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This past weekend, we escaped our workaday routine for a short summer getaway. Tybee Island, outside of Savannah, Ga., is about 4 hours away–and not too much longer than that even when you factor in the kid-related stops. It was a delightful, mostly uneventful roadtrip (although, even on vacation I still struggled to just let the kids be kids and make their little mayhem. Must. Loosen. Up!).
Our lazy weekend away, by the numbers:
- 1 condo, 2 families, 3 bedrooms, 4 kids (two 2-year-olds, two 4-year-olds)
- 0 major meltdowns, even with toddlers and preschoolers living out of their element for four days.
- 2 babysitters! 1 luxurious dinner out for the parents!
But the highlight, the total highlight for me, was the beach reading I got done.
- The Art of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagán (had nearly finished when we arrived)
- Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
- Skipping a Beat by Sarah Pekkanen
- Bossypants by Tina Fey (just got started as our weekend wound down)
There are three reasons I got to enjoy so much reading, which is one of my favorite kinds of self-care. (So decadent to have all that quiet time and get lost in a good story!)
First, I downloaded the Kindle app for my phone. I am completely in love with being able to shop the Kindle market on the fly, instantly checking recommendations and reviews, and downloading sample chapters. Love. Genius. Someone will have to pry this out of my sunburned hands. Everyone on the beach-loving planet but for me has probably already discovered this, but wow! Love.
Second, I worked in a lot of reading during afternoon quiet time. Only the youngest of the 4 kiddos still naps, and the other three were thrilled that their beach vacation included afternoon movies. So were we parents!
Finally, on our last night of vacation, we all sat around reading. We finally managed to get the kids to bed at a reasonable, non-beachy, hour. And despite our big talk about how we were really going to live it up that night, we all looked around and realized everyone was in their comfy clothes with reading material in hand. We serenely read our way through the end of vacation.
Bliss!
How are you taking care of yourself this summer? Favorite beach reads? Tips on being more easygoing with your kiddos? Share in the comments xoxo ~jenni
I am so impressed that you were able to READ! I haven’t figured out how to concentrate on a book while my children are present.
Step one: Cue Tinkerbell or lil orphan Annie, and don’t feel bad about it for one second.
Step two: Easy reading only!