Great Expectations

March Break

Monday. So begins another week of routine as the kids return to school after March Break. It didn't go too badly this morning...everyone was in the car by 8:14 am. That's only 9 minutes later than I ask of them and only 4 minutes later than I actually expect of them. I consider this to be a good start to the week.

March Break seems to be the perfect time for our children to let us know we suck at being cool. All their friends were going away...so they said. They found it hard to believe that Brad and I actually worked during their break. It was just another week to us of getting up early, packing lunches and trudging to our offices. We actually expected them to do their chores and to make their own fun for the week. I even made them go to the dentist. I know....insanity.

Truth is, they can't help having these irrational wants. It seems as if everyone takes a family vacation in March except for us. I actually feel guilty that we don't take them to Florida or California. Or on a cruise. Or New York City for shopping and a Broadway show. Or even skiing...which I would not enjoy but would gladly sit in the chalet drinking a special coffee. We just can't seem to save the money to afford a vacation for a family of five. We would have been much further ahead having two kids...that third one costs us a bundle. But we're too fond of all three to dump one now.

I remember March Break as being pretty low key when I was in school. Is it just me or did March seemed colder and snowier than it is now? We went tobogganing down the neighbor's hill or skating on the bog. If we were lucky, we might go visit our Gumpy and Nanny in Mahone Bay. Gumpy would buy us a treat and Nanny would dig out a treasure for us. (That was always a source of entertainment...once I got a pair of used slippers. They were a ladies 10 and I was about 9 years old. She said I would grow in to them.) And if we were really well behaved, we might go to Bridgewater on Friday night and hang out at the mall. Good times...

If we did go on a family vacation, it was done on a budget and only happened in the summer. We would take road trips to New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island. Mom packed a cooler full of sandwiches and drinks. We stopped at picnic rest stops to stretch our legs. Dad would start looking for a Motor Inn around 5pm and by 9pm he was usually successful. The motel needed to meet basic requirements - clean bedding and a decent bathtub in case Mom wanted to have a bath. I guess this was Dad's way of saying he loved her and wanted her to have a bubble bath after spending 10 hours in the car with four whiny kids.

Needless to say, we never went to Disney World when we were kids. I went to Orlando for the first time in 1990. I was twenty four and had won the trip. I was there for 5 days in the midst of late April humidity and broke out in a heat rash. I waited in very long lineups to go on 2 minute rides. I was underwhelmed with Sleeping Beauty's castle and was creeped out eating seafood in the restaurant while sea creatures swam around us. There were a few memorable moments. The Polynesian Resort show was amazing and I loved the Indiana Jones spectacular. Space Mountain was thrilling but, overall, I was glad the trip was free.

So despite not going away during March Break, I tried my best to give the kids the things they wanted. I gave Rachel her privacy. She slept in really late (her favorite thing) and I took her and her friends shopping to places they wanted to go. I gave Colleen my undivided attention. I took her shopping and we saw "The Lorax" in 3D...even though my bifocals were not very agreeable. She ate unlimited amounts of junk food and felt sick for much of the week. I gave Emily her freedom. She spent most of her time with the few friends who didn't go away and she picked up extra work hours.

So even though we aren't cool parents who take their kids on expensive vacations, I hope our girls realize that sometimes it's nice to just relax. We didn't have to worry about luggage or passports or sunscreen. We didn't need to wait for an airplane or wonder about the quality of the food or water that was in front of us. We ordered from restaurants we knew and slept in our own comfy beds. Hopefully, they will lower their expectations and enjoy what they have. But it is more likely they will say the same thing next March - "You never take us anywhere!!"
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