In our family, my two sisters and I have a tradition a decade old, of packing up kids and cars and driving down the coast to Seaside. We fill our weekend with fish and chips, beach combing, sand castle building, big hole digging, salt water taffy, the best pizza we've ever discovered, story telling and laughter.
Our kids hear stories of their mothers, as told by their aunts, and our memories are very, very long. Not always 100% accurate, we leave nothing out. We laugh loud and clear and distinctive over each story, clearly enjoying each retelling.
Our kids could find us in a crowded room by following the sound of our merriment!
I love that our kids are growing up with the knowledge that siblings, who fought like cats and cats as children, can emerge into adulthood as friends. Not only friends, but friends who can travel together, share one hotel room and a single bathroom, split the cost of pizza and share the leftovers, enjoy the beach in rain or shine (usually rain), and still come back to do it again.
Of course, now that our first trip party of five has grown into party of 12 proportions, with a new baby on the way, we don't share one room. We have several, and our doors are always open, kids run in and out, visits are made for lunch or late night parties (after the youngsters have gone to bed) and it is good.
These things join our memories, and find us with laughter.
This post is inspired by the prompt of the day at NaBloPoMo
What a fun tradition! Plus, I love Seaside!!!
ReplyDeleteLove this Michelle! My sister and I started doing "Girls Day Out" with my oldest niece when she was a baby and now, 16 years later, we try hard to get in at least one hotel trip with all of us girls every year. Neither my oldest niece nor her sisters nor my kids remember a time without this being a part of their lives. It is such a gift!
ReplyDeleteMy kids were 5 & 7 the first year we went, so they remember the start of it, but they also have the distinction of being part of the original five, of having all the attention of their mom and two aunts. I figured there might come a day they decided they were 'too old' to go, but that hasn't happened yet. And to hear my son tell it, it never will. He's planning on bringing his future kids when the time comes!
DeleteWe did the extended family camping trips for many years, until everyone got too spread out. Those are the best fun ever, especially when tents replace hotel rooms. What it lacks in creature comforts, it makes up for in style and fun.
ReplyDeleteWe try to go camping together yearly. There is nothing like roasting hot dogs over the open fire and hearing my Mom shout warnings to all the little grandkids that they are too close to the fire! She's usually right....
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