Oh, I love this so much and recognize so much here, this line especially: "you wonder what are we even doing all together on this trip? We could be in bad moods at home!" (In my case this was not wondering but actually yelling "THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE VACATIONS!" Not one of my finest mom moments.)
But! So many wonderful moments, too, and now I want to be like lit-from-within Sandra living an exactly right life and boating across a deep-or-maybe-not-deep lake and admiring churches that might be okay in Des Moines but are stunning in Switzerland. And OMG, your youngest's incandescent friendliness and your oldest's milk shoes. Did you end up throwing them away? I can't imagine you could ever get that smell out.
The milk shoes, like this trip, are a memory now ;) And finest mom moments are not the stuff of vacations methinks! Or even good stories! The low points are so often what get elevated over the years. And you know: for our purposes, as Nora said, everything is copy!
I always delight in your detailed reads, Irena. Thank you❤️
Thank you so much for reading, Laurie❤️ (…and I just read your bio and now see you’d understand the accomplishment factor of this trip better than most ;)
You completely captured the bittersweet truth of traveling with children as they grow up. Somehow those memories we create are more distilled and evocative than the every day memories of home, perhaps the reason I always want to travel!
And, Schuyler and I were at that same Audrey Hepburn pizza place just over a week ago! She had no idea who Audrey Hepburn was!?!
Can’t believe you went to that restaurant! Hopefully no table wrestling? And since this trip was blessedly uncomplicated, I now fully understand your travel drive. Nothing better❤️
They were! She loves them and I think will ultimately drive them down to pennies per wear ;) We had such a magical time with you -- all to be told in part 2 ❤️
Oh Jen, it is so timely that I just now read this post from you. It is beautifully written and evocative as always and it hit a particularly meaningful note for me just today. In just a few hours we are leaving on an overseas family trip of our own ...with our three grown kids in their 30's, their spouses, and our 3 year old grandaughter and 1 year old grandson. These family trips have been an almost yearly event for the part 30 years - each one different, each one special, each one trying at times, but each trip something we all treasure. Knowing your family, I am willing to bet that you will have more family trips in your future also - and as your "core " family grows your appreciation of the experience of family tourism will expand right along with you. Here's to new adventures for us all!
Oh, I love this so much and recognize so much here, this line especially: "you wonder what are we even doing all together on this trip? We could be in bad moods at home!" (In my case this was not wondering but actually yelling "THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE VACATIONS!" Not one of my finest mom moments.)
But! So many wonderful moments, too, and now I want to be like lit-from-within Sandra living an exactly right life and boating across a deep-or-maybe-not-deep lake and admiring churches that might be okay in Des Moines but are stunning in Switzerland. And OMG, your youngest's incandescent friendliness and your oldest's milk shoes. Did you end up throwing them away? I can't imagine you could ever get that smell out.
The milk shoes, like this trip, are a memory now ;) And finest mom moments are not the stuff of vacations methinks! Or even good stories! The low points are so often what get elevated over the years. And you know: for our purposes, as Nora said, everything is copy!
I always delight in your detailed reads, Irena. Thank you❤️
Beautiful and witty. You manage to capture the sweet with the bittersweet. Loved it.
Thank you so much for reading, Laurie❤️ (…and I just read your bio and now see you’d understand the accomplishment factor of this trip better than most ;)
Bio? I didn't know I had one?
You completely captured the bittersweet truth of traveling with children as they grow up. Somehow those memories we create are more distilled and evocative than the every day memories of home, perhaps the reason I always want to travel!
And, Schuyler and I were at that same Audrey Hepburn pizza place just over a week ago! She had no idea who Audrey Hepburn was!?!
Can’t believe you went to that restaurant! Hopefully no table wrestling? And since this trip was blessedly uncomplicated, I now fully understand your travel drive. Nothing better❤️
Love this! Not every minute was fabulous—but all together a magical family trip! So fun to imagine all of you in these scenarios! Thanks for sharing 🥰
Very magical, and the less than fabulous parts end up being funny (or at least fodder!).
Love this post, especially your combo of humor and wisdom!
Thank you, Jill!
Please please tell me the replacement trainers were a success! Can't tell you how much I enjoyed that shopping visit! Xxx
They were! She loves them and I think will ultimately drive them down to pennies per wear ;) We had such a magical time with you -- all to be told in part 2 ❤️
Oh Jen, it is so timely that I just now read this post from you. It is beautifully written and evocative as always and it hit a particularly meaningful note for me just today. In just a few hours we are leaving on an overseas family trip of our own ...with our three grown kids in their 30's, their spouses, and our 3 year old grandaughter and 1 year old grandson. These family trips have been an almost yearly event for the part 30 years - each one different, each one special, each one trying at times, but each trip something we all treasure. Knowing your family, I am willing to bet that you will have more family trips in your future also - and as your "core " family grows your appreciation of the experience of family tourism will expand right along with you. Here's to new adventures for us all!