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While most kids go on school field trips to the zoo or aquarium, Trish Icban, a homeschooling mom of 3 living in Germany, takes learning to the next level.

Her children have explored historical sites in Europe, from the bunkers of Normandy, France where German soldiers hid during D-Day, to Anne Frank’s home in Amsterdam. They’ve even experienced hands-on lessons by milking cows on local farms. 

For Trish, homeschooling in Germany means turning every trip into a meaningful adventure and  this is as much of an educational experience for her kids as it is for her. 

“I was never interested in history growing up but  we are able to visit these places I had only read a little about in my public school days. I’ve grown fond of this subject and am learning more myself.  The best part of homeschooling is the outsourcing we get to experience,” says Trish. 

In the fall of 2020, with school closures due to the pandemic, Trish and her husband, Marc,  had to  make important decisions regarding the education of their 5 year old son, Zion,  who was about to start kindergarten. 

They decided to homeschool him and 5 years later, Zion is now 9 years old and they’ve added their 6 year old son,  Oliver,  and 3 year old daughter, Phoebe, to their homeschool program.

“After much trial and error and countless research of books and other homeschool families, we decided that structured learning with a room dedicated to our school is best for us.  We do not have a set time for school, just nothing longer 3-4 hours tops, especially as my eldest is in higher grades, the lessons are lengthier.   It’s like a learning buffet, wherein we decide which resources are best for what we need.  There are times when we have had to change curriculum because it did not suit their learning styles, and so we were able to adjust and find a better one.”

For this homeschooling mom, Trish says the most common question and concern that people ask her when they find out her kids are homeschooled, is their social skills. But Trish says her kids are actually more social than ever.

“My kids are with me during errands and appointments, so they too, interact with the people they meet at the grocery stores or doctor’s offices.  My children are used to speaking with people of any age and cultures at this point.”

With her husband being in the  military and stationed in Germany, it opened up even more historical learning outside of their home classroom.

“The best part of homeschooling is the outsourcing we get to experience.  For example, we just completed the lesson about the end of World War II and read books about D-day, we planned a family trip to Normandy, France in the summer of 2024 leading up to the 80th anniversary of the invasion.  There we walked on Omaha Beach and observed the memorials spread across the beaches.  We also found the bunkers that the Germans were using to hide and take aim at the soldiers coming in from the waters.  We also visited many American Cemeteries that hold many soldiers that fought on that day and the years after.  We have visited many countries thus far in our travels, but Normandy, France will always have a special place in our memories.”

Their family adventures and explorations now wouldn’t be complete without their BUNSO bag collection—yes, Trish proudly owns the entire line! These stylish and functional bags have become essential companions on their homeschooling journeys across Europe. 

Trish uses the BUNSO Neoprene Backpack, the BUNSO Sling Bag, and most recently added the BUNSO Duffle Tote Bag to her collection. Each one is thoughtfully designed, making them the perfect travel bags for homeschooling moms and dads on the go.

“In Germany there is a saying, ‘Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur schlechte Kleidung’ — ‘There is no bad weather, just bad clothing.’  You must be prepared for any type of weather albeit cold or scorching hot.  So in the summer time, my Bunso backpack has  held many things for all 3 kids including hats (rain and sun) and most importantly, travel fans.  Also, in Europe, shopping bags are not free and we have forgotten to bring extra bags during travel, so my Bunso has held many items including frozen sausages from the grocery.  Overall, my Bunso backpack has allowed us to carry many things and look stylish at the same time.”

Plus, her BUNSO backpack is husband approved!  “He always wants to carry the BUNSO backpack and push the pram. He never wanted to carry my other ones since they were a little too girly for him! LOL!”

And her BUNSO Sling bag is something that is perfect for  her coins..yes, coins.

“The small size allows me to reach my coins easily to pay for the restrooms (yes, we pay for restrooms here) and if you knew the struggles of grocery shopping lol. That's why I have the coin organizer.”

[Taking a solo mom trip to a castle (Cochem, Germany) while my husband is away. She (Bunso sling) may be little, but she is like my second parent right now.]

As Trish explores castles and historical sites across Europe with her little ones by her side, her Bunso bags are always in tow—carrying snacks, notebooks, and all the beautiful chaos of motherhood. Through each historical adventure, she’s not just teaching her kids about the past; she’s creating memories that will last a lifetime. And for every step of that journey, Bunso is honored to be right there with her—faithfully supporting the love, learning, and laughter that define her days.

There’s something unforgettable about the moment you see the person you love step into their role as a dad for the very first time. It’s not always loud or dramatic—it’s often found in the quiet, tender acts of love, learning, and showing up. This first Father’s Day, we’re celebrating first-time dads and everything that makes their entry into fatherhood so memorable.

Whether it’s midnight feedings, perfecting a swaddle, or packing the best diaper bags for dads with bottles and baby gear—these early moments are the foundation of lifelong fatherhood. And here at Bunso, we’ve had the privilege of hearing real new dad stories from moms in our community. They’re sweet, funny, and oh-so-real.

💙 “Wow, he’s a dad now… and a great one.”
Kathy Mae on her husband, Angelo

“There are so many moments I had watching my husband Angelo that made me think, ‘Wow, he is a dad now—and a great one.’”

From setting up Kai’s stroller and packing their Bunso diaper bag before leaving the NICU, to bedtime book readings and first family trips (Disneyland, anyone?), Angelo has embraced first-time fatherhood with open arms. He even became the morning routine master—packing bottles into his Bunso duffle bag like a seasoned pro.

🍼 The Swaddle Pro Dad
Constance Joi on her husband, Ben

“When JB was just born, Ben studied the different ways nurses swaddled him… then mastered it and even came up with his own technique! LOL. I super love how baby JB is a mini version of his dad."

New dads like Ben remind us that love shows up in the details. If you’re shopping for gifts for first-time dads, maybe start with a swaddle blanket—and a diaper bag built for dad.

👶 Double Duty Dad at Delivery
Shalina on her husband, Ferron with their twin girls

“When I gave birth, once our baby A, Skye arrived, Ferron walked over to where the nurses and doctors were weighing her, recording and taking pictures, and within a few short moments it was time for me to push baby B out, and Ferron didn’t know what to do, should he stay with Baby A, should he come back and help me push — but he somehow managed to be there for all of us girls! He was going back and forth between baby A, helping me push, and then meeting and capturing the arrival of our baby B, Stella. That’s when I knew he was full on dad mode!"

From the delivery room to the diaper bag, Ferron’s story is the definition of a hands-on new dad. He captured both twins’ first moments while being fully present—a true parenting MVP.

🎵 Off-Key Love Songs and Late-Night Snacks
Audrey on her husband, RJ

““He spent nine months caring for me, attended every appointment, and I thought, ‘oh he’s going to be a great dad.’ But then our son arrived. Now he’s singing off-key lullabies and filling our home with Baby J’s laughter, and somehow still making sure I eat even at 3AM. That’s when I realized, oh he’s really a dad now.”

Fatherhood means caring for the whole family. Whether it’s soothing Baby J with a song or supporting mom in the wee hours, these are the real gifts of new dads.

🧸 From YouTube to You-Did-It
Missy on her husband, Nick

"While I was still pregnant, Nick would practice his swaddling and watch multiple videos on how to perfect it. The first time he swaddled Myla in the postpartum room and held her close was a full circle moment that made me realize he's already an amazing dad.

Happy 1st Father's Day to Myla's daddy! We appreciate you more than you'll ever know and are so thankful for all the special ways you love and take care of our family. We love you!!!

So many dads prep in quiet ways: watching videos, researching diaper bags for dads, and mentally rehearsing every moment. That love shows long before the first diaper change.

Celebrate Him With a Gift He’ll Actually Use

Whether he’s prepping bottles, planning outings, or packing the diaper bag better than you do (we see you, dads), he deserves something thoughtful, stylish, and functional.

In honor of all the amazing first-time dads, we’re giving you 15% off sitewide this Father’s Day weekend!

🧳 Perfect time to grab our bestselling neoprene backpack, duffle, or sling bag—stylish enough for dad, smart enough for parent life.

🛒 Shop the Father’s Day Sale »

Happy First Father’s Day to the dads learning, loving, and leading every day.
We see you, we thank you—and we’re cheering you on, one bottle, one baby bag, one swaddle at a time.

With love,
The Bunso Team

We love hearing from BUNSO moms and their family adventures. So when we saw what an amazing international trip mom of two, Acelyne, had recently with her two littles,  we asked her to share her story and other tips she may have for other families. 

Thank you Acelyne for being our first guest blogger and for sharing your travel hacks and beautiful pictures with our BUNSO fam!

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When I found out I had a work opportunity in Southeast Asia for a few days, I knew I could turn it into a family adventure with my two babies, Jax, 3 years old and Dalisay, almost a year old.

I was going to work there for three days only and  It would be my first time meeting a lot of my colleagues in person at our company’s factory in Vietnam; people I've  worked with  for over a decade but never met in person.

My bunso or youngest child, Dalisay, was almost turning one, and I still had 3 weeks left of PFL (paid family leave) to use up before it expired.  I could see my brother and his wife living in Singapore since they haven't met their baby niece yet, so I really wanted to make sure the kids spent time with their Tito (uncle) and Tita (aunt).

ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR MOMS TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY

Since my husband wasn’t able to come with me on this trip, I knew I had to really prepare ahead of time and think through every detail. 

I prepared a checklist, learned from previous international trips. I asked for travel tips from other parents, and most of all prayed to God for help!   I knew I had to pack light if I was going to travel between multiple cities abroad.  This was going to be a challenge for me since I was going to travel with a toddler and an infant by myself!  

I weighed out the pros and cons of various strollers, and went with a stroller that I could fold and open with one hand, since I knew it was going to be easier for me to wear the baby in front of me, wear my BUNSO  backpack and use, at most, two suitcases (one large, one small).

I learned from our last trips that we can just buy diapers there, so I packed just a few days worth just so I can get settled and familiarize myself with the grocery stores over there.  

Lastly, I made sure to do a “rehearsal”, practicing pushing the stroller, wearing the baby + BUNSO backpack, and pulling two suitcases.  After my first dry run, I edited a couple things to make it a bit easier for me to maneuver.  Linking two carabiner clips on the stroller was super useful for pulling luggage and/or for hanging groceries.

We notified the pediatrician a couple months in advance and he gave us recommendations on how to keep the kids healthy and warned us about general safety precautions in the cities we were visiting.

The most preparation I did was to pray for a safe trip, network with the very few friends I knew that had ties in both countries, and ask AI to give me a 3 week itinerary for the three of us.  I was so busy with work and my duties at home and church, that I really didn’t have much time to prepare as much as I wanted to. AI and friends’ suggestions saved me a lot of time planning and researching!

SURVIVING THE LONG FLIGHT

Thankfully, both kids had a full 8-9 hrs of sleep and we also had the whole row to ourselves both ways!  God was too good to us the whole trip.  In addition to the activities the airlines provided, I brought a couple of lightweight activities for them to keep them entertained during the flight.  

 If I needed to go to the restroom, I would just go, and the flight attendants were kind enough to watch the kids while I was away.  Sometimes, the passengers across the row would tell me they’d happily keep an eye on the kids while I went to the restroom. 

DEALING WITH JET LAG

All in all it was a 21 day trip. We visited a few cities in Thailand (Bangkok, Damnoen Saduak, and Rangsit) and several cities in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An, and Hanoi).

It took a couple days to adjust but we went to sleep as soon as the sun went down, closed the blackout curtains so that the kids can fall asleep faster, and when it was time for breakfast, we ate by the window to get some morning sunshine! Doing this helped us get used to Bangkok time in no time!

Because I was alone with the two kids, I gave myself a lot of grace. If we were running late, all good! we will enjoy our time together, nonetheless!

Thank God, the kids never got sick during the 3 weeks. I did have some concerns about food poisoning since a lot of the veggies are fresh in Vietnamese dishes, and  they may be washed with tap water. 

But what's funny is that we never got food poisoning at the street food or hole in the wall places .... out of all the places we ate, we had a bit of food poisoning at a restaurant in the airport!!! 

Luckily, I brought a couple packs of "Pocari Sweat" (kinda like Gatorade or Pedialite but Japanse version) and  thankfully it was a quick recovery! We stayed hydrated with bottled water. We also pray before we eat so God must have purified our food for us. 

This trip was filled with so many memorable events, but the most memorable was seeing my babies spend time with their Tito and Tita and seeing their face light up when they met new people, experience being in new places, trying new food, and at the end of each day they’d hug me ever so tightly and give me a big slobbery kiss on my cheek as if to tell me “I had SO much fun spending the whole day with you, Mommy! You’re the best, Mommy, ever!” 

My son is non-verbal and doesn’t have all the ASL vocabulary yet to express it in sign language, but his eyes, face, and hugs say it with so much clarity, it made me feel so warm and happy to be their mom! 

Honestly, the temperaments of Jax and Dalisay are super chill so it was easier for me than maybe for others 😭. Jaxson's "tantrums" are like silent and he stays still, and tears just fall one by one without making any sound.

LESSON LEARNED

I don’t have any regrets, but the only thing I would do differently is make sure I brought a physical credit card. LOL!  I’m so used to using Tap to Pay here in the Bay Area, and because I minimized everything I packed, I accidentally ditched my wallet and only brought some cash + my phone which had my electronic wallet.  This was only “inconvenient” in Thailand, where they didn’t accept Tap to Pay at all.  Fortunately, I was able to pay with my phone for the next two weeks in Vietnam!

BUNSO DIAPER BAG AS OUR TRAVEL BUDDY

Our BUNSO bag was so great in keeping our passports, my work laptop + chargers safe, and it still had plenty room to keep an extra set of clothes, diapers, snacks, and lightweight activities during our flight.  I took it everywhere with us, on car trips, on boat rides, and 7 flights in total! 

I appreciated how it was compact enough to keep in the stroller’s under seat basket if the weight of baby + backpack was getting too heavy for me during long walks around the cities / airports. 

It also served as Jaxson’s portable pillow during long car rides if the baby was occupying my lap :)

TIPS FOR OTHER PARENTS ABOUT TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY 

Traveling with kids can be super hard, but with the right tools and preparation, it’s totally possible and can be a very enjoyable experience for both yourself and the kids!  They say kids won’t remember these trips at these ages, but one of Jax’s early interventionists once told me, that exposure to new experiences during travel could be very beneficial for their early development.

I still can't believe the 3 of us went to all these places!

Based on what I’ve seen so far with Jax traveling to more than 8 new countries + 2 new US states, we can really see how his adaptability, curiosity, and social skills have helped him grow and thrive in more ways than we could imagine.

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About the writer:

Acelyne Sagabaen is a mom of two sweet little ones. Her joy comes from the beautiful chaos of making breakfasts, working in the semiconductor industry, fulfilling her church duties, and travelling around the world with her family