught up for her eleventh birthday—”K” took us to the beaches of Koh Samui in Thailand. It was there that our daughter excitedly said, “I can’t wait to go to Los Angeles for my 12th birthday!” She’s thrilled about experiencing Disneyland again but on a bigger scale and hanging out with relatives who live in California. Her excitement showed us that this tradition isn’t just fun and unique but a meaningful part of her life.
Consistency is Key
Still, maintaining this tradition over a decade hasn’t been without its challenges. Planning trips, managing budgets, and balancing work schedules take effort and flexibility. There were times when flights were delayed or plans had to change at the last minute. But these moments taught us to be patient and adaptable. They reminded us that the essence of travel—and life—is embracing the unexpected.
Through these adventures, we watched our daughter grow into a confident, curious, and compassionate person. She’s learned that the world is rich with diverse cultures and people from various backgrounds. She’s learned to value diversity, communicate as best she can despite language barriers, and adapt to new situations.
This tradition has also brought us closer as a family. Away from the distractions of daily life, we’ve had the chance to really connect. I share our story not to suggest that everyone should go on big trips each year, but to inspire other parents to find unique ways to celebrate their children and create lasting family traditions. It doesn’t have to involve travel or be expensive. The key is to find something that fits your family’s interests.
Maybe it’s a yearly camping trip where you enjoy nature together. Perhaps it’s cooking dishes from different countries as a family. It could be a simple tradition of writing birthday letters to each other, sharing memories and hopes for the year ahead.
How a travel routine solidified them as a family
In a world that often feels busy and hectic, these traditions offer a chance to slow down and focus on what truly matters—our relationships with our loved ones. They provide a sense of continuity and belonging, anchors that our children can hold onto as they grow up.
For us, this alphabet adventure has been a joyful expression of who we are as a family. It’s a way to celebrate our daughter not just on her birthday but throughout the year, as we plan and dream about our next destination. It’s also a gift to ourselves, giving us experiences that teach us new things and bring us closer.
As parents, we all have the opportunity to create special traditions for our families. I encourage you to explore what that might look like for you. Embrace your passions—whether it’s art, music, sports, or storytelling—and find ways to share them with your children. The traditions you create today could become the cherished memories that your children carry with them into adulthood.
We’re excited to continue our journey through the alphabet, knowing that each letter holds new adventures and things to learn. And who knows? Maybe when we reach “Z,” we’ll start a new tradition altogether. After all, the heart of this journey isn’t just about the places we visit but the love, laughter, and learning we experience together along the way.
Creating Your Own Family Traditions
If our story resonates with you, here are some tips to start your own family tradition:
- Identify Your Passions: Think about what your family enjoys doing together, whether it’s hiking, reading, or cooking.
- Be Consistent: Traditions gain meaning over time. Try to incorporate them regularly, whether annually, monthly, or weekly.
- Involve Everyone: Let each family member contribute ideas. This makes everyone feel included and excited.
- Keep It Flexible: Life can be unpredictable. Allow your tradition to adapt as your family grows.
- Celebrate the Journey: Focus on the experiences and connections you’re building rather than striving for perfection.
Starting a family tradition is a wonderful way to celebrate your loved ones and create lasting memories. Whether big or small, what matters most is the love and intention behind it.
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