Back to the Family by Dr. Ray Guarendi

Author:Dr. Ray Guarendi [Guarendi, Ray]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8041-5072-9
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2013-09-18T00:00:00+00:00

THE GET-TOGETHER GETAWAY

The leading tradition in successful families is the family vacation. Here, vacation is broadly defined as a regular break from routine—annual, monthly, even weekly—that not only frees everyone from daily demands, but more important, frees them to be with each other. Vacations are seen as a form of retreat, a chance to relax, regroup, and reinvigorate relationships. Given top priority status, vacations are not something to be put off, bypassed, or relegated to an if-we-have-the-time spot on the calendar. One father described his family’s protectiveness toward their vacation time: “We made it our business that whenever the kids were off school, we were off to somewhere. Sometimes it was unconventional, but it was always special.” A flavor for the integral role of vacations in these families’ togetherness comes from comments like these:

• “Vacations are the best of times for us because they are times together. We are able to relax; there is no TV, no basketball, no baseball. It is just us and the children. Around here it’s hard to have much privacy. If we try to do anything, the phone rings or someone comes to the door. When we go away on a trip, there is nothing to bother us. We don’t have the distractions, and we don’t have to be anywhere.”

• “The best of times are during our summer vacations at a beautiful mountain cabin. No telephones or televisions or radios distract us from each other. We share so many moments together hiking, fishing, playing, reading. These times are good for our children, as they are not exposed to peer pressure and can explore who they are and who they want to become in natural solitude.”

• “The best of times with my parents must include our numerous family trips. The feelings of having a close-knit family became much stronger on these trips. I feel they were somewhat of a test of the strength and togetherness of our family. To spend days or weeks constantly together, and to call these the best of times, shows that the tests were passed.” [Daughter, aged seventeen]

• “The best times are when we are on a vacation and know we can’t leave. We fight or just disagree, and then know we’re trapped and so we do fun things.” [Daughter, aged twelve]

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