p Yes. You heard me! A contract.
p You plan a trip for a year. You book the hotel, the flights, the route. But what did we forget? Aligning expectations.
p Help your kid understand what's expected of them on the trip, and that this trip is for us too. How important it is to be quiet when we set up Waze in the car so we get to the right place, and more. Why enjoy alone?
p (I've attached a blank contract here for you to fill in with your family's details.)
p You surely know my legendary post on the Black Forest. Not yet?
p Okay. It's not relevant right now in COVID times, but when it is, remember to read about the Black Forest. That's where, years ago, I came up with the idea of a contract before the trip.
p We'd put so much into the planning that it was important to me to do everything so it would really be fun.
p We had the kids (and ourselves) sign a funny, cute contract that basically says:
p We appreciate the trip. Sweethearts, understand how hard we worked to get here, you spoiled little things :)
p Every kid and parent has a job on the trip: for example, one daughter is in charge of safety, making sure everyone's buckled up.
p Mr. Food and Drinks: helps find restaurants, makes sure there's enough water in the car and that everyone drinks on hikes. It's brilliant!
p It also gives them responsibility, and with responsibility a kid feels meaningful, and everyone wins.
p We don't buy souvenirs we'll never use. 1 or 2 souvenirs for the whole trip. That way the kid thinks twice before asking for something, learns about prices and more.
p Shared responsibility: everyone checks we took the chargers, and if the fuel tank is empty, reminds us to fill up.
p Quiet when getting into the car: the moments when you get into the car to leave or come back from somewhere are critical.
p Miss one GPS instruction and we end up in Italy. Not necessarily a bad thing, but less the plan.
p Forget something important at the hotel or an attraction, and it's really hard and annoying to go back. It's important to be quiet for those two minutes. I bought them a Simon Says game, and they just played it until we said: have a good drive!
p So enjoy, because why should we enjoy alone?
p And come visit my new Instagram and my Facebook group, where you can share your own good times too, because why should you enjoy alone?
q “If you love them, sign them” -- Me