I often think ... why is it so important that we go on a family holiday ...
Well, for starters - it allows the kids 24/7 with Phil! Fortunately / Unfortunately they get me every day ... But they only get Phil in chunks - and they really love him, so going away from home means disconnecting from everything associated with home and work and really spending quality time getting to know the kids and them getting to know us ...
Being away from the house means a 'break-away'- from everything - the routine, the washing, the cooking, the bedtimes etc etc ... lots of eating out, lots of treats, lots of new experiences, late nights, TV before bed - basically 'breaking all the rules' ... which returning home means 'getting back to the rules' ...
I often wonder if Azi remembers anything from the trips .. but then she surprises me, like the other day - out of the blue, she said 'Will there be a cable car at this zoo like there was at Tarrango Zoo' - I couldn't believe she remembered the name of the Zoo in Sydney!
The 'hard' part of a holiday is teaching the kids gratitude and to be grateful for these holidays and the treats etc ... (There were days when we were more ON than ON holiday .. Azi and Zaria both had their up and down moments) ...
A beach holiday or all inclusive holiday is definitely 'easier' than a water city escape. But Berlin really surprised me - it was MODERN, had every form of pubic transport, EVERY type of cuisine (I thought we would be eating sausage for 7 days ... we didm't eat it once, and ate Vietnamese for 7 days - my fav) ... It was SO easy for Zaz and I to be Gluten-free, every place knew about gluten-free and most menus were marked with different intolerances!
The hard part is coming back from holiday - washing, making food, routine etc! The nice part - is your own bed, shower, pillow and Thermomix!
I'm super grateful that we had a week away - in the cold - and everyone was healthy and well!
