Three Obvious Lessons from a Family Vacation
It’s not rocket science, but these are good reminders for your next family vacation
Recently, my family and I ventured to Norfolk, a county in England known for its beaches.
The Royals have a place there, so I figured it must be worth checking out.
A week before the trip, the forecast looked great. Norfolk, I’d read, is the driest and sunniest county in England.
Bring it on.
We had four days to explore, and I envisioned days soaking up the sun, walking on the beach, and taking in the sights in various seaside towns.
But, things didn’t go exactly as planned.
Instead of four days of sunshine, we had four days of clouds and cool temperatures.
We also stayed at an airbnb that was a mere six miles from the beach, but very remote. So remote, in fact, that it didn’t have wi-fi.
BUT we had a great time – even better than you’d expect given things didn’t really go to plan.
And here are three reasons why – that may help you when you’re on a family trip.
Beach huts at Wells-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk
1.Ask don’t assume
If it’s cold enough to need a sweater, I don’t think, “Let’s go build sandcastles!”
But when I asked my kids if they still wanted to go to the beach (even though they’d need sweatshirts), they were totally game.
It may have been cloudy, cold and WINDY, but that didn’t hinder their enthusiasm for the beach.
And the less-than-ideal weather (in my opinion) still drew a crowd, but there was plenty of room for my son to build sandcastles while my daughter did handstands and cartwheels alongside him.
Not everyone thinks like you do. It’s good to remind yourself of that.
It may look like dirt, but it’s actually sand.
2. Be present
It’s way too easy to spend a lot of time on your phone. Or way too easy for me, anyway.
When we went to Disney World earlier this year, I felt I was constantly on my phone – using the Disney app. It was how we discovered the wait times for rides, made restaurant reservations, and navigated around the park. Sure it’s convenient to have the information, but it also made the day feel like a puzzle I had to solve, with new information constantly being thrown at me.
But not having wi-fi on this trip meant I wasn’t looking up attractions or restaurants, or getting distracted by emails and WhatsApp messages (or reading the news). It meant I was present.
Really present.
It may sound cheesy, but sometimes your presence is the best present you can give someone – especially your family.
Heading to Disney? Prepare to spend a lot of time on this app.
3. The best things in life are free
And while we’re saying cheesy lines, yes, this trip reminded me that the best things in life are free.
During our trip, we played cards. We played board games. We played cricket (or something resembling it) outside.
Beware of these card sharks!
We played on the beach and rode bikes and went out for ice cream (technically not free, but not breaking the bank either).
We had time together as a family, without the normal distractions of work, school, or activities.
We may not have had the trip I originally envisioned, but we still had a great time.
We made memories.
And isn’t that the point of a family vacation?
Kids, grab your hats and gloves! We’re going to the beach in England this summer!
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Beth Collier loves writing, pop culture, and going to the beach (preferably when the sun is shining).
She also loves helping companies, leaders, and teams improve their communication (and creativity and leadership) through consulting, coaching, and workshops.
Her clients benefit from Beth’s global corporate experience, Midwestern practicality and enthusiasm, and an endless supply of pop culture references.
To find out how Beth can help you become a more confident, creative, and compelling leader – or improve communication in your company – visit www.beth-collier.com or drop her a line at beth@beth-collier.com
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