Hi Friend,
July is here and summer is in full swing! This is typically the time families are taking trips, and if this is you, you are most likely in the midst of planning the details of your vacation. You’re excited and also a little nervous, especially if this is your first time going on a trip together.
Going on a family vacation is an eye-opener. You soon realize it’s VERY different than when you were vacationing as a single person or as a couple pre-baby. The amount of preparation and forethought is unmeasurable, and the tough moments are often inevitable.
There’s two actions I implore you to keep in mind that will support you in your parenting and lessen your stress during your vacation:
Remain flexible with your children’s routines
Let go of what you cannot control. Just like when they’re sick at home or going through growth spurts, you have to roll through those changes. On a trip, you’re sleeping in a different place, eating different food, or maybe there’s a time change. Your children will need time to adjust so don’t expect them to eat or sleep the same way they do at home.
Remain consistent with your discipline
How and what you teach your child- your discipline- is under your control.
Children tend to test boundaries when they’re in a different place. They feel safe when they see consistency, and that’s you. Know what is non-negotiable and what has wiggle room.
For example, they’re still not allowed to run around while eating or jump on the bed, but perhaps they’re allowed more sweets than usual or they can stay up past the usual bedtime.
This is when your parenting habits as an effective disciplinarian come into play. You can read more about how to do this in my article, "3 Parenting Habits to Effectively Discipline Toddlers and Preschoolers."
Your consistency builds trust, and that trust decreases the stress your children, and ultimately you, will experience.
One last important note:
Even though you become more aware that it’s not a vacation from being a parent, you will notice it’s a vacation from everything EXCEPT your family.
It’s a chance to give you a closer look at the family you’ve built because you can often lose sight of what’s important in the day to day routine of parenthood.
A family vacation isn’t always going to feel like a “vacation”, but it can be more than just a trip to take. All the moments, good and bad, count as a way to learn, adapt, be flexible, or breathe it all in. Make the most of that time.