Vacation

Aahhhh, vacation. No cell service, no rules, and pants are not required.

Ha,ha, I guess that last part might need a little explanation...one can hang out in a bathing suit all day, one need not put pants on.

Ok, there aren't exactly no rules. Common sense and safety are still a must but other things kind of go by the wayside. Like running down a hill, you can do that at camp. The 'hill' is grass and ends at the lake, running is almost mandatory. And yes, it is acceptable to crawl through the window on the porch. Oh, and, just one more s'more...definitely ok on vacation.

I am really enjoying vacation with bigger kids. Admit it, moms don't usually get 'vacation' on vacation. Someone still has to cook and clean up and change diapers, and help with swim clothes, and, and, and. Now that the youngest is six, almost 7, vacation is so much more vacationy. This year, I have not done dishes more than once a day and have only cooked one of three meals a day. Everyone can get his or her own clothes changed....as a matter of fact, everyone packed his or her own clothes! The older kids take on duties like packing the kayaking necessities and getting together the dog's stuff. I trained them well.

I think that is the key.  I try to take the time to teach them, to involve them in the details of what needs to happen. Sometimes it meant taking more time than if I just did it myself but the benefits are worth it. Right now for example, Mary is starting the fire for marshmallows; #6 is doing supper dishes. In a little while I will be brought as many s'mores as I want. I won't even have to get up from my chair. It may have been a lot of work then and still some now (I do have a few more to get to 'older' status), but it is oh so worth it now.

Do I feel guilty for 'making' them do 'all' the work? Please. Really?  No. Not in the least. And again, no.

First, I don't make them do all the work.  We try to make sure the kids get vacation too.  I don't actually ask them to do any of it.  Well, ok, I insist everyone helps pack and unpack and I don't provide maid service. But otherwise, they help because they are good kids. Because we raised them to be good kids. We teach them the value of manners and respect. We try to give them good examples of appropriate behavior and we try to point out when behavior could be improved. Is it easy? Nope, not usually. But what worth it is.

I feel like I have an advantage most people don't. Because I have eight kids ranging in age from 21 to 6, I get to see the benefits of my 'work' while I am still working. I get to watch my olders practice what we taught them while I am still working on the youngers.  I can see where things were good and weed out what may not have helped. I can evaluate and make changes in real time!  Sometimes that doesn't go over well with my older kids. To bad, so sad! Just kidding...If they ask I will explain the reasoning and they can learn from that too, if they want...but not while we are on vacation.

Sorry, gotta go. My peanut butter cup s'more is on the way up the hill.