#2. We didn’t have a ton of extra money when the kids were younger, but we always figured out a way to take a vacation. We loved the ocean, but we also loved the Great Lakes. We have so many amazing memories.
We still get to spend time at our family cottage with our kids from time to time, but it’s honestly not an ideal place for 5 adults, a toddler and a Bernedoodle. Our S prefers to come when it’s just H & me. I hope to be able to do some family vacations again in the future, renting a place that will accommodate us better. The kids have been busy with their lives - and we have spent vacation time with elderly parents rather than actually vacationing. Someday!!
#2 absolutely. Some of my best memories are of our family road trips when my kids were young. We stopped family trips after my oldest’s sophomore year of college because of scheduling and lack of interest on their parts of traveling with their parents. But I’ve planned a long weekend at the beach for this summer and they all have said they will be there. Some even enthusiastically. It’s amazing what age can do to perspective.
#1. My adult son who has schizophrenia was one of the fastest distance runners in our state. I just loved watching him fly over cross country courses and tracks! The memories are bittersweet since he’s so ill now. I would give anything to back to the “before” days.
It’s hard between #1 and #2, but I’ll go with #1. I love love love watching sports. My kids, of course, but any youth sport. When mine ref’d and were too young to drive, I’ll pull up a chair to a game and pick a side and cheer. I’ll just love watching kids give it their all. Can be any sport really.
#2 road trips and vacations with my family is my favorite thing in the world to do, but technically I can still do this. We took a great one 18 months ago. It will be harder now, but it’s still at least possible.
#3 I was not a huge fan of the toddler years. I liked every age they were at to some degree, but I was much better with older kids. And in the toddler years, we had no money, I had no time off or Flex Time and life was just really hard.
#4 lol. It’d be nice but definitely not the top pick
#2 for the past as my mother used to travel with kids & me sometimes. Would love to enjoy another one of those trips. #2 is on my bucket list for current times. Hard to coordinate getting both families together, but hoping it can happen in the next 12-18 months.
None for me. I absolutely would not want to watch them perform in sports or otherwise. Watching them for me is stress inducing, I truly do not understand the appeal ( I know I’m in a minority). When our daughter played tennis I was the “ bad mom “ who never went to a game. But, in any event, she and her sister mostly were involved in activities where parent observation was not an option at our school: debate, mathletes, quiz bowl etc…
In many ways I think this made the transition to an empty nest easier than for parents whose lives revolved around their kids sports.
I’m not a big vacation person. Many of my friends still vacation with adult children. That’s a hard no from me. My idea of a vacation, relaxing and eating out, is boring to my kids.
I’m thrilled I never need to go back to the toddler years.
I would love more family nights at home, playing a game or ordering in. But my kids don’t live that close. It’s a rare occurrence when we can do that.
Take a family vacation with everyone together. I love my grown kids, they are fun and smart and we all get along so well…but I do miss the family vacations and have just a few with all of them since they were adults.
No. 2. We used to go a family camp in the Adirondacks with tons of activities, including tennis, kayaking, hiking, archery and pottery. Simple pleasures, beautiful lake and good skills for the kids. Hard to get everyone together now with different schedules.
#2 partly because my oldest won’t travel any more and I really miss him.
But I am one who LOVED the toddler years. They made so many interesting observations as they learned about the world. I loved seeing them grow into real people from boring (but adorable) babies.
