2,500 kilometres.
3 states.
4 stopovers.
When I first started blogging I wrote a post about my guilt over not having had any family holidays for a long time (it’s been about four years), I’m over the guilt, we are never leaving the house again.
Note to parents of young children, don’t waste money and energy on giving them experiences to remember. They don’t remember. We ended up at the snow this holiday because the children (who were aged 3 and 6 last time we saw snow) can’t remember the trip. Despite the fact I had photos to prove we had been there.
However, the journey up into the mountains was spectacular. Through the bug splattered windscreen we watched the wattle encrusted roadway lead us into some pretty magnificent scenery. Bright yellow canola fields, snow-capped mountains, windswept trees.
The husband and children had a ski lesson. I went to the pub. (That’s not as bad as it sounds, the pub had wifi).
We taught our 3 year-old niece bad habits as revenge for every noisy present our once-childless brother-in-law had given our kids.
We visited our nation’s capital for a fleeting night and caught up with my friend who had shared a flat with me back in the late eighties. Two bottles of champagne and perhaps a little bit too much reminiscing. There are some stories children don’t need to hear about their parents.
We drove from Canberra straight to Leichhardt in Sydney for my bloggers lunch. Despite my concern that we were cutting it fine with an 8.30am departure from Canberra we made it to the cafe at 11.45am, living on the edge! Sarah from What Sarah Did Next, Rachel from The Kids Are All Right and Alana from House Goes Home and House Goes Hollywood had kindly agreed to meet up with this country blogger to share blogging stories. It was great fun that went way too fast. It’s funny how you relate to people through their blogs and when you meet in real-life you can see just how many similarities you share. I missed catching up with Catherine from Farmhouse Home who was also on a quick trip to Sydney, but next time we’ll make it happen!
Then I headed to the hotel I had booked at the last-minute, as we were driving from Canberra to Sydney. We had somehow ended up with a five-star establishment ($300 cheaper than the normal rate at $299 for the night). Is it just me or is five-star not what it used to be? Nice, comfortable, but not oh wow! Maybe I’m just old and jaded.
I had specially booked a hotel with a pool so the kids could go for a swim, unfortunately they hadn’t packed their swimmers. (OK perhaps understandable since we were going to snow country – we really need to talk more).
We ate dinner at the restaurant and it was at this point the realisation hit me that perhaps we weren’t five-star material. The meals were delivered to the table. Princess Child was upset nobody had got chips. “I would have liked some chips” she muttered, “Be quiet and eat your Atlantic Salmon” I retorted.
The waiter seemed to think it important we order a “side” so we went for a salad. Which then saw me madly passing around the bowl insisting “will someone please eat the $9 bowl of lettuce”.
When we returned to the room I realised the children, who had been working hard to keep their mess confined to their suitcases in other people’s homes, had literally exploded their entire wardrobe of clothes across the room.
We had two double beds. The girls argued over the bedclothes and who was stealing too much space. Princess Child ended up on the floor, where she announced she was going to sleep. “I’m paying $299 so you can have a bed, you are not sleeping on the floor” I argued. Eventually each parent had to sleep with a child, just to avoid the murder trial which would have been really bad publicity for the blog.
We struggled on home the next day. The children reluctant to get in the car ever again. But so help me we created memories!!
Atta girl! 🙂
I’ve got to get points for trying.
Nah, I’m not a five-star girl either. I can think of better ways to blow my limited funds! Still, I’m glad you forced the gang to make a detour to Sydney!
I’m glad we did too.
If it is any consolation, your girls WILL remember the family holidays with much fondness when they are older. But it may be when they are much, MUCH older, lol. When they are parents themselves they will have a greater appreciation of what you go through to give children fun ‘holiday’ experiences!
I’m very glad you managed to stopover in Sydney, too – it was a fabulous way to spend an afternoon!
It was indeed fabulous. Yes I’m expecting in another 10 – 20 years they will look at the photos and conjure up some happy memories. By then they will have forgotten the cramps from sitting squashed up in the car for hours. The fights over who was taking up too much space. The endless driving.
Took 2 of my daughters and a friend of theirs to Disneyland 3 years ago (the 3rd daughter was already working there)and my son was smart enough to realize that a trip with 5 women wouldn’t be all that much fun (he’s an intelligent young man)…anyway, they were all in their 20’s and it proved a few things; 1st~even in their 20’s kids are annoying, ungrateful and whiney when on vacation. 2nd~I am so glad I didn’t take them when they were small because I think it was just as exciting as adults and I was a wreck worrying about losing them I can’t imagine how bad it would have been if they were small children. Drinking around the world at Epcot is alot more fun when your children can actually drink with you! ;’) Glad you had the chance to get away with your family!
Oh god they are still annoying, ungrateful and whiney in their 20’s … does this agony never end!! I love the idea of you worried about losing your 20 year-old’s in Disneyland! Also quite attracted to the idea of drinking my way around the world with children old enough to ensure I get home.
Hi Janine, we are knew to your blog, but are already fans. Sometimes it’s the three and four star memories that make us look back fondly. I can even recall a few two stars that were memorable. It’s those imperfect family moments that stay with us always and forever. If you haven’t had a chance to watch the movie “Dan In Real Life” Treat yourself to it. Steve Carrell stars in this beautifully depicted family vacation that becomes a chaotic mess and ends up pinning family members against each other while telling a beautifully crafted love story. When ever I watch this, or read blogs like yours, it takes me back to my childhood, and remember the trips my dad and mom used to take us on. Though they were full of problems, accidents, surprises, they stand out in my mind as the best. We will enjoy keeping up with your posts which we found charming and delightful. Thankyou for allowing us to enjoy your families trip.
Welcome to the Shambles household. Thank you for your lovely comment. Haven’t seen “Dan in Real Life” will have to check it out.
Yay, you’re back. I think I’ve been suffering blog withdrawal symptons!!!
Glad you missed me. I forgot about the Yr 6 Graduation meeting, was relying on you to tell me what happened, but if you were commenting on my blog at 5.35pm then you obviously weren’t there either!!!
My parents used to drag us on family holidays regularly – they were always road trips, and I don’t remember enjoying any of them. These days if I want to go on a holiday we go to one place and stay there! Well done for even giving it a go – you are much braver than me!
You know. I hate to admit it. But you’re totally right about that not remembering anything thing. And I’m worse than most people. I really don’t remember most things before middle school. Every time I need to make a card for somebody from my childhood and want to list some moments that we shared together I call my mother and ask her to remind me what happened. However, I will still take my children (if they exist) to Disney World before they can remember. Probably more for me and less for them.
Also – do you have any idea how I get a picture on your site? I can’t figure out where I need to have a picture uploaded to for it to appear in the avatar…
Hey Chrystina, your comments were showing a avatar previously, but I think you have now changed your email address. Have you linked your new email address to your avatar/gravatar account or your wordpress account? I think when you do that it might fix the problem, because certainly with gravatars they are linked to specific emails?????