Our family recently packed up clothing, food and all the outdoor, winter gear we own to embark on a snowy family getaway to the mountains. We have this favorite town tucked at the base of a snow-covered mountain that makes for the perfect destination. A quaint town, a rustic cabin with a brilliant view, and days of trekking around in the snow make for a great vacation.
Family vacations are an important tradition for so many reasons. Today, let’s unpack some of those reasons. And, because the town our family visited started with an “R” (actually, 2!) I will only use words that begin with the letter “r.”
Reasons for FAMILY Vacation
1. Rest: Families spend so much time going in so many different directions, or at least ours seems to! Work, school related activities, extracurricular activities, time with friends (so many friends!!) and church seems to fill our days with so many activities. While all of these “things” as so great, (not to mention the people too!) they can become overwhelming and exhausting. A family vacation is the perfect time to slow down, sleep in, and rest weary bodies.
2. Refresh: With all that resting, all members of the family are refreshed and ready to return to the daily grind post vacation. An annual or bi-annual trip should never be an option for busy families, rather it should be the rule!
3. Reconnect: During the time spent away from the daily routines of life, family members have more time to remember why they enjoy and love one another. Without the stress of work, school or chores, it truly is easier to focus on WHO matters most! Often times on our family vacations, we will pick a focal activity (like skiing) to fill up most of our time. The rest of the time is unplanned, open for talking, playing games or watching movies together!
4. Remember: Our family has a few favorite repeat family vacation locations: mountains, beach, east coast (to visit extended family.) Each time we return to one of these locations, we are often reminded of years past, vacations that happened and memories during those special times. It is such a joy to make purposeful time to reflect on the memories over the years.
5. Reignite: A family vacation is always beneficial for the entire family, but I often think it is most important for the parents! In our family, my husband and I are often working hard to do so many good things that sometimes we forget that we still need to reconnect in a non-business partner sort of way. On a daily basis, we will run over the events of our days and weeks, sharing the details of responsibilities and upcoming tasks that need to be done, but we often overlook the fact that we love each other. Family getaways often make extra time for spouses to reignite the love they have.
Truly, family vacation should be a vital part of any family’s year. It should be a non-negotiable, as it is a special time to focus on those you love and purposefully spend time together. It doesn’t have to be lavish or include a jam-packed agenda. Just a fun place for your family to get away from the daily grind and REUNITE.
Check out some video footage of our vacation to Red River:
Want to read more? Check out these blog posts:
An Unexpected Trip
Don’t have time for a full vacation? Try a DAY-vacation!
