Hawaii...
On Thursday 20th we returned from a 10 day trip to Hawaii. This at least I have learned. A vacation with a child (even with a helping mother-in-law) is a very different proposition from the romantic tropical getaway that Cathleen and I had previously experienced in Hawaii. To start with, Landon hated the rental car/rented car seat, so that meant any time we had to drive anywhere, he had to be forced into the seat with much tears and struggling (his, not ours... though, come to think of it...). And of course, we had to drive almost everywhere.
I've come to the conclusion that everything I've ever watched about KGB interrogation techniques is a load of c**p. All they need to do was play a tape of a screaming infant for 48 hours, and before you know it, you'll have the location of every missile site in N. America. Is there anything else that jars the nerves quite so effectively, even through earplugs (which I now keep in the car)?
To be honest, I'm much more relaxed now that I'm back than I ever was on this vacation. I admit, it wasn't all bad. There were some highlights such as a helicopter ride, snorkeling in the Molokini crater, a great dinner at Mama's Fish House, swimming with turtles, swimming in a waterfall, hiking in a bamboo forest etc., ... but this was easily offset by the general stress. Added to that there was some stuff happening back home in UP world that I needed to continue to deal with by email.
The irony is, sitting here looking at the pictures of the vacation on my computer is actually much more relaxing than being there!
I shouldn't be such an ingrate. In the end, it's all about expectations, and I had to adjust mine pretty quickly. It reminds me of my current life theme of The Gap, as in The Gap Between What Could Be, and What Is... what's your experience or expression of The Gap?
For what it's worth, here are a few pics of the tropical paradise :) Well, I thought there would be, and blogger says it is still uploading them, so perhaps they will appear...
On Thursday 20th we returned from a 10 day trip to Hawaii. This at least I have learned. A vacation with a child (even with a helping mother-in-law) is a very different proposition from the romantic tropical getaway that Cathleen and I had previously experienced in Hawaii. To start with, Landon hated the rental car/rented car seat, so that meant any time we had to drive anywhere, he had to be forced into the seat with much tears and struggling (his, not ours... though, come to think of it...). And of course, we had to drive almost everywhere.
I've come to the conclusion that everything I've ever watched about KGB interrogation techniques is a load of c**p. All they need to do was play a tape of a screaming infant for 48 hours, and before you know it, you'll have the location of every missile site in N. America. Is there anything else that jars the nerves quite so effectively, even through earplugs (which I now keep in the car)?
To be honest, I'm much more relaxed now that I'm back than I ever was on this vacation. I admit, it wasn't all bad. There were some highlights such as a helicopter ride, snorkeling in the Molokini crater, a great dinner at Mama's Fish House, swimming with turtles, swimming in a waterfall, hiking in a bamboo forest etc., ... but this was easily offset by the general stress. Added to that there was some stuff happening back home in UP world that I needed to continue to deal with by email.
The irony is, sitting here looking at the pictures of the vacation on my computer is actually much more relaxing than being there!
I shouldn't be such an ingrate. In the end, it's all about expectations, and I had to adjust mine pretty quickly. It reminds me of my current life theme of The Gap, as in The Gap Between What Could Be, and What Is... what's your experience or expression of The Gap?
For what it's worth, here are a few pics of the tropical paradise :) Well, I thought there would be, and blogger says it is still uploading them, so perhaps they will appear...
posted by Glyn Norman at 8:54 PM
5 Comments:
I don't know what else to say but how true your observations are!
Oh, BTW, 40 people on Blogger have Three Men in a Boat listed in their favorite books. Appx. 12 of them are from the USA. Just letting you know.
hmmm.
no photos yet. i am looking forward to seeing them.
i am sorry for you that it was stressful, but glad to hear there was some sweetness inbetween.
silly, i know, (considering our geographical locations), but i am glad you are back.
A "vacation" with children simply means that you will be doing everything you do as a parent in a different (probably more expensive) habitat. Additionally, you will be required to daily manage your own expectations around your own "fun and relaxation"
This will continue until Landon is approximately 15 years old and you're willing to incur the cost for a friend to come along.
I have so much else to say but don't want to sink you into further depths of depression. So, this is all for now.
a family vacation with kids is somehwere wherer its all about kids and what you can do to tire them out til naptime. a long drive isnt one of them.
a vacation is without kids. period.
yes, a crying child in a car is perhaps the worst torture there is.
the good news is that he will grow up, and the incessant crying will be replaced with something even more fun: talking.
i am starting to realize that the key to happiness is all about lowered expectations. hope for the best, plan for the worst, and try to be happy in the middle.
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