Vacation: Lessons Learned

Top 10 Things Learned on Family Vacation

10. I am, perhaps, the world's best packer. No...seriously. Four people, six days, work meetings, and the fickle Colorado climate, and one suitcase. This is a feat that not many people can claim.

9. In other news, overweight baggage fees are Out.Of.Control. As in - to the tune of $100 for a talented packer such as myself. Never fear, just look pathetic with a double stroller, a disgruntled husband who does not appreciate my stellar skills, and the nice airline ladies scrounged up a box to save the day. Fees cut from $100 to a mere $25/bag/box.

8. Vacation of 2014 does not equal vacation of 2008. Rewind: In 2008 we grabbed two backpacks, jumped on an East-bound plane, and spent two weeks traipsing through Europe. Our diets consisted of wine, cheese, and gelato - in that particular order.  Fast forward to the past week:  A two-year-old and four-year-old and a husband on a work trip didn't equate to exactly the same spontaneity. I mean, the schedule did center on food - chicken nuggets, non-dairy snacks, and lots of water. We did splurge and buy some wine one night, but then Patrick was convinced the leftover (WHAT?!?) wouldn't make it between destinations. Probably right, but a failure all the same.

7. Vacation DOES NOT equal rest.

6. When booking future vacation rooms, ONLY book a room with two queen beds or one king and a pull-out couch, etc. Case in point: 

C: "Hehehehehehehehe....."

L: "Mama...owwwwww....mama....owwwwww"

M: "Claire, stop kicking your brother in the face."

C: "Hehehehehehehehehe....."

L: "Mickey??"

This exchange might have been funny except that it was 12:23 a.m., and I had to be up for work at 6:45 a.m. See lesson learned #7.

5. Follow-up:  While taking the entire family on a work trip might seem like a good idea, it probably isn't. Work trips were designed many moons ago by some very smart parents looking for a valid excuse to escape the responsibility of parenthood without having to explain the rationale for family desertion. It is a wonderful escape from the incidents such as those listed in lesson #6. If lesson #5 is applied, lesson #6 is a moot point.

4. Never underestimate the power of a fully loaded diaper bag. Hungry child....snacks. Spilled drink...wipes. Closed wine bottle....opener. Only in our bag.

3. The fully loaded bag mentioned in lesson #4 only poses a challenge when  attempting to make it through airport security. Refer back to Lesson #9 - the same pathetic looks, double stroller, and two adorable kids will melt even the toughest security checkpoint's hearts. Suddenly, we found ourselves breezing through TSA pre-check. Shoes on, computers in bag, two happy kiddoes, and even happier parents and security guards. Crisis averted. How did I ever do that myself on the way to Hawaii?!?!?!

2. Home is great after a vacation. Home is even better after a 2.5 hour delay due to maintenance issues. The luck of making it through TSA pre-check quickly wore off.

1. While my parents were out visiting, they observed that we rarely sit down. While vacation is great and we LOVED seeing our friends and family, being home is our favorite place. We happen to operate at hypersonic rates, but that's just us. We've been home for five hours, and the laundry is done, floors are washed, dogs are home from the kennel, and grocery shopping done. We can't wait for a quiet weekend to recover from our adventures, but first stop in the morning - Aquatica.