We are on holiday in Sri Lanka. It is a welcome break from the arid heat of Abu Dhabi. We are surrounded by nature; paddy fields, lime-green parrots, palm trees, bright flowers and….our children.
“Is it possible,” Rupes asked over breakfast as Bea and Leo argued over who could have the butter first “to go on a family holiday without your family?”
It is a strange thing for working parents to spend 24 hours a day with their children, and not always the most pleasant of experiences. The children seem to create arguments over just about anything, from who should try to track a frog they have discovered to who should have the first boiled egg or sit next to daddy or go on the PlayBook. Every outing has its own challenges, such as who should sit with whom in the TukTuk, and once we get here we’re going who should walk in front or who is talking at any particular time. There is not really any downtime. It is not like an office where you can put your headphones and ‘do not disturb’ face on. On a family holiday you are disturbed as and when suits the family.
Of course there are lots of upsides. There are moments when they’re not arguing (rare and blissful) or when they say or do something funny, such as Bea this morning being asked if she wanted to come for a walk replying; “Oh no thanks, I’ve already conquered two empires, I might conquer another one tomorrow.”
And a family holiday is just that. A holiday with your family. Although some might argue it is less of a “holiday” than other times of the year.
Copyright: Helena Frith Powell 2011
We don’t call them family holidays or vacations but rather “relocations” for this very reason. Holidays are times when you are at no one’s beck and call whether they are bosses or offspring or, in most cases, both.
Just this year during our two weeks in France I thought :
” Never again ” !
On a holiday. With my own family.
I discovered I`d rather work all year round, but not to go on a holiday with arguing, impossible kids, and husband who`s playing golf all days long if possible. And if he is not palying golf, he is arguing just about everything: where, what and when to eat. Just to give few examples.
At one stage I thought I`ll just disappear from my family. I`ll just go away, and not come back. Ever.
But what happend when I had “Me Time” ? Wich to me means jogging, aerobicks or yoga. After even a two hour break from all, I came back to our house with smile on my face, and noticed I do love my family.
You see, no one ever said this would be easy with husband and kids. But time to time we (mothers and wifes) do need a break from it. Please? Even on a holiday.
And if someone asks about our holiday, the answer is we had the most wonderful holiday. Just like we did.
Now planing eagerly for a next familyholiday…
Have a great holiday!