I’ll never forget the first time I seriously considered it – actually cancelling the vacation because the prep was just too much. My baby was four months, my oldest child was four. My husband had been out of town for a month, and the kids and I were all set to leave the gloomy PNW and join him for a long weekend in sunny San Diego.
I’d been looking forward to it for weeks, but I called him the day before we were supposed to leave.
“I don’t think we can come. It’s just too much. It will be easier to just stay home for the weekend.”
And I meant every word. But it wasn’t the prospect of air travel with an infant, or wrangling two kids by myself on a plane that had me overwhelmed. That part was a breeze.
It was the preparation.
The packing, the planning, the cleaning. The prep at the office to get ahead so things would run smoothly while I was gone. The mental load of making sure the dog got dropped off, that I had all the things for the baby, and that our house was secure while we were away. And of course the emotional stress of getting everyone to the airport, parking, and making it to our gate on time.
It was a lot.
And it still is.
These days things are a little easier. The kids can pack their own things, and they’re usually happy to help. But there’s still a lot to do to get ready for vacation – from making sure the laundry baskets are empty to clearing out the fridge to making sure the house is spotless. {Generally housekeeping is not my top priority, but I loathe coming back from vacation to a messy house.}
And every time, without fail, on the eve of our departure I find myself on the cusp of an emotional breakdown, regretting my decision to travel and seriously contemplating calling the whole thing off.
But I’ve never actually done it. And I’m so, so glad I haven’t.
That San Diego trip that I almost skipped out on because my infant wasn’t sleeping and all I wanted to do was veg on the couch for the weekend? It was one of the sweetest, most restful trips I remember taking.
Spring break trips to Florida to so the kids can visit the grandparents? Always worth it.
The solo road trip to remote destinations that almost gave me a panic attack because I was so anxious about it? One of my kids’ favorite trips.
And the three-week RV trip that we took as this summer’s family vacation…absolutely amazing.
Mama, this is just something I’ve come to understand – and in speaking with other mamas, I know I’m not alone. After all, there’s a reason the internet is full of memes about moms & vacations – because taking family vacations are no joke, and they come with a lot of extra work.
Just know that the day or two before the trip, you’re going to want to cancel it because it will feel like too much. The pull of the familiarity of home and the security of routine will entice you to stay, but you should always go.
Expect it. Push through it. And then take the vacation. Because you’re not the only mom who feels that way – we all do.
It might be extra work, but it’s worth it.
Have you ever considered canceling a vacation because the preparation was too ovewhelming? Share your experience in the comments below!
RELATED:
The Best Tips for Air Travel with Preschool and School-Aged Children
Ten Tips for Flying with a Baby
Read more of Kristina’s contributions to allmomdoes here.
