Summer Vacation: Destinations?

Does the kids' school break equate to travel?  Should it?  Should vacation time mean going and doing or staying and playing?  Should we spend two and a half months, and an equal amount of income, traveling and frequenting parks, zoos, arcades and amusement parks?

In our home, the kids have officially been on summer break for about three weeks, with nearly eight weeks remaining. This is basically new to our family, the idea of an actual vacation scheduled by someone else. We have homeschooled the last four years, so flexibility was all ours! Yesterday, our son asked "What are we going to do this summer?"  Me, a bit confused with the intention of his question, asked "What do you mean?"  He replies "Well, it's summer, we should do fun stuff". First let me make it known that he is a teen. Yes, that does explain a lot. However, next I would like to mention just what both school aged kids have done since the first of June (either with us or with my friend and her kids) . Let's see, we have been to Orange County Historical Museum,  World's Largest Entertainment McDonald's and PlayPlace, they have been bowling three times total, to the movies twice (well, three times for the teen that was questioning future activities), and on a week long vacation to New York State. Hmmm. Apparently we should have started slower, you know, "lower the bar" so to speak.

Truly, here's the deal; we live in Florida, every day is like vacation. The sun rarely hides it's face, we have a beautiful pool in our back yard, we can go to parks anytime of the year. Plus, we live in Central Florida so there literally is no end to the things we can do, from Disney and all the other amusement parks, to zoos, museums, beautiful county parks; the list goes on. But, it all costs money, right?

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.            Psalm 118:24

As kids, we loved summer vacation! But honestly, everything was more of a "treat" to us then. First off, growing up in very northern New York we obviously enjoyed the warm weather which usually showed up about the time school released. Then things like going to the park were not even weekly events, by any means. I remember my Dad always saved ALL of his vacation for the month of July. That was our going and doing time. The remainder of the summer we just enjoyed being kids, we knew how to make the most of each day. We knew how to stay busy, because a bored child quickly became a working child in our home. Summer days usually looked a lot like this: some morning chores, lots of play, and very little television, and T.V. was the only screen we had when I was a kid and teen (yes, I know I'm dating myself, but if you read my entry "Mature Parenting", I already gave away my age ).

Truly, though, things are so very different for our kids than they were for me growing up. We lived in the country, and things were safer, we had way more freedom than we can allow our kids. Also, growing up with nine siblings always afforded someone to play with. Variety of activities can prove to be a bit of a challenge. The weather is so beautiful (actually brutally hot and humid) some days, that the only comfortable outdoor activity is anything in the pool area. We swim a lot. Other daytime hours are usually filled up with indoor fun.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

So, I believe, though times have changed, principles and common sense remain the same; a good balance of work, play, friends and travel or day outings should fill out the summer months. All things in moderation.

It seems worth mentioning that when I began listing all of our activities thus far, the teenager in the house agreed, it's been a pretty busy summer to date, and our tween, she said, "Summer should be fun, and mine has been already!"

Personally, I am enjoying summer break, I am looking forward to several trips to the beach, zoo, and some of the county parks. Feel free to comment below on what summer vacation looks like at your house. 

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