Has anyone done a gap year with multiple kids? How did it go? What did you do?
Today is my last day of a 6 month personal leave (gap 6 months). I am 40 and have 2 school-age kids.
We lived in Korea for most of that time, where the kids attended public school (they are on a completely different calendar than the U.S.). They loved it, but already had some language background and tend to be easy travelers. We mostly chose Korea for their sake, for learning the language.
In Korea, I honestly didn't 'do' much, other than housework and getting the kids to school and activities. We walked a lot, I did a fair amount of hiking and web surfing, and my wife spent most of her time helping her family in various ways. That decompression was a great thing for me. Decreased stress levels, 12 pound weight loss without really trying, and a more relaxed sense of being.
Halfway through my time off, I had a volunteer opportunity fall in my lap. I spent a bit more than a month in Laos, and that was the best 'work experience' in my life. Proves that when you do something out of personal interest, and not for money, it is much more fulfilling.
As for our family, the experience was great for my relationship with my kids, and their relationship with each other. It has strained my relationship with my wife somewhat, and we are still working on how to learn and move forward from the issues that were amplified by spending much more time together in a small space, with fewer outside obligations.
I am very glad I took the time off, and wouldn't hesitate to do it again. As far as lessons for me about eventual ER, I think I will want some structured commitment outside of the house - volunteer or paid - maybe 16 hours a week. I think it will also be important for my wife to feel we are both contributing to something in some meaningful way so we have some outward direction for our energy, as well as inward direction.