Free at Last
Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS
Here we go again!
Or is it that we don’t go again? Or where to go again?
School vacation is in the air. And parents and kids are struggling once more with how to fill that free time.
What are the choices? Get away?! Do day trips?! Stay home and kvetch there’s nothing to do.
Every kid needs a break. But, how to spend that time is a real challenge.
If you’re a ski family you’ve sort of got it made. No family member really ages out of this sport.
And then you just throw on seven hundred layers of clothes. Plus-Helmet, goggles, klutzy shoes, massive gloves, robbery ready face mask, and assorted body warmers and your good to go clunking along.
Shlep, shvitz, shoe plant, and you’re ready to add the skis to the base of the getup.
Then it’s off to the top of the world with the winds blowing at your back or assaulting your face. And then swoosh, you’re off the lift, ready for the euphoric trip down the mountain racing and traversing all the way or alternatively winging it with intervals of flopping into the icy snow. Either way you’re doing your thing and enjoying the great outdoors.
And then comes the end of the ski day -and once again it is shlep, shvitz, shoe plant, but this time it’s soothed with hot chocolate in hand, and your feeling quite accomplished and spent.
Any activity you do after that, even just making it to the nearest couch, makes you feel like a major hero. You’ve given it 100% all day, so even if you don’t move a muscle again till tomorrow you feel you’ve truly earned your vacation.
Then there’s the other vacation option -off to sunny weather somewhere. This creates a more complicated scenario. Where is the sunshine guaranteed and if it disappears on you what’s your alternative plan?
Miami is always a first thought. It’s not that far and it’s a far cry from the cold! Aside from swimming and sunbathing, there’s not a ton to do though. But, if enough friends are there you can walk back and forth and back and forth from hotel to hotel and already you’ve got half your day planned.
There is of course some jet skiing, motor boating, parrot jungle, monkey jungle, and a few more enthralling spots. But the biggest draw seems to be Lincoln Road. Probably because everyone finds something to keep them busy there. Shop, eat, or snack, I guess, there must be something to that cause you meet everyone there!
So that kind of covers Miami ……
Of course, some people opt for a cruise. And that has tons of variety, and tons to do. And I say you totally deserve that! If you’re willing to be out in the middle of nowhere, with not a sliver of land in sight, you’ve earned every fun activity they provide. Bless you.
Home is always an option. But, it’s a risky choice. Every day, you may hear a harmony of, I’m bored blended with what are we doing today. But, I have heard that in Fla too and that’s after spending plenty on the trip. So, home can have its benefits too.
I guess that’s why we opted for skiing for so many years. The kids’ lips got so frozen together they couldn’t move them to complain!
So, wherever you go and whatever you do on your school break- just remember -these are the good times!!!!
Enjoy them and embrace them!
Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com