Family Vacations
There are many things to consider when contemplating an extended family vacation. Such things as cost, duration, travel time, privacy, safety and compatibility with what you want out of the time are all important factors. The oft-repeated joke about the best thing about being grandparents is when they go home at night will not hold true if you are all staying together. How important is it to you that you have some time “away from the madding crowd” either during the day or, at least, at night? If you have to be on duty 24/7, will you enjoy yourself? Who else will be there?
We have been most fortunate in that two of my husband’s brothers co-own a “camp” in Maine, and have generously invited us to make use of it whenever it is available (that is, they are not having their own extended families there). Four years ago we started a tradition where Grammy and Grampa take Noah and Molly, then 4 and 6, to the camp for 3 days without the rest of their family. On the third day their Mom, Dad, and other siblings (now 3 of them!) come up for the night, and then we head home the next morning, leaving them to have the day to themselves. So far this seems to work. Often other family members are there with us: uncles, cousins, etc., so the kids have others to play with both in and out of the water.
Safety continues to be a chief concern. I sometimes have nightmares that something happens to one of the children while we are watching him/her…..could be at home, at the playground, or at the lake. I do not know how I would ever tell my own child that I’d somehow let one of his/her children get hurt. Even minor bumps and bruises kill me! So, short of never going anywhere or doing anything, we take reasonable precautions. I also do not want to make the kids paranoid, or convey my fears to them, thus making the skittish. We always wear life preservers in boats, on skidoos, and even on the dock until they become proficient swimmers. No children go in the water unless an adult is down at the water, or in the immediate vicinity. Roughhousing dangerously will get you time out of the water. The children seem to be able to live with these rules, and so we have been able to thoroughly enjoy our time there. This year Noah and Molly will be 10 and 8, and we may not have so many others there at the same time. Now that they are older and like to play board and card games, and love to read, I don’t think we’ll have any problem keeping occupied.
One activity which we will be cutting back on this year is riding around in the various boats and skidoo. With the astronomical price of gas, we will need to choose carefully. At least the paddleboat will be an option!
Many traditions are already established. We always make s’mores, have a night with sparklers, play endless games of Parcheesi, Sorry, and Rummikub, try our hand at badminton, and get all the wind-up toys U. Bob has collected going at once. When we first arrive they are chomping at the bit and want to do everything lickety split. Now that we know what to expect, it is easier for us to handle. We make sure they bring familiar nighttime pals, as it is often a bit scary to sleep in the loft on the first night. Because our bedroom is right underneath the loft, they know they can get to us easily. We leave a night light on, and I sometimes sit with them until they are drifting off, at least the first night. Although we know how much fun it is to be away from home, it is important to not be dismissive of their fears, which are very real to them. If you know their nighttime ritual, it will be comforting to them to have you follow it. And expect them to be up bright and early the next day!
Tip #27: Family vacations establish bonds, create memories, and provide a very special time for you and your grandchildren. Choose carefully what you do with them, and think about your role long before you propose anything. There are many travel companies which offer grandparent/grandchildren trips (Elderhostel is one), so if you don’t have a family place you can go to, you might want to plan a trip. Take them to a nearby city and spend the day being a tourist, or pack a picnic and go to a nearby park or zoon. Day outings can be a blast! My one caveat is that you picture yourself in whatever setting you are proposing and run a video tape through your head, trying to view yourself there. Happy trails to you!
There are many things to consider when contemplating an extended family vacation. Such things as cost, duration, travel time, privacy, safety and compatibility with what you want out of the time are all important factors. The oft-repeated joke about the best thing about being grandparents is when they go home at night will not hold true if you are all staying together. How important is it to you that you have some time “away from the madding crowd” either during the day or, at least, at night? If you have to be on duty 24/7, will you enjoy yourself? Who else will be there?
We have been most fortunate in that two of my husband’s brothers co-own a “camp” in Maine, and have generously invited us to make use of it whenever it is available (that is, they are not having their own extended families there). Four years ago we started a tradition where Grammy and Grampa take Noah and Molly, then 4 and 6, to the camp for 3 days without the rest of their family. On the third day their Mom, Dad, and other siblings (now 3 of them!) come up for the night, and then we head home the next morning, leaving them to have the day to themselves. So far this seems to work. Often other family members are there with us: uncles, cousins, etc., so the kids have others to play with both in and out of the water.
Safety continues to be a chief concern. I sometimes have nightmares that something happens to one of the children while we are watching him/her…..could be at home, at the playground, or at the lake. I do not know how I would ever tell my own child that I’d somehow let one of his/her children get hurt. Even minor bumps and bruises kill me! So, short of never going anywhere or doing anything, we take reasonable precautions. I also do not want to make the kids paranoid, or convey my fears to them, thus making the skittish. We always wear life preservers in boats, on skidoos, and even on the dock until they become proficient swimmers. No children go in the water unless an adult is down at the water, or in the immediate vicinity. Roughhousing dangerously will get you time out of the water. The children seem to be able to live with these rules, and so we have been able to thoroughly enjoy our time there. This year Noah and Molly will be 10 and 8, and we may not have so many others there at the same time. Now that they are older and like to play board and card games, and love to read, I don’t think we’ll have any problem keeping occupied.
One activity which we will be cutting back on this year is riding around in the various boats and skidoo. With the astronomical price of gas, we will need to choose carefully. At least the paddleboat will be an option!
Many traditions are already established. We always make s’mores, have a night with sparklers, play endless games of Parcheesi, Sorry, and Rummikub, try our hand at badminton, and get all the wind-up toys U. Bob has collected going at once. When we first arrive they are chomping at the bit and want to do everything lickety split. Now that we know what to expect, it is easier for us to handle. We make sure they bring familiar nighttime pals, as it is often a bit scary to sleep in the loft on the first night. Because our bedroom is right underneath the loft, they know they can get to us easily. We leave a night light on, and I sometimes sit with them until they are drifting off, at least the first night. Although we know how much fun it is to be away from home, it is important to not be dismissive of their fears, which are very real to them. If you know their nighttime ritual, it will be comforting to them to have you follow it. And expect them to be up bright and early the next day!
Tip #27: Family vacations establish bonds, create memories, and provide a very special time for you and your grandchildren. Choose carefully what you do with them, and think about your role long before you propose anything. There are many travel companies which offer grandparent/grandchildren trips (Elderhostel is one), so if you don’t have a family place you can go to, you might want to plan a trip. Take them to a nearby city and spend the day being a tourist, or pack a picnic and go to a nearby park or zoon. Day outings can be a blast! My one caveat is that you picture yourself in whatever setting you are proposing and run a video tape through your head, trying to view yourself there. Happy trails to you!
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