It was 8:30 a.m. when my friend’s text came through: “Looks like you’re in for beautiful weather today! Have fun!” I replied, “Yep. We’ve already gotten into three fights and there’s a 30-minute traffic delay. It’s gonna be great.” My family had been eagerly awaiting this mini-vacation, yet from the get-go, it was a headache.
Whether it’s a day at the zoo, a weekend at a theme park, or a 10-day trip to the other side of the country, moms love to put unrealistic expectations on vacations. We think there’s going to be hand-holding and skipping, and every moment is going to be Instagram-worthy. Then, when things go south, we think something’s wrong with our families. But don’t throw away a whole vacation just because you’ve hit a snag. Here’s how to recover from a bad vacation, even if you’re still on it.
Rain? Channel your inner adventurer.
Did you check the weather and notice there’s a 100% chance of rain? Time to grab the raincoats and tough it out. One of our favorite Disney days happened in the midst of a major downpour. Crowds of families were huddled under whatever overhangs they could find and we looked at each other, pulled up our hoods, and said, “Let’s do this.”
We laughed as we dodged (and hopped in) puddles and enjoyed the shorter lines and wide-open walkways. If you’re trying to recover from a bad vacation caused by weather, teach your kids that although you hoped for a bright, sunny day, things don’t have to be picture perfect to make wonderful memories.
Long lines? Make your own fun while you wait.
Every vacation has long waits of some kind. Kids have to sit on the hotel room bed and wait as Mom finishes getting ready. You go on a cruise and stand in a corral waiting for your excursion to start. Or the road trip miles are just not passing as quickly as you’d hoped.
Some of the best memories I have from my childhood are from waiting in long lines. My sister and I would play hand-clapping games or 20 questions. Our boredom in the downtime led to creativity and bonding. Teach your kids part of the fun is in the journey, even when you don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere.
Teach your kids part of the fun is in the journey, even when you don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere. Click To TweetBickering? Hit reset.
Early on in our trip to Georgia last summer, I pulled my husband aside and said, “I’ve noticed you’re being really short with the kids. Can you take a deep breath and try starting over?” He later told me their whining made them sound spoiled, which set him off. But he knew his biting at them wasn’t making the situation better.
If there’s a lot of fighting among your kids or between you and your husband, try hitting the reset button instead of solving the specific problem. One way to make a quick adjustment is by talking about what you’re grateful for. You can lead by saying, “Hey kids, I’m so glad we get to have fun together. How about we try to let go of these little annoyances.”
Sudden sickness? Divide and conquer.
My son will tell you, “Don’t order the special! Sometimes it’s special because the food’s about to go bad!” He learned that lesson after eight hours with his head in the hotel room trash can. He and I stayed back and watched TV while his brother and stepdad made memories together.
As bummed as I was to miss out on the fun, our quiet time in the room was special. We now have a cartoon we like watching together and we know that if he’s sick, he should hide his eyes when commercials for fried chicken come on. Splitting up isn’t how most moms picture a vacation, but having one-on-one time is a bonus.
Kid in a mood? Zoom out.
My mom still reminds me of the rotten mood I was in on our family trip to Savannah when I was a teenager. I’ve conveniently forgotten about my bad attitude, but I’m preparing myself for the day when my kids aren’t the energetic bundles of joy they are now.
Reminding yourself that at a certain age, some kids are going to be a little grouchy will take the pressure off having a perfect vacation. Your kids will learn how to offer grace to difficult people when they look back on the patience you showed them.
When things don’t go as planned, how do you recover from a bad vacation?
