Don’t Let the Pictures Deceive You - a Family Vacation is a Lot of Work

School is almost finished for the year, and it is time to plan the family vacation, or is it a ‘stay-cation’? Our family just returned from a week at the ocean and looking at the photos, you would think, what a great idea, to take the whole family away to the shore. Beautiful smiles and great weather. Yes, we had a wonderful time, but family harmony isn’t always easy to achieve.

To start, my three children are no longer children. As of today, all three are in their twenties. Years ago, I was in total control of the vacation. I was their vacation manager; they came to me with requests and I either granted it or not. I simply told them what we would be doing everyday and they did it. Strapped into their strollers, they were wheeled around amusement parks blissfully ignorant of the fact that one day they would have choices. No questions asked, they would have fun whether or not they liked it!

Now, as adults, they each have a different idea of what each day holds. This is a family vacation, so we have to do things together, right? As for me, I am happy sitting on the beach with a chair and a book for a week. The men want jet-skiis, my husband wants tennis and snorkeling, the women want to shop. I have one week to make their dreams become a vacation reality. I feel like I am starring in a reality television show…”Extreme Vacation Makeovers!” Tune in to see if this family’s vacation can be transformed!

We are also a very analytical household so each idea must be scrutinized and planned. Where to go? Which company offers the best deal? Who is going at what time? If we show up at 6 a.m. we get the jetskiis at half price…but is it worth it? (NO!) So, after calling five charter companies and voting on the best time of day to snorkel we head over to an island, lay out on the sand, as the clouds roll in and it begins to rain. This is my fault as vacation manager… I forgot to check the weather channel!  

Dining out with my family can bring the greatest joys but also the greatest challenge. After getting restaurant recommendations from friends, reading reviews, googling it to make sure no one in the past 5 years has had food poisoning from eating there, we all head out. (that is after everyone has decided how to dress…which is another story) After dinner, we have to vote again, do we eat dessert here, or get gelato on the way home? I do miss the gelato.

We survived the week, and we were able to capture smiles, laughter, hugs, tears, personality clashes, sunburns and we even jet skied. Ultimately memories were made.

So, it really doesn’t matter if where you go. A family vacation is a still a family vacation…I am back home sitting in my yard reading a book.  My vacation has just begun.