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Family Vacations More Stressful Than Work?
Filed under: Opinions
Are family vacations more work than fun? Photo courtesy sxc.hu
My reluctance to take a family vacation is not just about money, of course. Traveling with kids can stressful to the point that it sucks the fun right out of the happiest places on earth. And as evidenced by a conversation going on over at Cafe Mom, there are at least a few others who also view this summer tradition as more torture than treat.
"We frequently take day trips to amusement parks, the beach, and other places. With my 9 yr old I always get tense! I'm so worried she'll get lost. I can only enjoy myself when I know she is right with me."
Tense. Worried. These are not words that are generally associated with having fun. In fact, according to a survey out of the UK, about two-thirds of parents find family vacations to be more stressful than their jobs. Almost half admit that they dread going on family trips.
So, why do we do it? Perhaps, as another reader so eloquently points out, it is all about the memories.
"Chill out and enjoy the the moment. Get over the damn stress, go with the flow and learn to deal and don't sweat the small stuff. Vacations provide a learning experience for all, family time, lots of memories - even some of the bad, stressful stuff will make great memories 20 years from now! "
In the end, I guess it comes down to the details -- how old the children are, where you are going and how long you will be there. Still, we aren't going anywhere. What about you? Are you looking forward to -- or dreading -- a family vacation this summer?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
5-21-2009 @ 3:22PM
Melissa said...Seriously? It's stressful? How can spending time with your children doing something fun, like an amusement park or the beach or something be stressful? If you're worried that you're going to lose your nine year old, then maybe you need to get a leash or put her in a stroller for cryin' out loud! My daughter is three and we go to Disneyland, the beach, malls, parks, etc. and I take her stroller with me, just in case she decides she wants to rest or something. But she doesn't run off from me anymore, she knows better.
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5-21-2009 @ 4:09PM
Mary Sullivan said...Family trips are a major DE-stressor for us. We get to step off our respective hamster wheels (school, work, homework) and just hang out for a week or two. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to take a road trip with my family, although of course there are always some crappy moments scattered in, like when the twins (10) start squabbling, or a few years ago when all 3 kids acted out on a rafting trip on my birthday :
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5-21-2009 @ 5:02PM
Nicola said...Mary, I'm with you! Work, school, extracurricular sports and activities, church, social obligations, volunteering, meetings... That is our normal week. Packing up and simply spending time together is such a treat. My heart fills up just thinking back on our recent spring break trip to the Tennessee Smokies. What fun it was. Nothing more important to do than to plan the next adventure.
We take vacations frequently and have done since our son was born. Road trips, airplane trips, day trips and month long trips, we love to travel together. He is 5 now and an amazing world traveler who adapts well to time changes, food changes, routine changes, and whatever else comes our way on the typical trip.
Sure, packing is a pain. Weather might not cooperate. Eating out gets expensive (though we typically find the nearest grocery store when we hit our destination and stock up on drinks, snacks, and breakfast foods). The comforts of home are, well, at home. But that's part of the magic. Experiencing new places, new foods, new people, and whole new worlds together as a family. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Next month we're spending a week in Missouri. In August we're off for three weeks in the UK. Family vacations are what life is all about.
5-22-2009 @ 7:45AM
Amy Wood said...In my opinion, if you can take a family trip, take it! It is a great way for your children to learn about life and make some memories. It is good for everyone involved. Nothing that we do in life will ever be stress free--once you realize that, then just try to enjoy and have fun. Life is too short to always be so rigid. I had parents that never took us anywhere and put money into their house--that didn't go very far with me. Materialism isn't what life is about. Be responsible and watch your money, yes. . .but lose out on an opportunity to have family fun--not me! There are creative ways to take a trip that cost little/no extra money from your monthly budget. I guess, that being said, you have to have the desire to do it.
Personally, I think that it is easier to stay home and play the "it is too hard/expensive" game than it is to take your family somewhere different/fun. On my deathbed, I am not going to remember/care about when I "paid down my credit cards" or "put new countertops in". I am going to remember the love and memories that my family had together--
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6-17-2009 @ 9:43PM
MountainMover said...We specialize in family vacations in the steamboat ski resort. To be honest a lot of families are stressed vacationing together. It's what they want to do and it can ultimately be very rewarding. We help that process with our catered ski chalet packages - take the stress and work out of the ski trip and suddenly you have a whole lot more time for each other and there are no chores to cloud the day.
Check out www.movingmountains.com for great family vacation options - great value and less stress!