Right before we left for Destin last weekend, I read a very timely article written by a mother of several kids. The article was directed at parents heading off for any sort of summer "vacation". The article was very funny, and did a fantastic job of breaking down the difference between a vacation and a trip/adventure. A vacation means sleeping late and lounging by the pool with little umbrellas in your drink and reading a book uninterrupted. A trip/adventure means lugging diapers, noonies, kids, toys and other sundry items from one place to another and mom and dad still do everything they normally do at home, just in different and usually less child-friendly surroundings.
It was a great perspective, as it brought home the point that you are taking these trips to make memories for your children. Once you go into it with that attitude, you can smile a little more when you are changing a squirming baby's dirty diaper on the beach, or keeping a toddler from drowning in the pool, or chasing a toddler around the Gulfarium, but unable to catch him in time to stop him from throwing a quarter into the Sea Lion exhibit.
With all that being said, our "adventure week" in Destin was fantastic, and a wonderful break from work, chores, schedules and general regular life.
