Summer holidays are something we look forward to every year, but it doesn’t mean they’re straightforward.
There’s no guarantee that everything will run smoothly (especially when there are kids involved) so here are a few tips for keeping your cool and keeping calm when everything gets heated.
Cool As A Cucumber
If a problem arises, your children will look to you when they decide how to react. If you’re staying as cool as a cucumber when there’s chaos all around, they’re more likely to stay calm too. There’s nothing wrong with making a joke about the situation either, after all, it’s better to laugh than cry!
Failing To Prepare...
Is preparing to fail. While staying positive is important, sometimes it’s worthwhile preparing for the worst-case scenario. Before kids, even if something goes wrong while you’re away, it’s easy enough to brush it off. However, once you have children, problems are much harder to deal with. For example, if your airport transfer is late or if your baggage is lost, it helps if you’ve packed emergency supplies to keep everyone content.
Help Is At Hand
Remember that older children like to help out, so rather than brushing them off, think about what they can do to assist you. Whether that’s entertaining the little ones, carrying bags or navigating your journey, every little helps!
Busy, Busy, Busy
The busier you are, the more chance there is that something will go wrong. Don’t take on too much while you’re away as you’ll only be left feeling frazzled. The more cool, calm and collected you are, the less likely you are to forget something. Life with kids is stressful enough so don’t add to it by organising a million activities!
Comparison Is The Death Of Joy
If you’re feeling blue because your holiday isn’t living up to expectations, the worst thing you could do is scroll online. Regardless of how everyone else’s summer is going, all you’ll see are happy, smiling faces. Remember this is not a true reflection of how everyone else is feeling. How often do you post pictures of your family when they’ve all got faces that look like thunder?
This Too Shall Pass
If you really are having the holiday from hell, just remember this phrase: "This too shall pass." Before you know it, you’ll all be at home, snuggled up on the couch, laughing about what a nightmare it was. At the end of the day, all that matters is that everyone gets home safely. There’s always next year!