This blog started out as an acknowledgement that the travel information I was hoarding needed a better outlet than Google reviews. Why not start my own website focused on a few, key topics: traveling with a baby, traveling with toddlers and children, and traveling during infertility? As I toyed with the concept and began writing about our family trip to Las Vegas, a mission emerged.
My name is Holly Thayer, and my primary goal through this blog is to share what I’ve learned traveling domestically in the U.S. with my daughter, from the time I became pregnant — and even before. I plan to share what my husband and I learned traveling through several rounds of IVF. Infertility and travel share their own messy, emotional relationship, and I want to dissect that here. I want to explore the barriers we’ve faced and the mistakes we’ve made while traveling, but also all the moments when we knew we made the right choice. My intention is to help other parents — or folks hoping to become parents — learn from our triumphs and missteps.
As I began writing, it also became clear that my goal involves a bit of advocacy, creative writing, and emotional exploration. I want to advocate for better access to important parenting amenities — especially spaces to pump breast milk. Along the way, I hope to creatively and honestly explore the tough decisions that come into play while balancing parenting, infertility treatment, and the road trips and getaways that help sustain us through both. I’m hoping others can benefit from the philosophy my husband and I developed over the years: Go anyway. Take the trip you’re on the fence about, even if you aren’t sure yet how you’ll breastfeed at the airport or pump on the road.
I’m coming into this project as a former journalist, so I believe it’s important to check my facts whenever possible and be transparent about any biases or financial incentives. For this project, I’ve set up an affiliate account with Target, which means I stand to make some very small gains whenever someone makes a purchase after clicking the product links throughout my blog. Selling products isn’t my goal — I view this more as an afterthought and learning opportunity. All the products I mention are ones that I’ve actually used, and I’ll always be honest about their pros and cons. Hopefully some of the information is helpful.
In the time since I left journalism, I’ve become a community organizer based in Des Moines, IA, fighting for progressive change in the areas of LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, reproductive rights, and education. While many of the topics I blog about aren’t inherently political, I also have no plans to be shy about my values when they come up. If that makes you uncomfortable, then this blog is not for you.
Back in high school and college, before I had a coherent vision of my future (to be clear, I still don’t have one), I had the vague notion that I might want to become a travel writer. I didn’t know exactly how that would work, but I knew I was passionate about writing and travel. As I inched my way closer to launching this blog, I was delighted to realize that I found my way back to that old-but-not-forgotten dream. I’m excited to see where it will go.