We’re headed off on a getaway! I hesitate to call it a vacation, though, because my little one is coming along. Yes, I’m taking a week off work and we’ll be by the sea, but I’m not exactly expecting much in the way of relaxation. “Chill” is not my child’s middle name—it’s “WATCH OUT! YOU’RE GOING TO FALL!”
Normally, vacations for me mean sleeping in, indulging in good food, and enjoying a few drinks. However, with a toddler in the mix, the usual vacation activities become anything but normal. Here’s why I suspect our family trip won’t resemble a classic vacation:
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Reading
My partner and I made some last-minute purchases for beach reads, and I swear I could hear my computer chuckling as I hit “checkout.” The chances of us lounging with books on the beach are about one in a million. Instead, I’ll likely be buried in GPS directions or reading about trains. -
Sleeping
This time, it’s not my computer laughing at me; it’s my son. He’s on a strict 6:30 a.m. wake-up schedule, regardless of the day or the setting. His internal clock is my greatest adversary—he doesn’t care if I’m on vacation. To him, every day is a holiday. -
Relaxing
Right now, my son’s favorite hobbies include ignoring instructions and being a bundle of energy. Mix that with his toddler-level understanding of danger—like spinning in circles in busy streets—and you can forget about any real relaxation. -
Drinking
There will definitely be drinking—plenty of it! Most of it will be crammed into that brief three-hour window between when he finally falls asleep and when we crash ourselves, but I assure you it will happen. -
Miscellaneous Activities
What else do people do on vacation? Going to the movies? Not with a toddler. Eating out? Not with a toddler. Enjoying intimate moments? Nope, toddler. Mini-golf? We might actually manage that, although “playing” could be a stretch.
I’m not saying we won’t have a blast. I’m genuinely looking forward to it. But it’s a different experience than a kid-free vacation. At least I’ll be less hungover!
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Summary
Planning a family getaway can be a thrilling adventure, but it often differs from the traditional vacation experience. With a toddler in tow, typical relaxation activities like reading and sleeping become challenging. While there will be fun moments, the trip is likely to be far from a serene escape.