--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My parents explained: \"You can either…" description: "\"My parents explained: \"You can either have a big Christmas and birthday present or we'll go abroad.\" We'd say: \"Let's go abroad!\" We had a lovely child..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/nicki-chapman-40943_abroad_my-parents-explained-you-can-either-have_143393.jpg" --- # My parents explained: "You can either have a big Christmas… ![“My parents explained: "You can either have a big Christmas and birthday present or we'll go abroad." We'd say: "Let's go abroad!" We had a lovely childhood.” quote by Nicki Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/nicki-chapman-40943_abroad_my-parents-explained-you-can-either-have_143393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/nicki-chapman-40943_abroad_my-parents-explained-you-can-either-have_143393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/nicki-chapman-40943_abroad_my-parents-explained-you-can-either-have_143393.jpg) > “My parents explained: "You can either have a big Christmas and birthday present or we'll go abroad." We'd say: "Let's go abroad!" We had a lovely childhood.” [Nicki Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-chapman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing adventure over material gifts shaped a joyful upbringing. **In simple terms:** Choosing experiences gave a happy childhood. Key Takeaway Prioritize experiences over possessions. Themes family adventure values childhood choices Mood nostalgic reflective Type storytelling personal When to use this quote - holiday planning - gift decisions - family budgeting Key Concepts prioritization long-term happiness family dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What experiences have you valued most? - How do you balance material and experiential gifts? A Different Perspective Focusing on experiences may limit tangible comforts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birthday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birthday/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [Let him go abroad to a distant country; let him go to some place where he is not known. Don't let him go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/let-him-go-abroad-to-a-distant-country-let-him-go-to-some-place-where/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [In Italy, we have some of the best minds in the world, and we have let them all go abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beppe-grillo/in-italy-we-have-some-of-the-best-minds-in-the-world-and-we-have-let/) [Beppe Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beppe-grillo/) > [I have never wanted to go abroad before but you can never say never in football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/i-have-never-wanted-to-go-abroad-before-but-you-can-never-say-never/) [Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/) > [Bollywood is there; the film industry is thriving, and it's huge, and it's everywhere. Anytime I travel abroad and I say I'm an actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/bollywood-is-there-the-film-industry-is-thriving-and-it-s-huge-and-it/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [I've had a lot of success in England, and I've really enjoyed my time with Manchester City, but I wanted to challenge myself even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-success-in-england-and-i-ve-really-enjoyed-my-time/) [Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/) > [My first trip abroad was to do a TV version of 'Les Miserables' in France with Anthony Perkins. There I was at 12 acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-fletcher/my-first-trip-abroad-was-to-do-a-tv-version-of-les-miserables-in/) [Dexter Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-fletcher/) > [Clearly, if you go abroad to a top club, it means one more step in your development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-kroos/clearly-if-you-go-abroad-to-a-top-club-it-means-one-more-step-in-your/) [Toni Kroos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-kroos/) > [I don't think I know everything because I don't watch much news from abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peng-shuai/i-don-t-think-i-know-everything-because-i-don-t-watch-much-news-from/) [Peng Shuai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peng-shuai/) > [I studied a month in Costa Rica and loved it. I'm not scared to go abroad. I feel like I can figure things out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-olusola/i-studied-a-month-in-costa-rica-and-loved-it-i-m-not-scared-to-go/) [Kevin Olusola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-olusola/) > [I didn't go abroad until quite late. A friend drove us to Amalfi, Italy, for his sister's wedding when I was a teenager. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harewood/i-didn-t-go-abroad-until-quite-late-a-friend-drove-us-to-amalfi-italy/) [David Harewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harewood/) > [We have a family holiday once a year, usually abroad, but that's it. I feel I should have holidays for my family's sake, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/we-have-a-family-holiday-once-a-year-usually-abroad-but-that-s-it-i/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [For years, I had a top secret clearance and never left Russia. Just once did I go to Bulgaria with my wife for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-kalashnikov/for-years-i-had-a-top-secret-clearance-and-never-left-russia-just/) [Mikhail Kalashnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-kalashnikov/) > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [“When the ancient Romans would conquer a new place or a new people, they would leave the language and the customs in tact –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/when-the-ancient-romans-would-conquer-a-new-place-or-a-new-people/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [I love India, Russia and touring has made me many friends abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/i-love-india-russia-and-touring-has-made-me-many-friends-abroad/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) ## More by Nicki Chapman > [I think Amy is a really difficult example. With any artist, none of us understands what it's like having the world's media scrutinising everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-chapman/i-think-amy-is-a-really-difficult-example-with-any-artist-none-of-us/) [Nicki Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-chapman/) > [If you get up every morning and smile, it's a good place to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-chapman/if-you-get-up-every-morning-and-smile-it-s-a-good-place-to-be/) [Nicki Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-chapman/) > [Thirty-nine was the best year of my life earnings-wise. I paid off my mortgage and felt a massive sense of achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-chapman/thirty-nine-was-the-best-year-of-my-life-earnings-wise-i-paid-off-my/) [Nicki Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-chapman/) > [When I bought my first house in London with my husband-to-be, our surveyor said: "Nicki, you're paying top dollar, but it's not an investment,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-chapman/when-i-bought-my-first-house-in-london-with-my-husband-to-be-our/) [Nicki Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-chapman/) > [People think I get this free wardrobe but, sadly, that's not the case. I sometimes sell my unwanted clothes and shoes at car-boots so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-chapman/people-think-i-get-this-free-wardrobe-but-sadly-that-s-not-the-case-i/) [Nicki Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-chapman/) > [While waiting for my visa, I got a job in the music industry, which was so exciting, it changed my life and stopped me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-chapman/while-waiting-for-my-visa-i-got-a-job-in-the-music-industry-which-was/) [Nicki Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-chapman/) > [My first part-time job gave me the smell of earning money when I worked in a village chemist aged 14. I loved helping the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-chapman/my-first-part-time-job-gave-me-the-smell-of-earning-money-when-i/) [Nicki Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-chapman/) > [I've always paid off my mortgage as much as I could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-chapman/i-ve-always-paid-off-my-mortgage-as-much-as-i-could/) [Nicki Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-chapman/) > [I applied for three jobs in record companies and was offered all of them. I took the most glamorous-sounding job in the promotions department…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-chapman/i-applied-for-three-jobs-in-record-companies-and-was-offered-all-of/) [Nicki Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-chapman/) [Explore all 10 Nicki Chapman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-chapman/) ## More Abroad quotes > [I love India, Russia and touring has made me many friends abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/i-love-india-russia-and-touring-has-made-me-many-friends-abroad/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [“When the ancient Romans would conquer a new place or a new people, they would leave the language and the customs in tact –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/when-the-ancient-romans-would-conquer-a-new-place-or-a-new-people/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [For years, I had a top secret clearance and never left Russia. Just once did I go to Bulgaria with my wife for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-kalashnikov/for-years-i-had-a-top-secret-clearance-and-never-left-russia-just/) [Mikhail Kalashnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-kalashnikov/) > [We have a family holiday once a year, usually abroad, but that's it. I feel I should have holidays for my family's sake, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/we-have-a-family-holiday-once-a-year-usually-abroad-but-that-s-it-i/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [I didn't go abroad until quite late. A friend drove us to Amalfi, Italy, for his sister's wedding when I was a teenager. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harewood/i-didn-t-go-abroad-until-quite-late-a-friend-drove-us-to-amalfi-italy/) [David Harewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harewood/) > [I studied a month in Costa Rica and loved it. I'm not scared to go abroad. I feel like I can figure things out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-olusola/i-studied-a-month-in-costa-rica-and-loved-it-i-m-not-scared-to-go/) [Kevin Olusola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-olusola/) > [I don't think I know everything because I don't watch much news from abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peng-shuai/i-don-t-think-i-know-everything-because-i-don-t-watch-much-news-from/) [Peng Shuai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peng-shuai/) > [Clearly, if you go abroad to a top club, it means one more step in your development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-kroos/clearly-if-you-go-abroad-to-a-top-club-it-means-one-more-step-in-your/) [Toni Kroos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-kroos/) > [My first trip abroad was to do a TV version of 'Les Miserables' in France with Anthony Perkins. There I was at 12 acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-fletcher/my-first-trip-abroad-was-to-do-a-tv-version-of-les-miserables-in/) [Dexter Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-fletcher/) > [I've had a lot of success in England, and I've really enjoyed my time with Manchester City, but I wanted to challenge myself even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-success-in-england-and-i-ve-really-enjoyed-my-time/) [Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/) > [“Hatutakiwi kuishi kama raia wa Tanzania peke yake. Tunatakiwa kuishi kama raia wa dunia na watumishi wa utu, hasa katika kipindi hiki cha zama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/hatutakiwi-kuishi-kama-raia-wa-tanzania-peke-yake-tunatakiwa-kuishi/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [I'm a simple hillbilly. I don't like eating modern, industrialized, fast food. I grew up eating home-cooked food. So when I'm traveling abroad, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-hirata/i-m-a-simple-hillbilly-i-don-t-like-eating-modern-industrialized-fast/) [Andrea Hirata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-hirata/) > [When you're abroad, you always miss your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-mancini/when-you-re-abroad-you-always-miss-your-country/) [Roberto Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-mancini/) > [The great and recurrent question about Abroad is, is it worth the trouble of getting there?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/the-great-and-recurrent-question-about-abroad-is-is-it-worth-the/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) Browse all 363 Abroad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My parents explained: \"You can either have a big Christmas and birthday present or we'll go abroad.\" We'd say: \"Let's go abroad!\" We had a lovely childhood.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicki Chapman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-chapman/my-parents-explained-you-can-either-have-a-big-christmas-and-birthday/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abroad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-chapman/my-parents-explained-you-can-either-have-a-big-christmas-and-birthday/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/nicki-chapman-40943_abroad_my-parents-explained-you-can-either-have_143393.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/nicki-chapman-40943_abroad_my-parents-explained-you-can-either-have_143393.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c06/nicki-chapman-40943_abroad_my-parents-explained-you-can-either-have_143393.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My parents explained: \"You can either have a big Christmas and birthday present or we'll go abroad.\" We'd…” — Nicki Chapman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nicki Chapman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-chapman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My parents explained: \"You can either...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-chapman/my-parents-explained-you-can-either-have-a-big-christmas-and-birthday/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-chapman/my-parents-explained-you-can-either-have-a-big-christmas-and-birthday/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```