HOME EXCHANGE TRAUMATIZES CHILDREN

Driving away from the swap home after a recent holiday weekend I heard a chorus of sobs. My 5-year old son and the boy of the same age next door were heart-broken at having to part.


Always inventive, my son devised a solution: "Mama can we trade houses forever and live here? The other people can stay in our house."


I admit, it was tempting. Home exchange means walking in another family's shoes. Living their lives for a short while. In our case it meant ditching our kids with the neighbors for hours at a time and having grown-up conversation under the swap home's wisteria arbor.


Be careful if you try home exchange. You may never want to go back home.