As parents we have so much to do and think about, adding vacations is just more stress! Who wants more stress? I sure as hell don’t!!!! Social media adds to that stress by showing us perfect pictures of perfect adventures. I would see those posts and say, “I can’t do that. I can’t afford that! This is NOT the average family’s reality!”

So one day, my husband used Marriott points to book us a staycation in Washington D.C. for the night. Not the most extravagant vacation. BUT… my children’s eyes lite up when we told them the pool was inside. Their minds blown. Pool inside? How is that possible? They loved jumping on the beds (sorry people below us), swimming in the indoor pool in the middle winter, eating dinner in bed, and ordering dessert from room service. They had no idea we were 30 minutes from home, eating delivery from Panera . They still ask if we can stay at a hotel with an indoor pool. My children didn’t notice we weren’t staying at the most extravagant hotel eating the best food. All they really wanted was our TIME. How crazy is that!

My point is that it doesn’t matter where in the world you are, how much money is in your pockets, or if your laundry is put away neatly in drawers. We need to quiet the voices that tell us it’s not enough. Spending time with your children is ENOUGH. You can go hiking in the woods, camp in your backyard or the Redwood Forest. You can be spending a week at a five star resort on a private island or staying at a budget hotel in a small town. Your children aren’t going to remember all the details. What they will remember is mom and dad encouraging them to wear the white fluffy robes and jumping on the beds, ordering the biggest dessert from room service and all the other silly moments you have together. The keyword being, “TOGETHER.” So stop saying to yourself that you don’t have time or you don’t have the money. There are plenty of free/low cost adventures to be had and I’m here to help you discover them.