Home is where the vacation is

While our numerous family road trips have never gone as planned, the one thing I could count on was they would be fun. One way or another, we’ve always enjoyed whatever was in front of us. Among the unexpected turns, experimental adventures and joyful missteps, we’ve always laughed together and moved on with the trip. If nothing else, we’ve come home with some entertaining stories—the family anecdotes our kids can hold onto and maybe even share with their own children someday. 

Our last trip was the anomaly. There was no traumatic event to set the stage, but smiles were a struggle. Not one of us walked away with some reflective bit of wisdom or amusing memory—nothing. No matter what remedy we tried, no one had a good time on our road trip.

I can’t fully explain it, but I know that as Anika approaches the allegedly terrible age of 2 one thing remains clear: Nothing brings her more joy than playing with bubbles in our own backyard. No matter how often I tell myself the kids will savor a family fun weekend of traveling, the truth is nothing beats backyard bubbles.

I came to the conclusion that it was time to stop fighting myself. I couldn’t figure out why we kept choosing to spend all this money to travel. And why we were taking time off work, stressing about the planning, forcing the kids into the car and driving for hours. All this to introduce the kids to a new place where all they want is to do is paint the town—with bubbles.

The new plan
I don’t know the answers to those questions, but I know one thing. We’re over it! If we are doing it for the kids, and even they aren’t enjoying it all that much, how hard is it to say we’re not doing it anymore?
I’m taking the lead from my 2-year-old and instituting a new approach to long family weekends: the Staycation. We will spend our time off “vacationing” in our own home. It’s the perfect destination: a backyard, bubbles, even a bubble machine. What child could ask for more?

Staycation amenities
One week after we made the decision, my summer birthday was on its way. All I wanted to do to celebrate was pitch a tent and “camp” with our kids in our yard.

When I got home from work, I saw my birthday present: a new tent set up in our backyard. I peeked in to see one adult sleeping bag and two Disney sleeping bags. I told Nate we were missing one adult sleeping bag, and he quickly replied he “doesn’t sleep on the ground.” We’ll have to work with that.

Now, let me share a little about our yard. We live in the heart of the city, with a standard city backyard (maybe smaller), a few houses away from the busiest street in our vibrant neighborhood—a street that doesn’t seem to sleep much, if at all.

While Nate and I have long been in love with our neighborhood, there was more than one person who gave us a confused look as we prepared for our night “out.” I packed a small bag and was insistent that we all stay outside, except for bathroom breaks (it is still the city after all).

Are we there yet?
I’m not sure if I believe in omens, but as we were preparing for our “trip,” I noticed something in the kiddie pool. I thought it was a toy, but as I looked closer I saw it was a stiff, floating squirrel. I rushed the girls inside, but they still saw it. Maybe this is why we rent hotels with indoor pools after all.

After we brushed off the creeps, we had a nice dinner cookout and conversations about life, death and pool safety. Then the weather took a turn for the worst. Rain was in the forecast and we could smell it in the air.

I was raised a wilderness camper: The sun was our light bulb, the rivers and lakes our running water, a canoe our transportation and the night sky our entertainment. A little (or a lot of) rain doesn’t scare me. But I felt Mia and Anika were too young to appreciate the outdoors if it was raining. I chose to have our first family camping experience on a nicer night and we ran inside.

Retreat, repeat, refresh
Dripping hair and all, we vowed to try again. The next day Anika skipped her nap, which never precedes an easy night, so we, again, stayed inside. After two days of excuses, Nate took down the tent to mow the lawn.

I designated the next nice day from the weather forecast to be a camp out and then wrote it on the calendar. That night, in beautiful weather, the kids chased bubbles through the yard until the sun set. I caught up on some reading and set up our three sleeping bags, three pillows, three flashlights and a small diaper bag.

It was refreshing to sit with the kids without the television on, the radio playing or even the phone ringing. There was no technology, no toys, just three girls, talking and giggling all night long. It was our very own slumber party.

As the sun fell, Anika quickly dozed off, leaving Mia and me to make up flashlight games, alphabet games, question games and shadow animal games. Mia eventually fell asleep, and I read a few chapters of a book before doing the same. As I continued relaxing, I realized how many small holes the dog digs in the yard when we’re not looking.

All in all, it was a great night. We each woke up a few times but went back to sleep. Uneven ground and all, it may have been the best night’s sleep I’ve had in some time. Our staycation was a success and I anticipate more of them to come.

The next morning, I received an e-mail from my sister-in-law, asking when we were going to bring the family to visit her in Minneapolis. Even though I put a ban on travel, it’s hard to say no. We’ll continue to do more staycations this year, but maybe one more, tiny road trip to Minneapolis won’t hurt anyone ….