Juist, Germany

While Steffen was studying at Stanford, one of his professors mentioned that one of the best things he did as a parent to multiple children was to take them on individual trips once a year. And that planted a seed in both of our minds. 10 years later, as I was contemplating what to get the girls as gifts for birthdays as they had more than enough, we came up with the idea to start giving them a night away with Steffen and I instead of gifts starting at 10 years old. That meant that they could still have a birthday party and receive gifts from family and friends, but Steffen and I would not give them any material items. Instead, we would pick a weekend in which we could find care for the other girls, and the birthday girl could pick where we went, where we stayed, what we ate, and what activities we would do. A true luxury in a big family where they each need to compromise, compromise, compromise all day, everyday. The only “rules” for the trip are that it needs to be within driving/train distance and for just one night. Though at some point the girls negotiated two nights starting at age 15. We’ll see if we keep it at that or if we add a night every five years. 🙂

Tropical Islands, Berlin, Germany

Once we went on our first trip in 2018, we quickly realised this would be our favorite family tradition! It is so fun to have that one-on-two time together and be able to give her our undivided attention. We have been on 15 Birthday Trips over the years (adding a 16th this weekend!) and as of this August, all girls will do trips instead of gifts as Luisa turns 10. It really is a very special tradition that I would highly recommend if you have multiple children.

Leeuwarden, the Netherlands

Over the years we have stayed at all sorts of different places from fancy hotel rooms in big cities to a houseboat in the Netherlands to our own car in a makeshift bed. I love the girls’ willingness to try new things!

We’ve also taken all sorts of transportation (other than a plane!) both to get to our destination and while there from the train to boats, bicycles built for two to horse and carriages.

We did some really special activities like seeing The Lion King in Hamburg, going to Miniatur Wunderland, visiting amusement parks like Toverland in the Netherlands, Phantasialand in Germany and Serengeti Park Hodenhagen, zipping through the forest on the Astenkick in Winterberg and swimming, swimming and swimming. We saw a women’s soccer game in Köln and found a unique and beautiful bookstore in Maastricht. Along with shopping, sightseeing and playing a lot of games! It is fun to see both what each girl picks that is unique and what is a through line, like swimming and going out for pizza.

These weekend trips are mostly special times to re-connect and slow down but also a great reminder of all the fun and unique places that are only a few hours drive away!