It happens everywhere where children are present and flex their wings. We were all children once. Getting into trouble, especially when our parents were away from home. One challenge leads to another and soon enough, trouble is just around the corner. The problem begins to expand as we age. Once we reach adolescence, problems erupt with the start of hormonal changes within our bodies. So what can we parents do when vacation time rolls around?
Of course, the kids will want to head to the big entertainment areas. Roller coasters, fun land, circuses, the list goes on. But what do they gain from a few days on these sites? Fun. They do not need to pay the extreme cost out of pocket. They may not even realize how much these things cost. They just want to go. But then again, what do they get out of this but a little fun?
Our children were lucky when they were little. We couldn’t afford to take them anywhere with a huge price tag. That was out of the question. At first we took them camping in a national park two hours’ drive from their house. We all loved it. We swam in the ocean, jumped off the rocks into a very cold mountain pool and beautiful creek, walked the beaches looking for shells and rocks. They loved the campfire at night, the hoot of the owls in the distance. One year we bought a small inflatable raft for them to use in the big pool in the creek before it emptied into the ocean.
From the store we went to a cabin. One year we talked to the kids and they all agreed to rent a cabin on a lake. What a great idea that turned out to be. Children were now entering adolescence and beginning to notice the opposite sex. They didn’t seem to mind spending two weeks away from their friends. The cabin had room for everyone. We had a small rowboat and float to snorkel while we swam and played on the beach. Our kids loved swimming just like us. In fact, we had to beg them to come to dinner. Another couple of families were in nearby cabins, the children enjoying each other’s company.
For the next five years we rented cabins. The children were becoming pleasant young adults. They didn’t get into trouble or get good grades. They integrated very well into the community. We were so proud of them.
It has been many years. My wife and I still hit the road whenever we can with our motorhome. The grandchildren enjoy the summers with our children. All of ours still hit the road come summers with their kids, dogs and cats, tents and trailers. They still meet up in the same national park when they can.
If we can give one piece of advice to young families starting out in life, it would be to buy a tent. The one you can afford and head to the parks whenever you can. You’ll never regret it.
