When “playing house” becomes a journey around the world

There’s something incredibly tender about the way children mimic the world around the them. This morning as I was already thick into my morning routine of washing bottles, cooking breakfast, and cleaning up spilled milk from my toddler horsing around, I overheard the kiddos playing “house.” But this time, it wasn’t just sweet, it was familiar.

From building a “hotel room” in our four season porch, to setting up a pool deck in the living room for a night of “Movie Under the Stars,” to “Mom, can you be the person who checks us into our hotel?” They were reliving our family travels. They were turning their memories into play, their experiences into imagination. And I, for a moment, stood still and soaked in the quiet magic of what that meant.

As a travel agent, I pour hours into crafting experiences for families- curating destinations, matching personalities to places, planning itineraries that makes sense in the midst of chaos. But seeing my own children recreate those moments reminded me that I’m doing more than just booking trips. I’m helping build core memories, visceral responses to certain smells, tastes, and sounds.

What I do allows families—my family—to see that there’s more to this world than routine. My kids aren't just pretending to be in a hotel or on a cruise; they’re remembering how it felt. They’re connecting the dots between real adventure and creative play. They’re practicing hospitality, teamwork, kindness, and storytelling, all within the safe bounds of a blanket fort and the echo of summer laughter.

And once again, I realize this is why I do what I do. As long as my children keep playing, imagining, and dreaming, I’ll keep doing what I do—guiding families into unforgettable experiences that spill over into living rooms and hearts long after the bags are unpacked. And for me? I’ll keep dreaming up new itineraries… because who knows what next summer’s blanket fort will become.

Hotel Concierge Mama,
Rachel Saefong