I took the girls ‘Up North’ over Mother’s Day weekend for a little three day getaway. Yes, my gift for Mother’s Day was having to get in swimsuit grooming condition so we could swim AS MUCH AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. That’s what you wanted for Mother’s Day too, right?
Anyway, we had a blast actually but in case you were considering taking your kids on vacation by yourself – I’ve come up with some handy tips!
1. Hire/pay/beg a responsible looking teenager to swim with your kids. Seriously, it’s a known fact that moms don’t swim with their kids if they have an option out of it. There I was the lone mom in the pool for FIVE HOURS while the other moms sat there with their bloody mary’s and People magazines and they would occasionally wave to their husbands in the water with their wet offspring. I got a few ‘Oh I’m so sorry your husband couldn’t make the trip and you had to put on a suit. Thanks for taking one for the team!’
2. Vacation at a place with a buffet restaurant. Seriously, there are no fights when there’s a buffet and no empty stomachs. Also make sure some of your kid traveling companions are old enough to get their own food as I’ve been down that “balancing four plates at a buffet” road and it ain’t pretty.
3. When you travel with your spouse you usually put the kids to bed early and ask for a suite so you can have some alone time/down time/twitter time without kids at the end of the day..but when you travel single parent style you let your older kids stay up FOREVER just for the company and because you don’t have WiFi and aren’t sure what to do with yourself anyway.
4. Forget that talking/road game crap that everyone brags about on long road-trips – give 9 year old the MacBook, 7 year old the DVD player and 2 year old the iPad and no one makes a peep for the whole drive. (This also allows you to listen to any music you want)
5. To entice your children out of the pool(and you out of your swimsuit) buy them anything they want from the gift store – logo t-shirt –’It’s yours!’, tacky shot-glasses –”Yours!”, plastic Native American doll – - “You will treasure this forever!”
Have you solo-vacationed and did you have to swim? I’m so sorry.
******
Disclosure: Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge generously provided my family with a three day Mother’s Day weekend getaway in one of their lakeside cabins, but all words and opinions are mine. It was truly a magical weekend. I’ve never been there before and we will for sure go back and recommend it to everyone! We usually go to a cabin in Northern Minnesota – but that usually means it’s not really a vacation for me as I still have to cook, clean, grocery shop, etc…where Rutgers is a completely relaxing vacation for everyone because they provide all of your meals at the lodge and the restaurant was unbelievable. Eloise said she wants to eat every meal for the rest of her life there! It was just so nice not to have to think about doing anything but having fun! Their pools, beaches, marina, golf courses and organized activities are also amazing. Seriously, I cannot rave enough about Ruttger’s service, accommodations and the all around total vacation experience. It’s like an old-time experience with modern conveniences. It was exactly what we were looking for. They’ve earned a customer for life.
HA HA HA….absolutely fabulous! AND..since I was pondering taking my “3′s a charm” solo, up north, I am grateful for these tips!!!
You are my hero. I’d never even consider doing this solo parenting vacation style. NO WAY.
I’m all for the DVD player, Macbook and iPad as distractions. Go technology!
Alison@Mama Wants This recently posted..Random Thoughts
This is hilarious, but your tips are right on the money! Thanks for sharing! I’ve never done a solo-vacation– my girls are too small at this point. But I’m bookmarking this for future reference.
Jessica recently posted..Stay at Home Mom vs. Working Mom
I’m pretty sure I’ll never take my kids on vacation without Scott. Unless they consider our backyard a resort. Glad y’all had fun.
Alex@LateEnough recently posted..I Wear Not-Feeling Like A Badge
Being a single mom I get the swimming thing and tell my kids before we go swimming that Mommy doesn’t go in the pool so don’t even ask! Nothing is more exhausting than a vacation as a single mom…which isn’t a vacation actually at all!
Lee recently posted..Stopping the Cycle: Seeing My Dad through My Mother’s Eyes
WOW – what a fabulous looking place! Pampered sounds perfect. No cooking and nothing to clean up would be my type of vacation. So glad you could spend that type of a weekend during Mother’s Day. What a treat.
Sounds like a nice trip! I contemplated vacationing alone with the girls at the beach over Memorial Day weekend, but I chickened out and invited my parents along. My dad will be like a 4th kid to take care of, but at least with my mom there, I have another adult. I will definitely be donning a swimsuit and in the pool/ocean though!
Ann recently posted..Sorely Overdue Easter Post
I solo-mom’ed a vacation to New Mexico once with my kids when they were babies, and I ended up crying on the second flight leg before we even got there, seated next to a child psychologist of all people. (hold me) Sounds like you have it down way better than I ever did. Good tips
Pamela recently posted..Is the indie journey for you?
Ok this place looks amazing! We are not that fare from Minnesota. If we go, can I mention that I read your blog and they will give me the star treatment or a discount?
Jen recently posted..Seduced by the Machine
Sounds like you had a great time despite being solo!
Doing my first solo trip in July. Technically its at my parents house so it will only be solo during the day when they’re at work … So really its not going to be that bad.
Marta recently posted..Wet. Wild. Water.
I’m a sucker for audiobooks on road trips, but, unfortunately, my two year old son is a stickler for listening to Elmo. Seriously. I’ll even listen to kid-friendly audiobooks . . . but I can’t, if he’s awake and in the car.
Booo.
Though, something tells me that he’ll, eventually, be far more into a laptop/iPad/whatever.
And I really, really try to make it a habit to go nowhere that I might have to take my pants off when I’m outnumbered by the kids. Reading that you survived a vacation with yours leave me truly in awe of you (seriously, though I know that sounds like a snarky retort)
John recently posted..Where I dust off this old blog of mine
The best summer of my life was the one when my kids not only COULD swim entirely by themselves but no longer WANTED me in the pool or ocean or lake with them.
I think it was four years ago.
You must have heard the angels singing…
julie gardner recently posted..Then and Now
Thank you for number 4. I get in this argument with friends all the time. They have this old fart thing about it was good enough for us and our parents. And I am like, Dude, if your parents had had an iPad or DVD player when driving to the Grand Canyon in 1984, you wouldn’t have looked out the window once.
Duffy recently posted..Girly Girly Results
That sounds like a great Mother’s Day break apart from not being able to recline on a sun-lounge and sip cocktails while reading trashy magazines. I also let my husband do all the watery stuff when we’re holidaying.
Hotly Spiced recently posted..Nudity Has Its Advantages
That is seriously awesome that you did that with your kids. They owe you big time now.
Marinka recently posted..Insert Week In Review Post Here
this is why you’re an awesome mom and I’m a shit mom…
I hardly saw my kids all day on Mother’s Day…by choice.
Nope, I wanted none of that mothering nonsense
LOVE Ruttgers!
mommylisa recently posted..A Brand New Silly Sonnet
Ahh four and five are so near and dear to my hearts. If only the five month old could use an ipad.
Barbara recently posted..First Flight
Love the post, and LOVE that you got away!
Galit Breen recently posted..A Storm in the Night
Last summer, my girlfriends and I went on the most relaxing vacation in the Florida Keys. We found an incredible rental in the awesome Ocean Reef Community in Key Largo. Elaine knew Bob from Swenson & Ecuyer Realty and he found us this perfect condo right on the breathtaking Marina. Bob and his team provided excellent concierge service, that catered to our every needs. We did everything… scuba diving, tennis, sailing, golfing, etc.. The experience was amazing! You should check them out at http://www.swensonrealty.com or call 3053673600.