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I work in shifts, four days on four days off, as a fireman. This gives me a huge advantage in terms of the time I spend with my daughter.
We went to games, crafts, and toy swaps together—and despite what the internet paints as a more egalitarian world, I’m usually the only dad there.
Maybe that’s why when my daughter started school, I felt like I was suffering from a mild form of empty nest syndrome. I wanted to strengthen our bond, so I decided to plan a trip—just the two of us.
We are English so I preferred to stay in Europe despite having traveled to Japan twice with my wife and daughter. (A long flight without her mother was a scary concept, I admit).
I checked flights, my budget and travel time to keep her sleep schedule, narrowing 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, she chose cold, so it was Bergen.
Natural icebreaker
We flew into Manchester airport much earlier than we should have, which ended up giving us more time to play spy and talk to people in the terminal. My child’s confidence and cuteness acted as an icebreaker and we connected with far more people than I would have if I were traveling alone.
Landing in Bergen, Norway after traveling from Manchester.
Source: Thomas Board
I tactically booked an airport hotel to get rid of our first night in Bergen. But we both arrived full of energy. As soon as the light went out, she fell asleep almost instantly, and I lay awake. Now I was an excited child, excited about our trip.
My daughter exudes a confidence that I hope she never loses.
The next day we took the train to the city center – and I already knew that Norway was the right choice. The tunnels and the stunning terrain were matched only by humans.
My daughter exudes a confidence that I hope she never loses. She gave thumbs up signs to locals on the platforms at every stop, always getting a return gesture and smile. She quickly moved to a two-handed love heart sign, which the young Norwegian couple mirrored back. After enough real hearts, she went back 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.
The similarities to the Land of the Rising Sun continued throughout our trip: funny honking horns at intersections, a preponderance of 7-Eleven stores, reserved but kind people, subtle and mature fashion choices, excellent customer service, delicious food, and unabashed kindness to children.
“My desire to both strengthen our bond and rekindle my past love of solo travel led me to look for a trip just the two of us,” said Thomas Board.
Source: Thomas Board
“Children come first in Norwegian culture,” a mother told me at the VilVite Children’s Science Museum in Bergen. We talked about how impressive the museum is for children, how the staff at every corner strives to improve children’s learning. Opened 17 years ago, the museum looked completely new. The exhibits change regularly, so local parents keep coming back.
While we were talking, my daughter was playing with other kids, building Lego cars to test them on an undulating wooden track that ended up smashing them to pieces.
The VilVite Science Center welcomes about 120,000 guests every year.
Source: Thomas Board
Raising children in Norway is different from raising them in England. There is a monthly cap on childcare costs, which encourages both parents to work and promotes gender equality in the workforce. Children do not go to school until they are six years old, which gives them more time with the family. The country’s low crime rate means children usually go to school or 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 to the loud honking of cruise ships. We rode the funicular to the top of Mt Fløen, went down to the lake and rock-rolled along the water’s edge. Along the way we saw stones, which are small piles of stones that usually mark an important place. My daughter insisted on building her own, after one of her favorite stuffed animals.
On top of Mount Fløen, one of the seven mountains that surround 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 city, often photographing the eclectic street art. Our walk took us to a toy store, parks, an ice cream parlor, a fire station, and a large church with a practicing choir inside.
A moment to remember
On our last night together, we sat on the hotel bed, me with a venison hot dog and my daughter with a box of leftover pizza. She watched children’s programs on TV, despite the fact that she did not understand a word.
It was an unplanned and simple moment and I will cherish this memory forever. We were both satisfied and filled with a day of father-daughter adventure with no responsibilities or thoughts of the future.
Exploring the art scattered around Bergen, including this bronze statue known as “The Homeless”.
Source: Thomas Board
No matter how spontaneous you are, parenthood inevitably throws you into a routine. Even “having fun” can involve unwritten conditions, worries, and planning.
That’s why alone time to truly enjoy our children is key – a time when we forget about work, housework, bills and everything else that can make life difficult. Exploring new territory, solving problems, and having fun together miles away 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 she grows up.
I know I will. I’m already planning our next trip.
