DAD_Chronicals : Holiday with two children - that changes

bembelmaniac (65)in #steemiteducation • 6 years ago

Holiday with two children - that changes

Even the first holiday with a child is a big change for young parents. But the first trip with two children is another completely new experience.

For us as young parents, our first holiday as a family was already an experience with many new insights and insights about us and traveling with children in general. A few weeks ago, we came home from our first holiday home and now report on our experience from the first holiday with two children at the age of 4 years or 10 months.

Already in the run-up it was clear to us - holiday four will change

Already on a trip to our parents, we realized that longer car rides would not be as easy as before. After two and a half hours of driving, our little one loudly answered the backseat. Even after a meal break, she started screaming again. We stopped again and my wife nursed the baby again. After a while, she fell asleep again - but a drive of four hours usually had become one in six hours. We did not have this problem with the first child - my wife was still sitting in the back seat to keep or feed the offspring when needed.

After this trip, we asked ourselves what the first vacation should look like. It would not be easy. We did not really want to make a plane trip. That would not have been relaxing either. A too long road trip after these experiences also not. We talked to some parents at the playground, what they did and what worked out. A mother recommended a ride to one of the campsites in front of Venice - with scarcely 6 hours drive the next way to the sea from us. We decided to book a bungalow there - and started planning.

Luggage like when leaving Egypt - what to do?

Our family car burst at the weekend almost to the parents almost at the seams. How could that be only if we pack instead of for 4 days for 14 days and in addition to the prams would also take bathing clothes? We did not want to buy a new car, so we decided to buy a roof rack and the accompanying box. The right decision, as it turns out.

The packing itself turned out to be significantly more time-consuming than before. Everything you would need for a baby abroad (including the usual diapers and jars) and what a toddler needs in addition. Because we are in the off season drove also clothes for warm and cooler weather. My mother used to say, "as with the exodus from Egypt." How right she was. For this we quickly realized that the children are more of a hindrance when packing. So the luggage was straightened while the children were in care.

Speaking of care - to relieve my wife and me something we decided to rent a larger bungalow and then invite our neighbors and then the parents-in-law. In this way, we would certainly have a little time together - so the hope.

The outward journey - with a surprise, but few stress moments

In advance, we had some thoughts about the travel time. We wanted to drive so that the chance would be great that the kids would sleep and we would not get stuck in a traffic jam (our horror: traffic jam, heat and screaming kids). On the other hand, we decided not to drive at night so we would not have to wait too long to get to our bungalow. So we started early in the morning - the car and the roof box we had already packed the night before. We drove over the Brenner - the route that I knew and in which I was sure that I could drive well in the early morning (tip: on the way back we drove over Villach - in my opinion the even more stress-free route).

Everything went really well. Only at the height of Lake Garda did the little one come in (the big one slept or was entertained with cartoons and food) and we stopped at an "autogrill". When we lifted out, we noticed that the diaper of our little ones had not kept - and immediately afterwards, that we had no spare outfit at hand. The clothing of our youngest member of the family was actually buried in the car - where the spare tire should have been. As a parent, you learn to be flexible. So our youngest got the replacement outfit of her three year older sister. It was very casual ... We had learned something - traveling for each child to have spare clothes handy.

Thirty minutes after the first long stop, the little one spoke again and we had to stop a second time. After intensive refueling at Mama's chest, we were able to drive through to the resort near Jesolo. All in all, the ride was better than expected.

On the spot - not much rest, but fun

At the campsite we moved into our bungalow (not lush, but well equipped and very nice) and started the holiday. We had good luck with the weather, so we were almost only to sleep in the house. It was eaten on the terrace.

It soon turned out that we parents did not get more sleep on vacation than at home - the neighbors did not turn out to be morning people and were only accessible to the children from the late morning. But our neighbor cooked very well for everyone so we had nice - and reasonably priced - shared dinners on the terrace.

For the child care on site our "great" was only very rarely enthusiastic - and if, then only by the hour. As a stroke of luck, however, it turned out that on the second day she met another girl of the same age on the beach. The parents were also very nice and our stay turned out to be the same. For the next two weeks, the girls were inseparable and played together on the beach or pool, which allowed us parents each a little break.

The time for two - or at least two and a half - my wife and I had hoped for, unfortunately did not arise. When we had planned a dinner together away, our "big one" rebelled so much that we decided to have a meal for four in the campsite restaurant. That was not romance or "time out".

We did not have many quiet minutes for adults - I did not even get an hour of audiobook a day. But the kids had fun at the beach or pool. The food - pizza and pasta - was very kid friendly and the kids disco in the evening a treat for everyone. A highlight for us adults was a day trip to Venice - and for the children, the trip by boat was a real experience.

The first holiday with two children - a conclusion

The holiday was not a real recovery for us parents - but maybe we were hoping for too much too. The bungalow in Italy was a complete success - short drive, great weather, good food, very kid friendly locals and everything at fair prices. We will probably repeat this next year. But then probably really four ;-)

Finally, a tip to all parents in the same situation: plans well and does not expect too much - especially not necessarily rest for you. Just keep it, try not to stress yourself. When the kids had fun, things went well. In retrospect, the effort is forgotten, but the memory of a great holiday with many great moments remains.

How did your first holiday with two children go? Do you have tips that you want to share? I'm looking forward for comments.