Family Vacation? Ugh
When the getaway that used to excite your child now bores her, it's time to let go.
The drive from Norway to Paris zipped by. Sure, the tiny Maine towns are only about 5 miles apart on Route 26. But time raced mostly because my 13-year-old daughter and I were truly enjoying ourselves. This was a rare road trip. Laura usually has to share the Passat's back seat with Licorice, our space-hogging goldendoodle. On this occasion, my wife stayed home with the dog, so it was just the two of us making the four-hour drive from Plymouth to visit my sister and her family.
I figured this chunk of father-daughter time might lead to the kind of deep conversation we never seem to have these days -- school, relationships, the long-term outlook for crude oil. But we had barely left the driveway when Laura turned on her iPod. "Tell me when we're going to stop to eat," she said. I surrendered to the monotony of driving while she settled into an aural cocoon. Eventually, though, the earbuds came off and Laura talked about her preferred New England destinations ("I like Vermont towns better than New Hampshire and Maine"), the paucity of worthy roadside restaurants ("Eggcetera? I'll pass"), and why she should be allowed a decaf coffee (the trip was a special occasion).
Family vacations break the spell of everyday routines. They get us out of what can be a discomfort zone, especially for those with teenagers: home. But I know the day is coming when the prospect of going away with her parents will be as appealing to Laura as a pop quiz. For me, that age was 17. That's when I was allowed to decline my parents' invitations to spend weekends at Lake Winnipesaukee. Five years earlier, those beach-side cottage plans would have kept me awake at night in anticipation.
Laura and I never did broach any "important" subjects during our Maine trek. But that was fine. Being together was enough, even if she paid more attention to Lady GaGa on her iPod than me.
"I'm having fun," I said as we left Paris.
"Me, too," she said, slipping her earbuds back on.
Question of the week:
Is your teenager trying to worm out of spending family time together?
Next week > Getting toddlers to eat vegetables
LAST WEEK > Has your child envied another's looks?
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