Holidays are here again!

It's that time of year again!  Excitement is in the air (or is it just a much needed thunder storm?).  Everyone is feeling slightly ragged.  The kids are tired.  The parents and teachers more so.  Somehow, we are all hanging in there, desperate for the slightly euphoric experience that is the last school run of the school year.   Our thoughts turn to holidays....

Holidays pre-children are like a hazy memory.  A holiday with children is a somewhat different experience.  I always think it's rather like that phrase "a change is as good as a rest".  Or at least, that's what I tell myself.  Because holidays with young children aren't exactly relaxing.  That's not to say they aren't enjoyable.  Hence the change, if not rest.

What do I love about holidays with kids?  I love the chance to visit attractions like theme parks and pretend it's all "just for the kids" when really you are having just as much fun.  I love that the simple things are fun like sitting on the beach and having an ice cream.  I have happily learnt to love that going out of an evening isn't a requirement to a good holiday.  As long as we have Rumikub, Boggle, ice cream and some booze it's all good.  I love just being away from home for a bit, being somewhere where I don't have to worry so much about house work!

What don't I love about holidays with kids?  I don't particularly enjoy long journeys.  I've learnt various ways to make journeys easier; plenty of stops, in car activities, giving out travel sickness meds, having lots of plastic bags (for unexpected vomit!) towels, wet wipes, changes of clothing at the ready, audio books and kid friendly music, endless snacks and water.  I also intensly dislike the arrival home.  The husband is usually worn out from driving.  The kids are tetchy and desperate to run around even if it's 8pm.. and I'm itching to un pack, clean the car and get the washing on.. and then I need another holiday.  A REAL holiday ;-)

We have had some lovely holidays since we've had our boys.  We've holidayed in France three times, in Cornwall, Yorkshire, Centreparcs, Wales, Devon.  We've taken long car journeys (5 hours to Yorkshire).  We've been on the Ferry (travel sickness tablets required for husband and Ethan.  A lot of pushing a buggy around a deck for me).  We have yet to take the boys on a plane.  I've loved all of our holidays.  They have all provided us with something a bit different.  Sometimes, like this year, we go back to somewhere we've been many times before.  This year we are taking the boys to the Isle of Wight.  The last time we were there, six years ago, I was heavily pregnant with Ethan.  The IoW is somewhere I've told Ethan about many times.  It's a place my parents took me to many times.  Pete and I have holidayed there 3 times ourselves.  Blackgang Chine is a family tradition.  We can't wait to share it with the boys.

Pete and I have always talked about the different kinds of holidays we'd like to take in the future.  We want to take the boys to the states, recreate our honeymoon.  One day I'd love to visit relatives in Australia.  Something we both like the idea of is trying a cruise one day.  I don't think we'd mind where the cruise went.  We just love the idea of being on a huge ship (as long as hubby can control the sickness!!).  I've always associated cruises with older people and couples but these days there are just as many which are family focused.  Which is just as well, because, let's face it, our boys will be holidaying with us for a long time yet!  I quite like the idea of a Mediterranean cruise that gets close to Africa.  Just imagine the food!

5 am on a Ferry Face!

How have you found holidays since having children?  What are your favorite family friendly holidays?