Recently, in the early morning dawn, I dreamed I was a child again, helping my parents to pack up our white Rambler
for our annual summer vacation. When I awoke, I had a yen to pack up my car and take off. This feeling is not unfamiliar
to me. It reoccurs every summer and seems to be imbedded in my subconscious by wonderful, childhood vacation
memories.
I encourage you to take a sentimental journey by reminiscing on your own childhood family vacations, and then on trips
taken later on in your life. Although you might not remember what you did last week, vacation memories are often
surprisingly vivid even those from long ago. Road trips reflect how we viewed life at various ages and stages of our life.
Take time out to remember the excitement you felt as a child, a young adult and perhaps as a parent-as you left your
every day routine behind to explore and share exciting new places with your family.
Childhood Vacations: The most wonderful thing about our childhood vacations is spending time together with our
parents, brothers, and sisters. At no other time is a family more of a cohesive unit than when traveling
together-especially on a road trip.
When I was a child, our family vacations were spent in the beautiful outdoors. I loved being near the water and fondly
recall lakeside vacations that were spent water skiing, swimming, and boating. Reminisce on the places and activities
that kept you happily occupied on your childhood vacations. These memories hold the key to places and interests that
are just waiting to be rediscovered.
Teen and Young Adult Years: Life is exhilarating and we're likely to impetuously seize opportunities to independently
travel with our friends, rather than our parents. Problematic scenarios such as running out of money or having car
trouble are the furthest things from our mind. Looking back at my own naivety and lack of sensibility reminds me why I
question the judgment of my teenage daughter. Mark Twain's quote could certainly have been written by me,
"Providence protects fools and idiots. I know because I have tested it."
The Parenting Years: Anticipating problems becomes very important to us when we're parents and the well-being of
our precious cargo is foremost on our minds. Parents have the responsibility of planning, packing, and paying for their
family's trip as well as making sure that it's fun and safe. Vacations can be quite arduous, especially when our kids are
young. And yet-the memories of those family vacations will warm your heart and make you smile for years and years to
come. And one day your kids will remember their wonderful family vacations and pass the legacy on to their own
children.
The Kids are Grown: My most recent road trips demarcate a new phase in my life. With all three of my children over the
age of 18, I've returned to the days when I can take spur of the moment road trips. They are as exhilarating today as
they were when I was young, but now I have the common sense that I lacked as a teenager. For the first time in
decades, I've taken childfree trips with my husband and several of my friends. I've also taken several long distance
road trips by myself. If you need to clear your mind or get your creative juices flowing, I highly recommend that you take
a road trip on your own. The task of driving occupies enough of the left-brain to free your right-brained creativity. Solo
road trips can be a spiritual journey, helping us to learn to listen to ourselves. We can stop whenever we like, wherever
we like, for as long as we like. And it gives us the opportunity to reminisce on the road trips of our lives.
About The Author
Patti Teel is a former teacher and the creator of an award winning audio series for children. Her book, The Floppy
Sleep Game gives parents techniques to help their children relax, deal with stress and fall asleep. Get R&R tips and
sign up for her newsletter at http://www.pattiteel.com You can listen to her online radio show at
http://www.timeoutwithpattiteel.com
for our annual summer vacation. When I awoke, I had a yen to pack up my car and take off. This feeling is not unfamiliar
to me. It reoccurs every summer and seems to be imbedded in my subconscious by wonderful, childhood vacation
memories.
I encourage you to take a sentimental journey by reminiscing on your own childhood family vacations, and then on trips
taken later on in your life. Although you might not remember what you did last week, vacation memories are often
surprisingly vivid even those from long ago. Road trips reflect how we viewed life at various ages and stages of our life.
Take time out to remember the excitement you felt as a child, a young adult and perhaps as a parent-as you left your
every day routine behind to explore and share exciting new places with your family.
Childhood Vacations: The most wonderful thing about our childhood vacations is spending time together with our
parents, brothers, and sisters. At no other time is a family more of a cohesive unit than when traveling
together-especially on a road trip.
When I was a child, our family vacations were spent in the beautiful outdoors. I loved being near the water and fondly
recall lakeside vacations that were spent water skiing, swimming, and boating. Reminisce on the places and activities
that kept you happily occupied on your childhood vacations. These memories hold the key to places and interests that
are just waiting to be rediscovered.
Teen and Young Adult Years: Life is exhilarating and we're likely to impetuously seize opportunities to independently
travel with our friends, rather than our parents. Problematic scenarios such as running out of money or having car
trouble are the furthest things from our mind. Looking back at my own naivety and lack of sensibility reminds me why I
question the judgment of my teenage daughter. Mark Twain's quote could certainly have been written by me,
"Providence protects fools and idiots. I know because I have tested it."
The Parenting Years: Anticipating problems becomes very important to us when we're parents and the well-being of
our precious cargo is foremost on our minds. Parents have the responsibility of planning, packing, and paying for their
family's trip as well as making sure that it's fun and safe. Vacations can be quite arduous, especially when our kids are
young. And yet-the memories of those family vacations will warm your heart and make you smile for years and years to
come. And one day your kids will remember their wonderful family vacations and pass the legacy on to their own
children.
The Kids are Grown: My most recent road trips demarcate a new phase in my life. With all three of my children over the
age of 18, I've returned to the days when I can take spur of the moment road trips. They are as exhilarating today as
they were when I was young, but now I have the common sense that I lacked as a teenager. For the first time in
decades, I've taken childfree trips with my husband and several of my friends. I've also taken several long distance
road trips by myself. If you need to clear your mind or get your creative juices flowing, I highly recommend that you take
a road trip on your own. The task of driving occupies enough of the left-brain to free your right-brained creativity. Solo
road trips can be a spiritual journey, helping us to learn to listen to ourselves. We can stop whenever we like, wherever
we like, for as long as we like. And it gives us the opportunity to reminisce on the road trips of our lives.
About The Author
Patti Teel is a former teacher and the creator of an award winning audio series for children. Her book, The Floppy
Sleep Game gives parents techniques to help their children relax, deal with stress and fall asleep. Get R&R tips and
sign up for her newsletter at http://www.pattiteel.com You can listen to her online radio show at
http://www.timeoutwithpattiteel.com
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| New Hampshire Writers |
| Ode to the Road (The Road Trips of our Lives) by: Patti Teel |