Fond memories

As a working mom, always had lots to juggle - your job, your family, kids activities, doctors appts, family obligations, planning holiday vacations, and the list goes on and on.
Sometimes we need to disconnect, no phones, no laptops ( I am a big abuser of the laptop) and just take in the beauty all around us. How many of us can say we can do that successfully ?
I have disciplined myself more and more to do just that. As much as possible, i try to run shopping errands on the way home after work, so that on the weekends, if i choose to stay in pj's i will.
My mom could never understand why our lives could be so busy. She could not understand why we could not sit still and enjoy time off when not working. Raising boys, and each one playing hockey in the winter, soccer in the summer, throw in practices and games, you were pretty much running between arena's. Add a husband in the restaurant business to the mix and you were a full time chauffeur and managing a meal in between, especialy if you love to cook - problem though, it was always rushed. I know I am not the only mom experiencing this craziness and we all do it gladly and without any regrets. It just makes me wonder, how very different it was when we were growing up. Our parents did not run a fast paced life like we all do now, there are much more activities our kids are enrolled in and every day is booked. What happened to the good old days where it was pure bliss to just enjoy some quiet time ?? it seems there was alot more quiet time. So, with this in mind, if I could leave blanks in our schedule - I did, and really got to appreciate when we had nothing planned...and sometimes, we just need to say no....but how often do we do that ??

I remember, my parents as a young little girl always arranged for a family vacation with me. We would drive to hyannis or boston, and spend lots of quiet time just chilling. Imagine, back then - it was all about spending time with each other....no internet, no worrying about wifi and no computers.....how different things were.  What i do remember though is that the time i was growing up, I enjoyed my time with my parents...they went out of their way to make these holidays special...and believe it or not....i remember these times fondly....i loved my time on the beach, playing in the sand, building sand castles and just simply enjoying cuddling with my mommy.  That was many years ago.....but I am so glad that I have these fond memories....now that my mom is gone.....it just validates to me that spending lazy afternoons, time together and family vacations together even more important to me.  I really believe that the traditions we create will have fond memories for those we care and love.  I love traditions and in my own family have created many that I am quite happy with.  A tradition can be whatever you want it to be.....sometimes when we talk about family holidays, bobby and I reminise about our holiday family vacations....we miss them and I often tell him, when our kids have their own kids we will just have to have family holidays to include all....that would be pure bliss..we are not there yet !

Family vacations are memories to treasure and some of my fondest memories, both for the kids and the parents.  I treasure all of my younger days with both my dad and mom.  We don't have as many photos as we do now, but the ones we do....we treasure !

1966  Boston....spending time on the beach with mom cuddling