We all look forward to the summer and hopefully that means that we are also taking a family vacations. We think that it’s the time that we will bond, laugh and make happy memories. Many times we have very high expectations. Everyone will get along.
Everyone will appreciate all the hard work that we put into planning the vacation .
Everyone will enjoy all the activities that we so painstakingly scheduled.
But the reality is that it usually doesn’t work that way. Unrealistic expectations usually causes us to feel frustration when those expectations are not met.
It is helpful to keep your expectations realistic. For example,
*Kids will fight
*Not everyone in the family will enjoy every activity
*The accommodations might not be to your standard
*At some point everyday someone will get cranky (including you)
*Your toddler will definitely at some point have a tantrum
*You will probably spend more money then you thought you would
*You might have to remind your kids to say thank you for taking them on the vacation- they might not be appreciative- (they might even remind you that Sara’s family gets to go to the Bahamas every year.)
*Someone will probably get sunburned and lots of mosquito bites
*The weather will not cooperate for at least one day
8 Tips for a Less Stressful Family Vacation
Keep your expectations realistic and flexible.
Set a budget before you go on your trip.
Schedule some down time every day.
Keep your expectations realistic for your kids’ ages
Always travel with snacks!
Look for child-friendly accommodations
Keep things simple, don’t overpack.
Expect the unexpected and go with the flow.
Enjoy the time with your family and if your family vacation doesn’t go as planned, remember there’s always next year!