Day 86 - Valentine’s Day, World-Schooling Style in Austria
Valentine’s Day looked a little different this year.
We all slept in after a late night, and thanks to some reshuffled sleeping arrangements, I woke up next to Emmett while Kia was bunked in with Maddie. Not exactly candlelit romance. If anything, it was peak world-schooling reality.
Truthfully, Kia and I had both forgotten it was Valentine’s Day until one of us muttered it first thing in the morning.
“Happy Valentine’s Day.”
No gifts.
No big gestures.
Just a quick smile and a laugh.
Maddie stepped in and helped us make digital cards for each other, which honestly felt more meaningful than anything store-bought. A quick bit of creativity on the iPad, a few sweet words typed out, and that was our celebration. We’ve never been huge on over-the-top Valentine’s traditions anyway. It was just the same simple love… in a completely new part of the world.
Emmett woke up feeling off. Sore throat. Headache. Heavy eyes.
We’d already planned a rest day, so it came at the right time. Travel has been full throttle lately and I think his little body just needed a reset.
So we leaned into it.
He stayed rugged up inside watching movies and drifting in and out of sleep. No pressure. No plans. Just rest.
Maddie, on the other hand, was out the door early playing with the Austrian and Norwegian girls right up until lunch. Snow gear on. Energy high. She barely surfaced until we called her in.
That contrast is something we’re getting used to on this trip. One child charging ahead. The other needing stillness.
Kia and I used the slower pace to film some interview footage we’ve been meaning to capture. It felt good to finally press record instead of just talking about it.
Then we sat down together and did something we’ve been putting off for weeks.
We figured out our next moves after Austria.
Flights. Schengen timelines. Weather. Kids’ energy. Cost of living. Community hubs.
For the first time in a while, the next few months started to feel clear instead of foggy.
That sense of clarity was probably the most romantic part of the day.
After lunch:
I worked on the website and tightened up a few things we’d been meaning to improve.
Kia had a well-earned nap.
Later, she went for a walk with the Norwegian mum.
The kids chilled out inside.
No sightseeing.
No pushing.
No ticking off attractions.
Just space.
We had an early dinner, threw on a movie and all climbed into bed sooner than usual.
It wasn’t flashy.
But it felt right.
This trip has been fast and full. Sometimes you don’t realise how much you need a slow day until you’re in one.
And in a strange way, Valentine’s Day on the road summed up this season of life perfectly:
Love isn’t grand gestures.
It’s reshuffled beds.
Digital cards.
Working through travel logistics together.
Letting your son rest.
Letting your daughter roam.
Choosing to build something slowly as a family.
A great relaxing day.
And finally, a clear path forward for the months ahead.