6 Tips for Blended Family Vacations
6 Tips for Blended Family Vacations This topic gave us an excuse to review through the archives of Family photos which now span from Shutterfly, Dropbox, and Google Photos. The review of pictures and these different trips make you wonder why I didn't have better eyebrows from 2011-2014 (Dell), or when did the grey take over in the beard (Joey)? Similarly, and emotionally, the notations start on the kids-Wow they have grown. Oh, look, they use to let us dress them alike! We have also been grateful for the Divine Rescue literally of going on these trips. Without a break from day to day, the tensity would have taken hold. You might disagree, and the idea of breaking away seems unfeasible. Here are some quick tips to take into consideration. Do this: *Always make time for family trips Your kids need to spend time building memories with you. Although this is a learning curve, practice makes perfect. So, start now and have fun! *Be Flexible with each person and to unexpected changes Have a tired teen along? Be ready for it. Have a traffic jam? Open your mind; it will happen. Run out of toilet paper? Time to improvise *Share the cost with another family We share an AIRBNB with a family we enjoy, and it cuts back on costs. Cook your own meals when you can and travel by car! This all adds to savings and makes trips affordable! Avoid This: *Don't assume the Other Natural Parent/Bio Parent will cooperate Do yourselves a HUGE favor and give the ONP the following: Where you're going, when you are leaving/ returning, where you are staying, and what times they can call the children. All other times of touching base are up to you. This is your space-own it. * Don't bring your emotional baggage along with your personal luggage Take it from us, leaving on a trip angry about something implodes on the trip. Be mindful of what's bothering you and shelf it for later. Use the time to bond with your wonderful, blended family. The issue will be waiting to be dealt with AFTER you have had fun and relaxed. And maybe....it will be a much smaller problem waiting it out. *Don't assume the worst in others Pro Parent Warrior Tip: Most of the time, kids don't express gratitude. This includes when they are talking about how much fun they had in conversations later-crickets. We have embraced that. We have older kids that now express their memories and how much fun they have had. It makes every effort so worth it. Hang in there; they will age up to be grateful humans! Just remember everyone in your wonderful, blended family is on their own journey. Be loving, and it does pay off to lower your expectations: this isn't a sprint; it's a marathon. For some Great Then and Now of the Jolen Vacations check these out: Then: 2013 youtu.be/nNTzWvC_3l8 Now: 2020 youtu.be/02-XvfzdvvE [x]Show Notes and Resources shown in this video For Counseling Services to assist You and Your Blended Family: Bethany Bice Wilcox, MSSW, LCSW We can attest from 3+ years with Bethany as our Family Therapist we would not be where we are now without her consistent, professional and insightful approach. Bethany has been a psychotherapist since 1988. Her specialties include Christian and Nonreligious counseling, marriage counseling, blended families, depression/anxiety, communication/problem solving, anger management, sexual abuse recovery, adult children of alcoholics, women's issues, codependency, and grief counseling. Among other therapeutic modalities, Bethany is trained in and uses EMDR and Lifespan Integration (LI). Contact Bethany at bethanycounseling@gmail.com or bethanycounseling.com to book your session! ---Connect with Joey and Dell--- Email: JoeyandDellNolen@gmail.com ---Connect with Joey and Dell on Social Media--- www.JoeyandDellNolen.com www.Facebook.com/JoeyandDellNolen Instagram.com/JoeyandDell #JoeyandDellNolen #Blendedfamilies #Vacations #Messedandblessed #Preparedness #MCMLife #MCM About this video: The vacation concept is a must, but when it involves your Blended Family, you need extra Preparedness. Here tips are given for the blended family life to conquer the unexpected and trust the process. Included are Then and Now vids so the viewer can see the fun can happen!
