One of the best experiences I’ve had as a parent
I work in shifts, four days on and four days off, as a firefighter. This gives me a huge advantage in terms of the time I spend with my daughter.
We’ve had playdates, crafts and toy swapping sessions together – and despite online depictions of a more equal world, I’m usually the only dad.
Maybe that’s why I felt like I was suffering from a mild form of empty nest syndrome when my daughter started school. I wanted to strengthen our bond, so I decided to plan a trip just for the two of us.
We are English, so although I have traveled to Japan twice with my wife and daughter, I have found it best to stay in Europe. (A long-haul flight without his mother was a scary concept, I admit).
I checked my flights, my budget, and travel times that would accommodate her sleep schedule and narrowed it down to two places: Porto in Portugal or Bergen in Norway. Then I asked my daughter if she wanted to go somewhere hot or cold. To my surprise, he chose the cold, and so did Bergen.
A natural icebreaker
We got to Manchester Airport much earlier than we should have, which gave us more time to play spy and talk to people in the terminal. My child’s confidence and sweetness acted as an icebreaker and we connected with more people than I would have if I had traveled alone.
After traveling from Manchester, land in Bergen, Norway.
Source: Thomas Board
I tactically booked an airport hotel to enjoy our first night in Bergen. But we both came full of energy. After lights out, she fell asleep almost immediately while I lay awake. I was an excited child now, excited for our upcoming trip.
My daughter gives me hope that she will never lose.
The next day we took the train to the city center and I already knew that Norway was the right choice. The tunnels and amazing topography were adapted only by humans.
My daughter gives me hope that she will never lose. He gave thumbs up signs to locals on the platforms at every stop, always receiving a reciprocal gesture and smile. He quickly moved on to a two-handed love heart sign displayed by a young Norwegian couple. With enough real hearts successfully melted, she returned to the coloring book the hotel concierge had given her that morning.
“Children come first” in Norway
From the efficiency of the train to the cleanliness of the city streets, Norway reminded me of Japan.
Similarities to the “Land of the Rising Sun” persisted throughout our journey: funny signals at crosswalks, a preponderance of 7-Eleven stores, cautious but friendly people, sophisticated and mature fashion choices, excellent customer service, delicious food, and unconditional kindness toward children.
“My desire to both strengthen our bond and rekindle my past love of solo travel led me to explore a trip just the two of us,” said Thomas Board.
Source: Thomas Board
“In Norwegian culture, children come first,” a mother told me at VilVite, a children’s science museum in Bergen. We were talking about how impressive the museum is for children, how the staff at every corner are committed to improving the children’s learning experience. 17 years have passed since its opening, the museum looked completely new. Exhibits change regularly to keep local parents coming back.
As we talked, my daughter played with the other kids, building cars out of Lego to test on the bumpy wooden track and eventually breaking them.
The VilVite Science Center receives approximately 120,000 visitors a year.
Source: Thomas Board
Raising children in Norway is different from raising children in England. There is a monthly cap on childcare costs, which encourages both parents to work and increases gender equality in the workforce. Children do not go to school until the age of six, which gives them more time in the family unit. The country’s low crime rate means it’s normal for children to walk to school or to other family members’ homes alone – another similarity to Japan.
Loose plans guided our trip and I let my child lead the way as much as possible. We ate pancakes by the harbor, laughing at the loud horns of the cruise ships nearby. We took the funicular railway to the top of Mt Fløyen, walked to the lake and skimmed the rocks along the water’s edge. Along the way we saw pits with small piles of stones, usually marking an important place. My daughter insisted on building her own, honoring one of her favorite stuffed animals.
The summit of Mount Fløyen, one of the seven mountains surrounding the city of Bergen.
Source: Thomas Board
We spent the rest of our short vacation exploring the cobbled streets and alleyways of the safe and quiet town, often photographing the eclectic street art. Ambling took us to a toy store, parks, an ice cream parlor, a fire station, and a large church with a practice choir.
A moment to remember
On our last night together, we sat on our hotel bed, me with a reindeer hotdog and my daughter with a box of leftover pizza. He was watching children’s programs on TV, he didn’t care if he couldn’t understand a word.
It was an unplanned and simple moment and I will cherish this memory forever. We were both happy and fulfilled with a day of father-daughter adventure with no responsibilities or thoughts about the future.
Explore the art scattered around Bergen, including this bronze sculpture known as “The Homeless”.
Source: Thomas Board
No matter how spontaneous you are, being a parent inevitably puts you into a routine. Even “having fun” can lead to unwritten terms, anxiety, and planning.
That’s why one-on-one time is essential to truly enjoy our children—a time when we forget about work, chores, bills, and anything else that can make life difficult. Exploring new territories, solving problems and having fun as a duo miles from home is one of the best experiences I’ve had as a parent.
I wonder if my little four-year-old will remember this trip when he grows up.
I know that. I’m already planning our next trip.
English