I was so looking forward to my time in northern Minnesota - up on the lake, swimming, fishing, boating, relaxing.  it was fantastic - in my mind.  I do this every year.  I have great plans of what it's going to be like, if only I would review what it was really like last year - perhaps my expectations wouldn't be quite so high.  Of course my children are with me and that is a whole different level of "vacation."  They are out of their element, away from their toys and their friends and the only person that they believe can possibly entertain them is their mother.  Hey, that's me!!  Wait a minute - I signed up for the leisure vacation, please.  You know, the one that has been advertised in my head - the lounge chair, the novel, the lake lapping against the shore in such a pattern as to lull me into a deep, relaxing slumber on the shores of Lake Eshquagama.  What happened to that dream?  You mean I have to feed these small people that have accompanied me on my "vacation"?  They need to be bathed too?  What, you say I even need to put sunscreen and bug repellent on them?  Can't they do anything for themselves - this is my "vacation." 

Lake Eshquagama, Minnesota

Sound familiar?  It's a Mom's vacation - not a really relaxing time - but I'll take it anyway.  It is beautiful here - and I'll parlay that into some wonderful memories that will give me pause when life back home gets a bit hectic.  Maybe that's the best we can all hope for - especially those of us with small children.  That when we are about to be pushed right over the edge, we can harken back to a time that we slowed - ever so slightly - to appreciate a beautiful sunset, or when we watched a loon swimming silently on the water. Maybe in that memory we can breathe a bit deeper or still our minds for just a moment - long enough to be thankful that we were able to "get away" while having to bring it all with us - and be thankful that we had somewhere to return to - somewhere that we are so needed - albeit potentially unappreciated!  Rest and relaxation - in all of its forms and lengths - is very important.  It provides a respite for our weary minds and bodies.  It lets us pause to appreciate our lives and it allows us to breathe - something that we may forget to take time for otherwise!!  We're not the only ones that need this time - our kids need it too.  Overscheduled, undernourished, underrested children are permeating our society - and we're all paying the price for it.  Let's commit to not commit so much - ourselves or our kids.  Let's plan to play, let's stop at a farm market for some whole foods occassionally instead of always stopping at the fast food joint.  A vacation can come in lots of forms - I'm deciding that mine is going to be a little everyday.  I'll remember the beauty I've been blessed to behold on this vacation - and I'll remind my kids of it as well - as I remind us all to slow down a bit and just BREATHE!

Have a healthy day --

Kathy