FUTUREPINK.COM March 2008
EASTER HOLS
With the February half term barely behind us, it's time already to start thinking about the Easter holidays. Eeek! Best-selling author and broadcaster Liz Fraser offers some reassuring advice and top tips on surviving the upcoming two weeks of madness...
The most common thing I say when I get back from a holiday with my family is 'Bloody hell, I'm knackered - I need a holiday.' This feeling is so common that if a mother is planning a trip somewhere with her whole family she is met by pained looks of pity and fear that she might be insane. Going away? With your family ? For a week ? Get this woman a drink!
It's sad really, because going on holiday should be the highlight of your year: neither of you is working, you get to see something different for a change and, crucially, it's the only opportunity you get to spend a decent amount of time with your kids once they've started school. The good news is that a lot of family holiday stress can be avoided, either by clever packing and organisation, or by a drastic change in attitude. I have travelled a lot with my growing brood, and have picked up some very handy survival tips, along with all the foreign illnesses, an impressive seashell collection, and the ability to say ice-cream in seven languages. Try some of these for starters
Change your attitude
The holiday will be the most awful two weeks you've had since the last time you lugged a bag of cuddly toys and six bottles of Calpol to the South of France, then it almost certainly will be. But if you set off with an attitude that is more like: 'This is going to be great! I am going to relax, feel some of that French joie-de-vivre and do my best Eva green impression' then you will probably enjoy yourself much more. Being realistic about your holiday expectations is key to having a good time away. It won't be the best week of your life, but it hopefully won't be the worst either
Doing it for the kids
Once upon a time holidays meant kids could stay up late, play all day, get up to mischief, adventure and enjoy some freedom from the school routine for a change. Not so any more for many: now it's kids' clubs during the day, babysitters in the evening and lots of shouting in between if they should be so thoughtless as to get between you, your magazine and your suntan. It's awful, and what's needed is to remember that holidays are as much, if not more, for our children as for us. I know you want to go shopping, read a book and eat out, but they want to dig a hole in the garden, fill it with water and then jump in it. Let them - they're on holiday
Plan something for everyone
Every member of your family has a different top-ten holiday wish list, and the solution to this potential disaster is to schedule in something to please everyone. Theme Park in the morning, historic building or art gallery on the way home, and ice-cream for the kids while you sample the local vino in the evening. Everybody is thus seventy per cent happy, and that's about as good as it's ever going to get, so enjoy it!
Go with another family
We tried this last year and it was so great we're doing it again this Easter. There are always people on hand to look after the kids, there is plenty of adult company to enjoy; the children play together, you can share the chores and you get to enjoy your friends' company away from the usual school/nursery/work stresses. I'm in!
Each to his/her own
Buying small suitcases for kids is really helpful because you can easily see what you have packed for each person, you don't end up with Little Mermaid pants jumbled up with your Agent Provocateur treats, they can pull their own suitcases as they get older and it makes unpacking when you arrive really quick too. Or you can just do what I do, and not unpack at all...Deliciously lazy
Accessibility
Always keep one bag accessible with basics, like a change of clothes for little ones, wipes, extra nappies if your baby still uses them and toothbrushes in case you all need a quick freshen-up. I find brushing my teeth relieves even the worst travel grime.
Travel bags at the ready!
Get a small shoulder bag for each child, filled with things to keep them happy on the journey and while you're away. Paper, pens, stickers, travel games and small paperback books usually do the trick.
Food and drink
Have a good supply of non-hyperactive-making snacks to hand: grapes, raisins, bread sticks, bananas and cereal bars can all keep bored jaws happy while avoiding a 'junk food and sweets' meltdown. The best thing to drink is water. get a bottle for each passenger and refill regularly.
Finally, have fun! We all live under far too much stress these days - and the kids do too - so make sure you all have a proper BREAK while you're away, ready to hit the crazy world we live in fully charged up again. Happy packing!