Top 10 Tips For Taking Your Parents on Your Family Vacation
June 21, 2009 by Karlynn Johnston
Filed under Super Fun
I feel very blessed most days, to have a very connected family life, not only my nuclear family, but what is considered I guess, my extended. My children and my parents are very close, probably due to the fact that they are there are only 3 grandchildren in total,with not many more making any appearances in our family tree anytime in the near future. We decided to ask my dad to come with us to the States on our trip, not only because he kindly offered us the use of his car to drive there, and we thought it would be completely jerkish to take it and leave, but because we actually wanted him to come. Some people that I have talked to tell me that they can’t imagine taking their dad on a trip with them, but I can’t imagine not asking my parents to come with us. Unfortunately it was my mom’s busy time at school (she’s a teacher) so there is no way she can take off at the beginning of exams and the school year end. But she would have been coming along as well if she could have, with us being happy that she was.
We had originally thought that we would take some time to ourselves and let my dad watch the kids at night so we could go out. What ended up happening is that we all had so much fun together during the day that we would end up coming back to the hotel late at night and everyone just falling into bed exhausted. Mike and I didn’t end up having one night to ourselves, and we have no regrets, in fact, I would do it again the same way next time. Maybe its because my parents live 3 hours away from us, but we weren’t (too much) tired of each others company on the trip.
A few suggestions I do have when going on vacation with your parents and your kids are:
1) Book separate hotel rooms. Trust me. Even with a two bedroom suite in Anaheim, we still could have used another bathroom! Don’t be cheap, book separate rooms! We had two in Burlingame and it was fantastic, the kids would take turns sleeping in the other room with Papa.
2. Bite your tongue. A lot. Remember that your parents probably didn’t parent the same way you did and unless its going to end up costing you thousands in therapy down the line, just let it go. Remember, it takes a village to raise a child, and a differing discipline or opinion is OK sometimes. This one I had to practice, but realized that I can’t control everyone who talks to my kids, and them learning to deal with others who aren’t exactly like me is a very good thing. Like I said, as long as there aren’t hurt feelings or therapy coming, let your parents do some parenting too..but….
3. Stick to your guns on your important issues. Believe it or not, most parents will listen to you when you tell them what’s important to you when it comes to dealing with the kids. My sticking point has and always will be regarding their eating habits, they are never forced to finish meals or eat when they don’t want to. My dad knows this is important to me, and leaves it to me.
4. Let them help with the kids. Let go….let them take them out of your hair for a few minutes….you can do it….just…release them……
5. Relive and talk about memories from your childhood. Many people wince when thinking of taking their parents along, but I sincerely had a fantastic time going with my dad, especially since it was reliving where he took us as children. You will be surprised at how much you will enjoy the time together. But on that note…..
6. Take breaks from each other. Realize that its good to split up and just have some time not together, you don’t live with your parents anymore, so it would be far to much to spend 24/7 with them. This also relates to #1 and #3…have space to yourself, send a kid with grandpa and have a breather…it helps keep the trip peaceful.
7. Let them spoil the kids. Just do it. Let them buy the kids wildly inappropriate toys and go to shooting galleries (yup and I didn’t even wince. Much) and feed them crappy junk food.
8. Try not to fight with your spouse and subject your parents to it. I managed this till almost the last few days . Its hard, but you can do it!
9. Buy a new camera, or at least make sure you have a good one, because the pictures from this trip will be cherished for a lifetime.
10. Enjoy yourself and realize that you are making incredible memories for your children, that they will remember taking this trip with you and their grandparent(s) for a lifetime. Know that this is what makes life worth living, these wonderful events that happen, cherish it while you are doing, stop and stop to realize sometime in the middle of it, that life just happens once and this is what its all about. Family,love, fun and memories.
Related posts:
