Family Holidays
I've already written several posts on holidays, but when it comes to that year-end vacation, there's always more to add.
Firstly, what is a Family Holiday? In my own words, it is that costly year-end trip that the entire family goes on, that you might spend up to 6 months planning, an equal amount of time saving for, that comes too slowly, zooms by too quickly, you eat too much, walk too far, sleep too little, argue more than usual, get stressed planning, get stressed packing, get stressed flying, get stressed finding your way around with 12 pieces of luggage while crossing busy streets and squeezing on to trains, get stressed driving through unfamiliar streets which are narrow and icy, get too cold, get too hot, wish it was warmer, then come back and wish it was cooler, feel thankful you made it back home alive, want to do it all over again, regret not adding on an extra few days to relax and enjoy the holiday.
What are Family Holidays really meant for? At first, it's about location and activities. Is there a theme park? Is there good food and shopping? Are there things for every member of the family (except the Dad) to keep them entertained? But actually, it's really about extended family time. An occasion for you to get to know each other a little better. To annoy each other a little more than usual as you literally spend 24 hours a day together. Back at home, there is the buffer of school, classes, activities and so on - when you're on a family holiday, there is normally no such thing and you have to put up with one another the whole day and night!
Should you do it? Of course you should. Once the kids go to school, the daily grind of homework, tuition, exams and other nonsense really gets in the way of the quality time that is needed for a family to bond together - for better or worse. As they say, a family that freezes together, sticks together.
Firstly, what is a Family Holiday? In my own words, it is that costly year-end trip that the entire family goes on, that you might spend up to 6 months planning, an equal amount of time saving for, that comes too slowly, zooms by too quickly, you eat too much, walk too far, sleep too little, argue more than usual, get stressed planning, get stressed packing, get stressed flying, get stressed finding your way around with 12 pieces of luggage while crossing busy streets and squeezing on to trains, get stressed driving through unfamiliar streets which are narrow and icy, get too cold, get too hot, wish it was warmer, then come back and wish it was cooler, feel thankful you made it back home alive, want to do it all over again, regret not adding on an extra few days to relax and enjoy the holiday.
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| Property hunting in Japan - looking for our first castle. |
Should you do it? Of course you should. Once the kids go to school, the daily grind of homework, tuition, exams and other nonsense really gets in the way of the quality time that is needed for a family to bond together - for better or worse. As they say, a family that freezes together, sticks together.