Reality of Family Vacations

Let’s talk about family vacations.

It is that time of year when you can’t find back up childcare or the only time when your kids don’t have 50 different things going on. You decide that it would be a great idea to visit a new place and let your employer know you are “taking a vacation.”

Preparation begins.

Visiting website after website of beautiful places designed to create a mental image of the place you will visit; Long phone calls to book airfare, hotels, and dinner reservations after reading lengthy reviews on the local restaurants that you want to visit; Finally, you have created an itinerary of all the things you want to accomplish and starting a packing list.

Quickly you are swept away by this idea that when you go to this new place, all things will be great. You will no longer be bombarded by the daily demands and responsibilities and somehow this family vacation will fill you up and give you everything that you have been missing for the past 11 months.

Well not so fast.

Vacation is not a vacation when it comes to parenting. ?In fact, as one brilliant client shared, “Vacation is parenting in a different location.”

That might be difficult for some parents to hear but it is really important for the success of the trip to understand and be aware that the problems and challenges that we experience at home don’t change when we go on vacation. Especially if we have children under the age of 7.

Here a few tips for traveling with young kids to help minimize the tension and conflict and set yourself up for the best possible family summer vacation.

1. Keep it consistent: Notice the natural rhythms of your family and try to maintain as much in common with being at home as possible.?(Keep toddler in a crib, keep food similar, bring items from home as much as possible)

2. Set realistic expectations: Begin reading books and helping toddlers understand what is coming.

Also discuss expectations with partner so that you both are on the same page.

3. Sound machine/Noise cancelling head phones: helps to minimize any loud noises that might disturb their sleep or cause a negative reaction.

4. Bring something familiar: Having a blanket or stuffed animal provides security for them in a strange new place.

5. Ask for their input (verbal toddlers): By including them in the process and letting them feel like they are part of the decision making, increases your chances of agreement in other areas. Kids like to feel like they have control and the ability to choose.

Safe Travels!

Kelly