Every time, my children look at them with a blank stare until I jump in and give the standard in a nutshell answer, "We tend to do our vacations in the winter, my husband is a landscaper. Summer is not an easy time to take a vacation."
And though it is probably hard for you to believe... I give this standard answer in a why-are-you-rubbing-it-in-that-my-children-feel-as-though-they-are-the-only-ones-who-don't-get-a-summer-trip.-Besides-is-it-really-any-of-your-business-type-voice?
Inevitably, my children always seem to remind me, "Well, we do go to Park City." And I grin through gritted teeth as I am painfully reminded of the 'trip' we take each summer to the same condo Mike has been coming to since 1980! On a positive note, my children consider it a vacation. But in my opinion, it is not a vacation or even a 'trip' when my husband still commutes daily to work...
It's a long story how a week in Park City has become a yearly (dare I say the word) tradition for my children. But I can admit, that for me-yes me-who is usually so big on establishing a family culture chock full of family traditions, has a dreaded disdain for the summer week in Park City.
This year I found myself constantly harassing Mike about what he did as a kid for a whole week in the same condo my children now inhabit. What did your Mom do? What about your Dad? Did he work shorter hours? Who took you swimming? Were you allowed to wander around by yourself? Did your mother constantly entertain you? Did you do this? Did you do that?
Two days into this week-long 'tradition', my mother-in-law sent her wishes for us to have a relaxing week in Park City. RELAXING? My mother-in-law has obviously been in the empty nest stage for a long time. I can't imagine she really, truly looks back at the weeks spent in this condo with her five children as RELAXING.
Though I can't help but wonder what exactly is relaxing and 'vacationy' about being here, we are here nonetheless. And lest you think any of these pictures show blissful family togetherness, you can be assured that it is because of the beauty of still camera shots versus a home video that it looks like we are one big happy family on vacation.
Yeah, whatever.
I tend to disagree. I remember as a kid, my parents had just started a business so there was no way that we were going on a "huge" vacation. My parents would use one of my grandparent's time share weeks and we too would go to Park City. Dad would come down and work each day and we would explore, swim and have a great time. We always went on vacation to Park City, or so it seemed. To me as a child I didn't know that it was different than others.
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite memories come from those trips. Now that I am the mom it is not in our budget to do vacations. So ours include trips to the cabin and family reunions. To others it may not seem like a "vacation" but to my kids it is and to me it is.
Just my thought.
Tiffany, you are so funny, love ya.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion is that unless you are going somewhere that is fully catered and provides amazing entertainment for the whole family 24 hours a day, then, for the mother there is no such thing as a vacation where ever you go.
And relaxing.....what does that word mean anyway????
xx
Vacations are not relaxing. They may have their fun moments, but most of the time it is whining and crying and fighting and yelling. The only vacations that are relaxing are the ones without the kids! Family vacations and "a relaxing time" should never be put together!!
ReplyDeleteI am in total agreement with you Tiffany. When I was reading this post, I was reminded of last summer when we went to the Sacred Grove and 3 of the 5 kids were wailing on our "spiritual walk" through the grove. Then after, we went and saw Joseph Smith's home and my 9 year old got stung by a bee and screamed bloody murder for 30 minutes. I don't think I've ever had a family vacation that has been a restful time for me, but at least I can take pictures and choose which ones to put in books so we can all look back and pretend we were one big happy family during those times! :)
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