- So, with the pandemic,
I've heard a lot of people have different struggles
on what's happening with their life personally,
whether it's health, you know, money issues,
all the things.
There's a lot going on.
But one thing I did hear from a lot of people is like,
man, we have this great vacation planned,
and now we're having to cancel it.
Or I had this, you know, trip plan with my spouse
for our anniversary and we had to cancel it.
Or we had a honeymoon, but we're having to cancel it.
Like, vacations, going on trips, it's a big deal.
It's a big part of people's lives.
On average, families spend 10% of their annual income
on vacations per year.
So, this is a big part of our life.
Now, again, with the pandemic,
vacations look a whole lot different.
But I still have to remind myself,
number one, vacations do not complete everything.
I think, before we go on a trip or a vacation,
we dream up how it's going to be.
We're like, it's gonna be the best thing ever.
And it's all these dreams.
And then you get in the middle of it,
and you're like, oh wow,
it's not exactly what I had pictured in my head.
Or you're looking on social media,
and you're seeing all these great pictures of people
and where they're at, and you're like,
that's where we have to go. We have to go there.
And then you go there and you're like, oh wow, it's great.
Sure, it might be good.
But still, reality sets in
because it's real life still.
Like, you're picking up your life,
and you're going somewhere else.
And, just to put a little cherry on top,
if you have kids, mmm hmm,
totally different situation. Yeah.
I had a friend really early on say,
Oh, you know. Oh, are you guys going on vacation?
And I was like, yeah, it's me, Winston and Amelia.
She was like six months old at the time.
And they were like, oh, is Amelia going?
I was like, yeah. She was like, yeah,
that's not a vacation. That's called a trip, Rachel.
You're still gonna be changing diapers and
doing baby food and all the things, you're just somewhere else.
And I was like, oh, that's a great point.
And honestly, I was so glad she said that,
because in my head, I was like,
oh no, it's gonna be this wonderful thing.
And I kept thinking back when I didn't have kids
on vacation with me. And no, it was, it was a trip.
And then you add on another kid, it becomes more of a trip.
Then you add on the third kid, and
well, the trip continues on.
Yep, yep, not a lot of vacations.
If Winston and I want to vacation, we go away together,
leave the kids with grandparents, and now that is a vacation.
A vacation is when you wake up whenever you want.
Vacation is, you get to eat whatever you want.
Vacation is, you don't have to cut up food for anyone
but you, if you choose to.
And you don't even have to because you're an adult.
You can do whatever you want.
Like, that's a vacation.
Reading a book, a vacation.
I mean, no swim diapers, a vacation.
So, that's a vacation.
A trip with kids, again, great memories,
it can be very exciting.
We've had great trips with our kids.
It's just a lot of work.
And I've learned, the beach, for us, it's so much work.
Sunscreen, swim diapers, toys, goggles, floaties.
And then there's so much to do with kids at the beach.
So much stuff. So much stuff.
But I look at my friends' pictures,
and they're like splashing in pool with their kids.
And I'm like, oh my gosh.
Like, that's not always my experience.
Usually someone's crying, or Winston and I
never see each other because one's up with our kids,
you know, for naps or whatever it is.
I just realized the reality of what things are right now
in our season of life.
And I think it's important for you to remember it.
Because we went on an amazing family trip last year.
It was incredible, and it was on a cruise.
And I thought, yeah, I'm pregnant. That will be great.
There's gonna be no seasickness getting on a big boat
all big with a baby. It's gonna be fun.
Oh, we have an almost 2-year-old. Oh, she'll love it too.
Oh, the 3-year-old? It's gonna be fantastic.
And all in my head, it was gonna be this dream vacation.
It's like, my kids were gonna turn into 30-year-olds
or something and just walk around with us and hang out.
Like, that's like what I had in my head.
And everyone's like, yes, it's great.
There's great kid area. You can put your kids away.
You guys can go to dinner and have a date night.
You can be by the adult pool and read a book.
It was like, all of these things,
people were talking about how great of an option this is.
And I was like, yes, I can't wait. 50-50.
50% me and Winston,
the other 50% with the kids and the great family trip.
Yep, yep. No! That is not true.
It was like 95%,
5%.
And the five was the amount of time we slept in the night
with two other kids in the room.
Yup, that's about it. That was it.
That was the reality.
Even though there were some great things about it,
that was . . . It's a lie.
It's a lie that it's 50-50.
I'm just telling you people.
I'm here. I'm a truth teller.
So I'm gonna tell you the truth.
It's a lie.
You're still with your kids.
And the cruise is not on land.
Did I say that?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Cruises, they're on the ocean in a confined space
with thousands of people, and you're in lines after lines
and buffets after buffets.
I mean, it was quite an experience. And while it was great,
there were some really great moments.
There really were great moments.
And we look back on pictures,
and we're like, oh, that was, you know, it was fun.
It was great.
But it was also work. Mmm hmm. Yeah.
Did I also tell you the cruise
didn't allow swim diapers in the pool?
Yep.
So either Winston Cruze or Rachel Cruze
was walking the deck with the 1-year-old
while the other one had to be in the pool
with the 3-year-old.
I mean, it was just something.
So, I've just learned, over the course of my long life,
that number one,
vacations will not complete something in you.
If you think, if I could just go to this place,
everything will be better.
That's not true.
And then, number two is that it's not always the reality
of what you're seeing,
whether you're seeing pictures on the website of the place
or you're seeing people's Instagram posts.
Like, whatever the case may be, there is still reality,
that it's still you,
it's still your family, just going to a different location.
So, I love vacations,
but I always have to keep that in mind
and remember not to compare my vacation
with someone else's.