I grew up taking yearly family vacations. We’d pile into the station wagon where seat belts and air conditioning were non-existent. The cooler was packed with sandwich fixings and milk/cereal for our roadside breakfast. My mom always packed a cloth tablecloth. If there weren’t any picnic tables at the wayside rest, we’d use the tailgate of our station wagon. My sister always got carsick so she needed fresh air from the crank down window, and my brother was the oldest and tallest, therefore he earned the right for a window seat as well. Even though I was the youngest, I was the “middle child”!

While our trips usually involved several thousand miles of travel in a one to two week period, I have fond memories of them (many captured on our old home movies) and have continued the family vacation routine with my own family. Every New Years, we discuss where we’d like to go, pick a date, and Plan on it.

Many families don’t prioritize vacations; some feel they can’t afford the time off from work, or the expense, while others must forfeit a vacation because of a child’s athletic schedule or commitment. We used to travel to California every year to see my husbands family. While this was something we prioritized ( keeping our children connected with their other Grandmother, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, etc.) , we quickly realized that it could not replace our family vacation, of just us. We still visit, but in no way will we call it "our family vacation".

During family vacations, you will be sharing most meals together, a single bathroom, beds, or sleeping and snoring together in the same tent, but you will also hear funny stories, and learn to respect each other quicker than you can imagine. My biggest advice is to talk to your friends and neighbors. Ask them what worked and what didn’t work. Here are also some basic tips on
Planning a Family Vacation and Ideas for the At Home Vacation

No matter the excuse, I hope you all can prioritize that special time with your family.

Posted by Susan at 8/19/2004 09:33:59 AM | Link