Before having children, you might have daydreamed about going on fun family vacations and showing them the world. But now that you’re a mother, you’ve been frustrated by just how busy and stressful vacations with children can be. Yes, you have some precious memories of your past trips. Yet you still spend so much time managing your family’s itinerary, tidying up after your kids, and trying to maintain their routines in unfamiliar places that you barely get a moment to relax.
You want to truly enjoy your family vacations, and maybe you even have another trip planned in the future. However, you don’t want your next trip to feel like so much work! Here’s how to make time for relaxation on your next family vacation.
Plan a Low-Key Itinerary
If you’re going on a trip, you may feel like you need to pack your itinerary with endless things to do. After all, you don’t want to waste your time away! But you don’t have to spend all day sightseeing when you go out of town. Instead, choose one or two things you might like to do each day. Then, leave plenty of unscheduled time. You might even want to block off one day with nothing in particular on your schedule!
What if you’re taking your trip with your partner or other family members? Make sure they participate in the planning process, too. Planning a vacation is a lot of work. The entire responsibility shouldn’t fall to you — everyone has room to contribute.
Delegate Tasks
Do you find yourself cleaning up your accommodations, keeping track of your kids’ belongings, handling the tickets for your flights and transport, and going grocery shopping and making dinner reservations with little help from any other adults on your trip?
Whether you’re traveling with your children and partner, or you have other relatives and friends along for the ride, discuss how you can delegate tasks with everyone. Let the other guests take over some of the to-do list so that you can put your feet up!
Bring the Fun to You
Sometimes, it can be worthwhile to spend a bit more on accommodations where you won’t have to leave the premises to have fun. This might mean booking a house with a pool, staying at a resort that offers lot of amenities or activities, or even choosing accommodations near your destinations downtown area so that you’re never far from all of the action.
Pack Toys for Independent Play
While you’ll definitely want to enjoy plenty of family time on your trip, you’ll also need some time to yourself. Make sure to pack some toys and games that your children can enjoy with minimal supervision. Even if you need to stay nearby while they play, you won’t have to be actively involved.
If any of your children are old enough to read on their own, you might want to bring a few books for them! Reading is a great solo activity that’s perfect for vacations — for both kids and adults alike.
Sign Your Kids Up for Activities
In some areas, you might be able to find structured activities for kids of certain age groups. You’re more likely to find these types of activities if you’re staying at a hotel or a resort that offers activities on-site. This can be a nice way to let your kids socialize and meet other people, as well as enjoy some true downtime.
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Are you struggling to find time for yourself since having children? Working with a therapist can help. Reach out to us to discuss your options for scheduling your first session for parent therapy.