I took my first big solo trip in years. My son's independence was the unexpected reward. The author stressed before leaving for a 10-day trip about her 11-year-old. Courtesy of the author I love to travel, but I rarely take solo trips because it's hard to be away from my family. I miss my children when we are apart, but the practicalities of packing lunches and shuffling kids to school and soccer practice are a bigger hurdle than homesickness. I like to think that everyone in my family needs me. However, my youngest son, aged 11, is still in elementary school and relies on me to make his lunches and get him to and from school. I am always particularly worried about how he will get by without his Mom when I am away. Despite my initial hesitation, I recently took a trip to Greenland to mark a milestone birthday. The trip was a dream for me, full of glacier hiking and exploring a remote part of the world that's not yet overrun with tourists.…