Vacation After Your Family Vacation?
Why is there so much confusion and stress behind family vacations? Family vacation are supposed to be very relaxing and free from work. Even Dictionary.com agrees with me.
Vacation–a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday: Schoolchildren are on vacation now.
Why are they so stressful? Why did my dad always take a day of vacation after our family vacation? Does that even make sense and how in the world did he ever convince his boss this “extra” vacation day was necessary? As a child the thought of this extra vacation day seemed so backwards.
What is it about the words “vacation” creates so much stress and anxiety? The definitions might vary slightly source to source, but they will all have a few things in common. They will speak of rest, pleasure or the suspension of work. I don’t know about y’all, but my family vacations growing up weren’t exactly stress free. In fact, the stress started the week before our vacation as we always had to deep clean the house before we left.
The Stress Of Family Vacations
After the house was cleaned and everything packed we mapped out the best route. While everyone cared about getting to the beach in a timely manner, my dad took driving time to a whole new level. Every year he wanted to be last years time. Making it wasn’t enough. He wanted to make good time. Oh, the number of times we drove past rest stops when I had to go to the bathroom. I heard “Son, you can hold it so many times.” Finally my mom would step in and make him stop. As stupid as it sounds I now find myself employing the same techniques he used. No bathroom breaks, drive-through meals only, and night driving. No wonder we were all stressed when we got to the beach.
As if holding your pee and rationing your water wasn’t enough everyone in the family would receive a chore chart which included days you were to cook, cleaning duties, when family dance night was, and trash duties. A chore chart and dance night? Do you know what a chore chart/dance night does to the morale of a ten year old boy on vacation? You might as well send him back to school early.
Besides the dreaded charts, we had to be on the beach at 9:00 AM and stay there until 4:30 PM. We then had to scurry back to the rental so we could prepare for cooking or going out to eat. Typically we went out to eat three days that week. No wonder kids falling asleep in salads was an every dinner occurrence. Then once a week we had to go to a local putt-putt course and on the last night of our family vacation we had to attend a very questionable theme park (maybe this is why I hate roller coasters now). How did the 100 year old them park ever turn into a tradition?
Do you see? I do! I now understand why that extra day was needed? Now that I have a family of my own and we take a few separate vacation a year I “try” do things very different. Not that I would change my childhood or anything, I just think we need to do things TOTALLY different.
Tips For A Less Stressful Family Vacation
How about this? Instead of all the dinners, restaurants, charts and attractions, maybe you should let the vacation rental be the attraction? Families put so much effort into the rental and then spend the entire vacation doing stuff away from the rental. Your property probably has it all. A Big screen TV, game tables galore, a swimming pool, hot tub, and a beautiful fireplace. There is one problem–you are too concerned about the chore chart, scheduled dance night, and designated beach times to even think about enjoying where the bulk of your money went.
Imagine the fun of playing pool or foosball, sleeping late, watching movies with your family on the big screen TV, taking in the sunset, playing cards, sitting in the hot tub and most of all…RELAXING. The most important thing about a vacation is time with family and friends.
I do think attractions are great. Attractions are typically the driving force of any popular destination. Whether you are going to the mountains or the beach, you are visiting because you want to take part in something you do not have access to at your home. I was simply trying to make a point. Don’t stop going to attractions–maybe just slow down some. Enjoy the rental you spent hours looking for and most of all…Vacate!
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Marc is currently obtaining a Masters Of Arts in Religion. Although not considered well read by a friends wife and a conversation hog by another friends wife, Marc spends hours wasting time on political/news websites, blogging, and reading religious books. Lastly, he quintessentially defines football fanatic. 
