We've just returned from our first vacation with Chance. We've been away nearly three weeks - 2 weeks in Seattle and Portland and a few days in Vermont.
Things we, the parents, learned while on vacation:
1. Seeing things through the eyes of a child means finding (and picking up and throwing away) all the bits of garbage on the sidewalk.
2. Airlines and hotels are unexpectedly polar opposites. For example, hotels are accommodating and helpful when you travel with a child, whereas airlines make you wish you had stayed home (or drove).
3. Seattle has a lot of hills and is generally not pedestrian friendly outside of downtown – oh wait, we already knew that.
4. We wish we could take our friends wherever we live rather than wait 3 years for a visit – oh, wait, we knew that one too.
5. To paraphrase Emerson “[Vacation] is a journey, not a destination” – which is good because we didn’t stay in one place more than 4 days out of 3 weeks we were away.
6. Whoever said something about “enjoy the journey,” though, had his head up his backside. The truth is more like “the more you try to enjoy the journey, the more chaos and stupidity will ensue to test your will.”
2. My parents get cranky when they don’t get enough sleep. They are lucky to have me to lighten up the situation.
3. I am cute (at least that’s what everybody says).
4. Jumping into the pool is the Best. Thing. Ever.
5. Airplane travel did not live up to my expectations - it’s really more like a bus that flies and seat belts are akin to medieval torture devices.
6. The world is set up just to confuse me. For example, Uncle Casey is Cece’s daddy while Sadie is Uncle Phil’s black lab. At the same time, Casey is a black lab entirely unrelated to either Cece or Uncle Phil. Oh, and the cat is Chicken.
Things we, the parents, learned while on vacation:
1. Seeing things through the eyes of a child means finding (and picking up and throwing away) all the bits of garbage on the sidewalk.
2. Airlines and hotels are unexpectedly polar opposites. For example, hotels are accommodating and helpful when you travel with a child, whereas airlines make you wish you had stayed home (or drove).
3. Seattle has a lot of hills and is generally not pedestrian friendly outside of downtown – oh wait, we already knew that.
4. We wish we could take our friends wherever we live rather than wait 3 years for a visit – oh, wait, we knew that one too.
5. To paraphrase Emerson “[Vacation] is a journey, not a destination” – which is good because we didn’t stay in one place more than 4 days out of 3 weeks we were away.
6. Whoever said something about “enjoy the journey,” though, had his head up his backside. The truth is more like “the more you try to enjoy the journey, the more chaos and stupidity will ensue to test your will.”
7. Active children do not sit still just because the seat belt sign is on.
Things he, the child, learned while on vacation:
1. Fire trucks have hoses and radios, and firefighters rock.2. My parents get cranky when they don’t get enough sleep. They are lucky to have me to lighten up the situation.
3. I am cute (at least that’s what everybody says).
4. Jumping into the pool is the Best. Thing. Ever.
5. Airplane travel did not live up to my expectations - it’s really more like a bus that flies and seat belts are akin to medieval torture devices.
6. The world is set up just to confuse me. For example, Uncle Casey is Cece’s daddy while Sadie is Uncle Phil’s black lab. At the same time, Casey is a black lab entirely unrelated to either Cece or Uncle Phil. Oh, and the cat is Chicken.
7. How to tap a keg, feed a cat, walk a dog, walk down the stairs myself while holding the railing, ride a merry-go-round, climb out of the Pack-n-Play, climb into the “big bed,” and flush the toilet.
And here are a few video links for your viewing pleasure:
Can we do it all again? It was such fun having the Vermont gang here!!! You all made me smile so much and laugh bunches and just feel really good and happy. Watching the videos lets me enjoy it over and over. Send more!!!!!! I love you all.
Posted by: g'mom | 25 August 2010 at 12:00 AM