Summertime and the livin’ is easy! Unless you’re a new parent, of course, in which case the livin’ is pretty hard, what with all the diapers, feedings, not sleeping… But if you’re lucky, you’ll still be able to get away for a little summer break, like you did before you had kids. We took our first post-baby vacation when my firstborn was 3 months old. I knew things would be different with a baby but I didn’t fully understand just how different.
As a mom I know once put it, “There’s no such thing as a vacation with kids. It’s just travel.” We have actually had some trips that were very close to being vacations, almost relaxing even! You just have to modify your idea of a vacation – there’s a before baby and an after baby.
Before: You enjoy sleeping in every morning. If you’re up before noon, that’s early.
After: You now consider 6:45 a.m. “sleeping in.” Actually, anything past 5 a.m.
Before: Cocktails at happy hour.
After: Strong coffee at sunrise.
Before: Your favorite vacation activity is a long bike ride or hike. After: Your favorite vacation activity is lounging in the hammock with the baby.
Before: You can’t wait to hit the beach in your new bikini.
After: A bathing suit in public? Let alone a bikini? Are you kidding me?!
Before: You look forward to having time to read that stack of novels on your bedside table so you have something to talk about at book club.
After: You look forward to finishing an entire issue of People magazine so you have something to talk about at your new moms’ group.
How have your vacations changed since you had kids?
