Taking the Kids™
Making Multi-Generation Gatherings Work
Forget about cooking for the family and washing their dishes. Skip sleeping on the lumpy sofa bed in your sister-in-law's family room. Give up trying to entertain a bunch of squabbling, impossible-to-please kids.
There’s a better way to get together with the family - simply make the gathering a bona fide vacation, even if only a long weekend at a nearby hotel.
We’re not talking huge reunions, but rather an average of seven people who want to spend time together and don't want to be responsible for housing, feeding and entertaining the bunch. Instead, meet in Orlando, on a cruise ship, a ski resort (in summer or winter) at the beach or your favorite city. It’s as much about sharing the experience as about where you go. Here’s how to make it work:
- EVERYONE ON BOARD with the idea, whether to celebrate a special anniversary, birthday or simply the holidays.
- PLAN AHEAD months, if not a year in advance, so that there are as few conflicts as possible with school, camp and work schedules. You’ll also get the best deals when you book early.
- DESIGNATE one member of the family to be the organizer-in-chief, dealing with airlines, hotels, resorts and cruise lines. They can negotiate group discounts.
- FUN FOR EVERYBODY is the motto. Plan to meet someplace that will offer activities for each member of the gang, whether they’re two, 12 or 82. Don’t expect grandma to baby-sit all day either!
- GET WIRED to make planning and communicating easier. Trading information online is the quickest and most efficient way to organize a trip like this.
- ENOUGH BATHROOMS are essential as is room to spread out and even get away from the gang. This is not the trip to skimp on space, especially for grandma and grandpa. Make sure there are enough cabins, hotel rooms or condos so that everyone is comfortable.
- DON’T FORGET THE KIDS and plan with their needs in mind, whether booking a sitter so the adults can share some time together, meeting at a resort with organized children’s activities, or picking a place that holds some appeal to the teens. No one other than their parents should discipline them either. The happier the kids, the more successful the trip.
- BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR who is paying for what. Make sure the cost is acceptable to everyone. You don’t want any big surprises at the end of the trip or arguments over the dinner check.
- COMPROMISE COUNTS when the whole family is together. Maybe you’d rather stay in fancier digs. Maybe you’d rather camp. Maybe you’d rather tour Paris than take a cruise. This isn’t your once-in-a-lifetime trip. It’s a celebration of family.
- LIGHTEN UP and don’t snipe about careers, child rearing or anyone’s weight. Focus on what you love about each other.
By: Eileen Ogintz
