Why You Need To Take A Family Vacation

I have a theory about family vacations...
You remember them.

I've thought about this quite a bit and have come to some important conclusions 

about holidays and why we need to take them with our kids.

I was lucky enough to live with parents who valued family vacations.

So I've had the opportunity to do a little research on the subject

both as a child and as a parent.

I think it is important for me to state for the record that I have a terrible memory.

Don't ask me if I've watched a particular movie,

or who the characters were in a book I read six months ago.

It's gone.

For good.

This is particularly true of memories of my childhood.

The day to day comings and goings are quite hazy.

However if you ask me about the trip I took with my family to Bermuda
when I was fourteen.

I can pretty much tell you every single thing we did
and where we went and what we ate,
and what my sisters were wearing
and if I try really hard I can even imagine specific conversations.

So many details, and they are all exceptionally clear.

This is true of any trip or vacation I have ever taken with my family as a child 

and now I'm finding it to be the same with my own children.

It's as if these "out of the ordinary" moments

are somehow inexplicably seared into my brain.

It could be that during a holiday,

we simply take more pictures, allowing the memories to be captured forever.

This would be very true of the pre DSLR era,
when photos were taken more frugally.
Are my memories due to the photo album
so often looked at that the pages are falling out tattered and worn?

I'm not sure?
I have family photos of Christmas and Easter and they do not bring back
the flood of memories I have of special vacations.
I think there is something more.

I've wondered if it could be that while taking time away,
we are actually present with each other

without the noise and distractions that are part of our daily life.

And this allows us to soak in the moments rather than let them pass us by.

Maybe our brains are simply wired to remember the out of the ordinary,
the surroundings that are so different from the usual?

The food, the smells, the sound of waves?

Whatever the reason,

I have been fortunate enough to be able to collect 

wonderful holiday memories with The Agronomist and my girls.

I think my parents realized this theory long ago,

and wanted to continue the memories with their children and grandchildren.

It is because of them, 

we have had the opportunity to visit some beautiful places in the world.

I have three sisters.

Every year one of us gets a turn to take a holiday with our parents using a timeshare

they can book anywhere in the world.

This year we went to Maui.

This year

my parents sent us alone.

My mother's health made it impossible for her to go

and we missed them greatly.

It's a gift I can't put a price on.

You see, now that the girls are older,

it is really starting to feel like a holiday for mom and dad too.

Four years ago, Youngest was only five.

Four years has made a big difference.

They were all so independent and helpful.

And mostly they were happy.

We had such a great time.

I know for a fact that I will be able to recall

the amazing shave ice we had in Lahaina,

and that Ulua was definitely our favourite beach.

I'll always remember the way Middlest screamed and screamed

as a school of fish decided to swim all around her legs making it impossible

for her to get out of the water.

I'll remember how much The Agronomist and Eldest enjoyed snorkelling together.

We will always remember the coconut M&M's we discovered,

and the fish tacos,

and how when Youngest's head hit the pillow she. was. out.

Something that never happens at home.

While we have been home for almost a week now.

I see a change in our family.

We are more patient with each other.

We are talking about some of things we did and enjoying laughs over the memories.

We are relaxed.

It feels good to be home.

We love each other again : )

I don't think this phenomenon is select to only far off destinations.

I believe it can happen in smaller ways when we take the time.
When we step out of our ordinary 'day to day' existence

and make the time to really spend the hours and the minutes with each other?
That is when our memories our made.
Spending moments with each other without any interruptions, doing things that we enjoy.

And a little shave ice on the side?

It might possibly the "secret" ingredient that helps those memories become truly cemented.

That's my theory anyway.
And I'm sticking to it.

xoxo,