Skip the disappointment on your next family vacation

Dear Friends,

Summer often means family vacation! This much-anticipated, special time together can unfortunately easily become tainted by frustration, hurt, and disappointment. 

An easy way to prevent this from happening is to have each family member create a vacation bucket list before you leave. Everyone will then have a chance to reflect on what’s most important to them and share their wishes. This allows for planning and creating expectations before you even pull out of the driveway.

And it prevents surprises, like your spouse finding out mid-trip that your goal is to read five books in a week. Knowing wishes in advance helps your family make plans and prioritize (achievable) bucket list items.

How to make this achievable:

1. Think about what’s important to you (there are no points for opting out; this is your vacation too)

2. Ask each family member to reflect on what's important to them and what they want to do to make their bucket lists. 

3. Make it all official by writing it down! Is it building sand castles with the siblings, going fishing, reading a book, taking naps, playing minigolf, suntanning, sleeping in, playing family games, getting a massage, going to a special restaurant, etc. In my family, we generally share anywhere from three to six items each.

When we communicate our wants and needs from the onset and lead with intention, we can have the vacation and make the memories we dream of.

Already had your trip or not going on a family vacation this summer? Create your bucket list right where you are now. Try asking: what are five things you’d like to do this summer? Visit a new swimming hole, make s'mores, see a movie in a theatre, watch the sunrise, or is there a new ice cream place you’d like to try?

You still have time! Don’t let the summer fly by without making the memories you want to have with your family.

Oh, and if one of your goals is to build more IRL (in real life) friendships and community for you and your family, I’d love for you to join me, Lenore Skenazy of Let Grow, and Holly Moscatiello of The Balance Project for an upcoming webinar, The Lost Art of Hanging Out, on July 29th at 7pm ET.

You can find out more details and register here!

PS: You already know my favorite way to build community is through micro-local neighborhood gatherings (aka block parties). If you’re interested in learning more about organizing a block party for your neighborhood, join me on a free Zoom Office Hours on July 30th at 3pm. You can register here and get the link!