With the kids spending this week at my parents’ house in Pittsburgh, my husband and I have planned an impromptu mini-vacation to the beach. It has been 12 years since we’ve been to the beach without kids. Despite the fact that the beach is one of the most relaxing vacation spots ever, when you add kids to the mix, it actually can become quite stressful at times.
First, you have the packing. You have to think of every emergency imaginable and then make sure that you pack for it. Did you pack one pair of sweats for each kid in case a freak cold front blows through? Do you have antibiotic cream, allergy cream, anti-itch cream, and band-aids for all types of beach related injuries? Do you have 5 different levels of sun screen, and aloe vera gel? Do you have sandals, flip flops, swimmy shoes, swimmy vest, beach towels, pool toys, and fishing gear? The packing list can go on forever. When you finally get everything stuffed in the van, there’s barely room for the family to sit - let alone sit comfortably.
When we finally get to the beach, I want to walk the beach, but the kids want to play in the pool, which means I have to go and ‘play’ in the pool too.
At the beach, I try not to get dizzy watching three kids, in three different places all the while praying that a shark or giant wave doesn’t get one child while my eyes are focused on another.
Then there’s the ‘sea fishing’ that my son and husband like to do. I have visions of hooks getting stuck in flesh, nasty fish germs on tiny fingers that end up in tiny mouth, giant fish pulling my son and pole off the pier. Those worries are best left to my husband.
After a day filled with sun and sand, the kids have to shower first, or the beds will be filled with sand, which means by the time I get my shower, the hot water is gone and all the towels are soggy.
Then I have to worry about making sure the kids are staying hydrated so they don’t get sun poisoning, keeping their ears drained so they don’t get swimmer’s ear, providing enough ‘healthy’ food so they don’t get stomach aches and….well, the list goes on and on.
So you can see, the fact that tomorrow, my husband and I are going to the beach for three days without our children is truly worthy of some celebration. I’m not quite sure how my husband and I are going to survive this trip without kids. I can tell you this: we will be packing light, VERY light.
