This is the first time we have taken our kids on vacation. I mean, sure they have been to Grandma and Grandpa’s, and Edmonton, Wetaskiwin and even Calgary, but they hadn’t been out of Alberta before let alone the country. And while this may be a vacation with kids, it should be called a vacation for kids, because let me tell you, I didn’t find it very relaxing!
First off there was the plane ride. We have never taken our kids on a plane (I mean, why would we fly to Calgary), so I paranoid about being “that family” on the plane. We have all read blog posts and letters to the editor about “that family” where the kids cry, scream, yell, kick seats, go to the bathroom 10 times, and are a general pain in the @$$ to the other patrons thus causing them to write about you on their twitter account, #kidsshouldnotfly. We were so lucky our kids were not any of these, and I tried so hard to pack enough stuff so that it didn’t happen, thankfully though we didn’t have to use any of it and the only time tears happened was by two out of three kids when we were landing.
Then there is the actual “vacationing” part. Sure I didn’t have to do any dishes or cook any meals, and that in and of itself was worth the money to come, but it was replaced with things like this:
Our family vacation was a great time. But I’m looking forward to getting some peace and quiet at home, drinking coffee alone while the kids play downstairs, and sleeping in my queen size bed.
Kel-Cie is a mom to three 3 boys, creator of Kookies and her writing can also be found at Red Deer Kids and Red Deer's Child Magazine.