Guest Author - Kimberly Misra

The fun, the sun, the time off… if vacations are so great, why do you come home feeling like you need a vacation from your vacation? Part of the reason may be that we secretly expect our family vacation to proceed like a Disney commercial; laughing, cooperative kids holding hands with perfectly tanned and relaxed parents. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to make the week perfect and when a child misbehaves or things don’t go according to plan, we stress out. The kids seem so unappreciative, the trip is expensive, no one is sleeping well at night… let’s go home early!

Consider the following tips to de-stress your next family trip.

1. Don’t think of family travel as a vacation. A vacation implies relaxation, long dinners, and quiet walks on the beach. If you have children, especially young children, this is not going to be your vacation. That doesn’t mean you won’t have just as much (or possibly more) fun than you had before. It does mean things will be different; leaky diapers, temper tantrums, and fighting siblings do not take a break. Think of your trip as traveling rather than vacationing.

2. Lower your standards. Let the kids stay up later (or put them to bed early- no guilt allowed!). Let them wear mismatched clothes, eat off paper plates, and shove stray toys and clothes to the side of the hotel room. It’s easier said than done, but try to ignore small things that you usually discipline for (whining, minor squabbling, nail biting..).

3. Plan ahead. Plan your vacations at least a month ahead so you have plenty of time to get ready. Ask everyone to list three things they want to do and draw up a rough plan. Make a packing list several weeks before and shop early for necessary items. Start packing a week before so you can do just a little each day. Any child over the age of five can pack for themselves (with supervision). If possible, take a day off before your trip so you can tie up last minute things.

4. Don’t plan vacations solely around your kids. This is a surefire way to feel unappreciated. If the kids are clamoring to go to Disney and you’d like to go, by all means take them. But if you’ve got your heart set on a trip to Paris, go. You will feel less stressed if the destination is one you enjoy, even if it’s not strictly child-oriented. Your kids will likely rise to the occasion and have a great time.

5. Expect things to go wrong. They go wrong at home don’t they? There’s no reason to expect perfect days just because you’re on vacation. Kids will still fight, your son will still wet the bed, someone will draw on the wall with a permanent marker, you might get a flat tire, and your toddler will knock over the cereal display. Don’t expect everyone to behave perfectly and be content the whole time. When your toddler throws a tantrum in a restaurant or your teen spends the afternoon sulking on her bed, tell yourself that they’d do it at home anyway. At the very least, you’re still getting a change of scenery and some great stories to tell when you get home.