Why Your Kids Don't Care If You Don't Get Your Money's Worth Out Of A Vacation
The picture to your left is pyramids. Not just any pyramids. They are special pyramids we visited when we were in Cancun and they are made out of pate. We refused to eat them on our vacation. Did it ruin our vacation because we didn't sample them? Did anyone put us on the spot and demand we “at least try?” No, it actually gave us an idea for this article. You see, we each have encountered hardworking parents who've taken their kids on vacation and are convinced their children either wasted their money or didn't appreciate the cost of the trip at all.
Let's get it out of the way right now. Your kids don't give a rat's ass about how much coin you've shelled out to take them to an exotic location far far away from their home. Hardly an earth shattering revelation, however it's also not much of a consolation when you're nagging your teenager to get out of bed by noon , telling your tween to turn off the TV in your hotel room or realizing your toddler isn't content toddling away from you and going to the Mini Club. Irritation about The Money Well Spent rears its head again if your kid turns up his nose at breakfast or decides her dinner should consist of pasta with butter. All the amazing resort amenities should add up to fun for your family, but instead you are hearing the cash register ding with every diss your kid seems to toss in your direction. And to make matters worse, their lack of enthusiasm is turning what you thought were a few tickets to paradise into day after day of, “Why did we even bring you with us?” Who wants to pay even a dime to experience just what you could have at home for absolutely no charge at all? No one. Vacations are meant to be a short term investment with a quick turnaround resulting in enjoyment and relaxation. And families should be able to bank on the memories of the trip for years to come.
Going on vacation isn't cheap. And in this present economy, it may be even more expensive than ever before. So it's no wonder when we take a vacation we expect delicious food, plenty of activities to fill our days and nights, excellent service, perhaps a nice glass of wine with dinner and little to no whining from our kids. Our expectations need not be written in stone, or in our case dependent upon partaking of a chopped liver pyramid, but in order to enjoy our vacation as much as possible, why not share with our kids what it is we expect and find out what they expect too.
Up until this trip, it is entirely possible your kids' idea of vacation is no homework, no bedtime, sleeping in, and playing video games all day. Letting the kids know what the Law of the Land will be prior to departure means everyone will be law abiding citizens when you arrive for your fun in the sun.
No vacation is perfect, just as there is no such thing as a perfect parent or child. Your kids may find a few down sides and complain from time to time, and you might find a rainy vacation day a disappointment. None the less, life on vacation is still life and the money you spent for the vacation is still well worth it. Often times it is the unexpected stuff, good or bad, we remember with laughter and fondness anyway. You might even tell yourself, “The trip wasn't perfect, but it wasn't exactly chopped liver either.” Hell, even though we passed on the pate' pyramids, we're confident they were mighty tasty to someone!
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