Foolin' Around
We’re going to admit we’ve been sneaking around and spying on families. We did it tag team when we were at Club Med Cancun. Maybe it just looked like we were out dancing with the GO’s until 1AM, but really we were participant observers. You may think it looked like partying, but we call it research! We were collecting the data to back up our theory that an all inclusive vacation is really three, or more, vacations wrapped up into one. The first being your family vacation, the second an adult get-away and the third a kids-only retreat. What kind of supporting evidence were we looking for? How people fool around when on vacation. No, this didn’t mean we were looking into anyone’s windows at night. Our spying was much more subtle, and legal.
For example, while hanging out near the table tennis we got to see how much fun grandparents were having with their grandchildren. A lot can be learned from watching these 2 generations interact. Grandparents are not afraid to be caught “looking silly” and sharing giggles with their grandkids. At the pool we watched as parents propped up poolside with a book while their teens took off toward a table to play cards with a group of new found friends. Fun was the common denominator, yet every generation defining it and spelling it out for themselves. And it was working. Really well. But did this happen magically? Did families just arrive at the resort and put themselves on “auto-fun”? For some families, fun is second nature. For others it’s a bit more work; however, the work is great if you can get it.
The work is even better if it’s already planned out for you. Part of the beauty of an all inclusive resort is the entertainment it provides for family members of all ages. When planning your vacation, consider how your family might define fun and spell out what everyone might need while on vacation. Does the resort have supervised activities in an environment conducive to meeting other teens? Will younger kids be kept busy enough during the day to forget about their electronic games tucked away in their carry on luggage? What about the babysitting? Do you have questions you need answered to make you feel comfortable if you want to have an adult dinner sans kids? Selecting a resort with numerous activities which appeal to the ages and stages of your family is one step towards everyone having something to do, and you having some time on your own.
OK, we all know offering activities for everyone isn’t going to create any fun if no one is actually willing to try them. For some children, the idea of participating in activities in a new environment and without their parent may not be an easy sell. What can we do to prepare our children to take part in the offerings and give us a break for a little while? There is no magic trick to leading your child to the trapeze and making them swing. There will be those children who want to know all the details in advance, it makes them feel more in control if they know what to expect. If you have one of those kids, then bring out the brochures, take a trip to the website.
Speaking of which, how do you handle transitions? Think about what it will take for you to relax and have fun. There’s also adult fun to be had, yes THAT kind. Nothing wrong with some good old fashioned “afternoon delight“ if your kids are busy with mini club activities! Why not water aerobics? Take the opportunity to learn a few dance steps, enroll in a cooking class, go sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, play volleyball, schedule massages… the possibilities are almost endless. And if the bathtub in your room is big enough for two, who says it has to be “kids only”?
See how this can work? All for one and one for all? It really is like a three musketeer vacation. Hey, maybe that needs to be a theme night!
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