This post is a departure from our typical format, but bear with me for a moment.
I was picking up my youngest from daycare today (I have 9-5 job, this website doesn’t pay my bills) and I overheard a mom on the phone, chatting with someone about her upcoming beach trip. I smiled thinking that she was really going to enjoy that time with her family. And then she said:
“This year I am going to have to limit the amount of special things that we do on vacation”
You guys we have this whole thing backwards! Your vacation is the special thing!
Your kids aren’t going to need to be in therapy because you didn’t do the dolphin cruise while you were at the beach! Instead your children will remember the time that was spent together as a carefree family.
Maybe you read this website to dream, to plan and save for your next big trip. Sometimes vacations just aren’t in the cards and it requires discipline to save and prepare for a day that you can afford it. We get that, believe us!
Perhaps you are fortunate enough to take a vacation every year.
No matter your situation your kids will love the time together, and the ‘special things’ will fade into the background. Don’t pile more ‘parent guilt’ onto yourself! Take a deep breath and give yourself some grace.
There is no need to break the bank for your next vacation! If you can’t afford one this year, why not be a tourist in your hometown? Chances are we will bring up places that you had forgotten about, or haven’t even been to before!
So today I encourage you to take a step back and enjoy the moments with your family. Even if you can’t afford a dolphin cruise on your beach vacation.
Robin
Wednesday 8th of June 2016
So true! It's all about being in the moment as a family. That's what we remember. It is free, and yet feels like a luxury.
Amy
Thursday 23rd of July 2015
Oh my gosh- you had me at hello!!!!! Thank you for saying it out loud. I don't know why our generation as parents feels the need to fill a void?! I always ask my girlfriends, "give me one favorite memory as a kid" 9/10 it's a time spent together not going to the arcade and spending all our parents money to win a plush junk. Mine is walking in the stream between the mountains with my family on our camping trip.... Free and fabulous!!!!