Probably one thing all
dads look forward to is accepting the challenge or task of driving their family
to a vacation destination. Just imagine holding the kids and wife captive
as you take a drive, let's just say approximately 1,000 roundtrip
miles. Yes, this is how my family and I recently planned to spend quality
time together. If you really want a challenge, just go ahead and pull out
the Clark Griswald Special
from the garage, appropriately over pack, buckle in and open
your mind and heart to great conversation while travelling to your chosen
destination. I promise you this, it will be one of the
most exhilarating, challenging and rewarding experiences you will ever
have. With each turn in the road, each car you pass (or in my case get
passed by), and every "Daddy are we there yet," you are filling a
lifetime of memories. As frustrating as car travel can be, there are not
many better places to have a quality family conversation in today's fast paced
world as in your vehicle. Renowned motivational
speaker Zig Ziglar coined the phrase, "Automobile
University," suggesting that the amount of time that is spent on "the
road" could really be used to increase learning ability and to help foster
family relationships. We thought we would put Zig to the test.
And you know what, amid all the potholes, construction and stormy weather we
drove through, nothing could derail the spirits of two children on their way to
The Crayola Experience and Hershey's
Chocolate World. There were lessons shared and learned as well as times
of having our emotions moved to tears; both by humor and frustration.
As mentioned in the
first column, one of the reasons I decided to write was to hopefully become the
best father that I could be. Trips with the family can really be a true
test for even the greatest of fathers and their skill set. When planning
a trip, I have basically two jobs: First and foremost, after Gretchen and
the girls decide on the destination, my responsibility is to book the hotel
room. My second key responsibility is to drive us safely to and from the
destination. I thought this time I would really step it up and do a
little reading about traveling tips. I came across a great article
discussing how to keep kids from arguing and fighting with one another and most
importantly the driver!!! The plan was to give each kid a roll of
quarters that totaled $10. For every time they complained or argued
they had to hand over a quarter from their stash. Upon reaching our
destination, any quarters they still had remaining were free for them to spend
without question, which was likely to take place at a local dollar store of
their liking. Ah ha! What a great activity to teach our children the
value of being cooperative, sharing, and respectful of one another while
teaching a greater lesson on the value of money. The scene was set, snacks
were packed and we were well on our way.
As we traveled across
three states, my wife, Gretchen, and I found ourselves thinking back over
and discussing any traveling experiences we had growing up with our
families. Stories were continuous and we were able to share with the kids
some of our fondest memories, albeit small while traveling with our own parents.
The game of identifying license plates from various states was a big one for
Kendall. Just this simple, no cost game led to discussions about whether
or not we had been to that state and if so what was it like. The question of, "Have I ever been
there," coming from the backseat was a remarkable time passer. Reese,
not quite the experienced traveler herself, was all about the tunnels; she just
loved them. She was able to serenate us with her renditions of the
latest hits courtesy of Kids Bop and she really enjoyed each rest area we
stopped at; she's kind of the entertaining type.
During our time driving,
we were able to ask and discuss with our girls what they wanted to be when they
grew up, and what they each liked most about the places we visited. You
know, my dad gave me a pretty good piece of advice and I am continuously trying
to do a better job of following it. It's really simple, yet profound; "You
can learn a lot by listening.” Looking back now, without a doubt, that is
exactly what made a simple three day getaway so enjoyable, we listened.
Discussion, back and forth communication with your children, I can't imagine a
dad's vacation being any better. We listened to each other, we listened and
sang songs together and we listened to the hope and dreams of two little girls
that will way too soon be finding their own paths and making their own
journeys. This is what families are about; this is what being a dad is
all about. It's not about all the glitz and the glamour. It's not about
so-called reality TV and video games.
Taking the show on the road is really about the most precious commodity
we all possess: TIME.
Monthly Challenge: Make time with your family to share
some of your favorite travel, vacation or childhood memories. If photo albums or videos are available, make
sure to pull them out and spend time recanting these moments.
coshoctontribune.com
Monthly
Quote: “A man's worth is measured by how he parents
his children. What he gives them, what he keeps away from them, the lessons he
teaches and the lessons he allows them to learn on their own.” ~Lisa Rogers,
author
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