Actually, there are two drawbacks to vacationing with a four-year-old.
1) There is no rest and relaxation. Especially if your husband plays golf like mine. (Any other golf widows out there?) You can’t even rest by the pool because most likely— your four-year-old cannot swim. And, it doesn’t matter how cold the water is (VERY COLD!), because as a parent who fears for your child’s safety, you are required to fully submerge yourself as quickly as your child (no wading for you!) and stay in for just as long. My hands are still pruning.
2) The best place for Mazzy to sleep at night was between us. If you think your vacation should involve intimacy (or “hotel sex” as my husband romantically refers to it), I suggest a suite or leaving the kiddo at home.
But, in general, Mazzy was really a delight.
Remember when I told you Mazzy displayed something close to gratitude at her fourth birthday party?
Somewhere into the second day, after twenty pool hops and screaming “IT’S SUMMER HERE!!!!!” to anyone who would listen, Mazzy crawled into my lap and cuddled with me briefly on a lounge chair.
“Thank you, Mom, for all of this.”
Oh, my heart.
Where did my whining entitled three-year-old go?
Hopefully, she’s not waiting for us at baggage claim in New York.
I want to go too! Looks like so much fun.
As a mom of a 2 1/2 year old, I really needed to hear that last bit. The thank you. Oh man, I am really looking forward to the unprompted thanks…
Love that last picture! She is gorgeous! And I kinda want that bathing suit!
Wow, what fun! Beautiful photos and a beautiful girl.
This actually makes me almost look forward to taking our 4yo to Disneyland. That will be her first trip beyond my parent’s house, which is only 1.5hrs away.
I don’t want to leave the baby, though. That’s the only really hard part for me.
We went to Australia this last March/April to visit my husband’s family with our 5 yr old and nearly 2 yr old. It was great to have their house as a home base, but we literally wasted our afternoons away on naps. 2-3 hours spent nearly everyday sitting around waiting for the little guy to wake up. But without a nap he was impossible to be around. My kids are definitely those who follow the sleep promotes sleep… you skip a nap or keep them up late, they will just wake up earlier and earlier.
My husband says we’re not going back until our kids are done with naps. This sounds great, but our third baby is due any day now, so unless we’re waiting another 3 years to visit, we’ve got another nap filled vacation sometime in the future.
You are my hero and my inspiration!!! I hope you’re truly right about this four-year old business!!! BTW, I love love love that picture of Mazzy with the sunglasses!
4 seems like a good age, but I’m taking a plunge and attempting to travel with a 2 year old once the weather starts warming up again. We’ll see how that goes…
The Dominican Republic looks absolutely gorgeous!
So fun! We went on vacation with my parents last spring and it totally ruled. My mom even took one for the team and went in the freezing water with Roozle repeatedly. Like you said, we should buy her a car.
I hope you said hi to Big Papi for me!
I am so glad I am not the only one who wants to drag my mom on every vacation. While sharing a hotel room takes away any thought of romance, the built in babysitter is a life saver.
We now have four boys, ranging from 8 years to 9 months. We can no longer cram everyone into one hotel room, so while we were waiting for our new house to be ready to move into, we got two connecting hotel rooms. Major lifesaver there. Hubby and I could actually stay up later than the kids and weren’t confined to the only lighted place being the bathroom. Baby still slept in our room, but it made so many things easier. We will always do two rooms from now on. We did Disneyland a year and a half ago and took my mom with – that was awesome. We’re planning on Disney World with my in-laws for spring break, which should also be wonderful!
I think that was a fantastic idea, for Mazzy to get a vacation that revolved around her! Sounds like rather than making her spoiled, it made her grateful. I bet you all missed Harlow – but also all got to appreciate each other more (as while babies are adorable – they are a lot of work and things do kinda need to revolve around them for the first couple years …). I know from my own kids, we have much better dynamics when we get one-on-one time.
I also think it was great that Grammy got one-on-one time with Harlow! As it must be hard for her to get that time in with Mazzy always around, but that is special too since she obviously got alone time with Mazzy when she was younger.
Four days sounds perfect too, just enough time to really be able to have fun and relax, but not so long you are feeling bad being away from the other one. Sounds like you may need to make this a double-tradition – each year do a four-day vacation with Mazzy then once Harlow is old enough do one for her as well and leave Mazzy home. You know, with all your spare money and vacation time 😉 lol!!
Your blog posts are my sanity. And your photos are gorgeous as always, as are your daughters.
Thanks for sharing and keeping us moms sane and laughing through this tough journey of motherhood.
-Lani
(Mom of a current whiny, entitled 3-year-old daughter)
Funny, I had no idea you were away! Looks really lovely!
Wow, Mazzy has come so far from the “Is the Beach Worth It?” posts! Looks like a lovely vacation!
Okay…I’m just curious, NOT judging…didn’t you miss Harlow like crazy?! Didn’t she miss YOU like crazy?!
So there is a light at the end of the toddler tunnel?!?!?! Them mellowing the eff out isn’t some mythical horned creature ?? ( I’m referencing a unicorn but uh lil devil works too 😉 ) I was starting to believe its just lies they tell us to keep us from completely losing our shit. Mine turns 3 tomorrow . A Big F U to 2 !!
I had a hard time with that part too…I don’t think I could leave one child, especially out of the country.
We were in Orlando earlier this year for Father’s day – and I have to admit that while my three year old did have a few moments of “Oh my gosh whose devil child is this” he was much easier to travel with finally! I guess I made my life harder when we decided to adopt two more so I have stair step kids in 1 year intervals now! Eeeek! About three years from now things may be a little more relaxing for us, right???
It gets worse at three darling! But about the time you get to four it gets much better!!! I have one about to turn two and another one about to turn one and a third who is at the sweet spot just before four! Ahhhhhhhh! 🙂
I have a GCLUB is what I love most Staying home all the time and spending time at home It was a very good time. I am very happy to be at home.
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