We have a large family where everyone seems to be talking at the same time, but somehow everyone else can also be heard? I can do it half-heartedly, but my uncle and aunt do it perfectly. The atmosphere will be fun and nice and loud, but what’s the problem? Sometimes you just need a little quiet time.
There I realized that the secret to surviving and thriving during family gatherings was to sneak in some alone time here and there. Here’s how I did it…
* Run your errands. Any business. Please fill up your car with gas. Have some wine for dinner and some milk for tomorrow’s breakfast. Bring Grandma’s sweater from another house. Do whatever you have to do.
* I’m going for a walk. Even just looping that block for 20 minutes while listening to a podcast (here are 6 fun ones) can be very restorative.
* Take one child on an adventure. I find that even with one child, you can still get a sense of quiet time. I’m going to take Anton to the pub and throw darts…
…and Toby never turns down an ice cream (or hot chocolate) trip.
* Walk someone’s dog and give it a break…
* Or the baby. When I volunteer to take babies for walks, exhausted parents always say yes.
*Read together in a quiet place.
* And what if all else fails? Just close your eyes.
Then you’ll be ready to return to happy chaos. Shit
What are your thoughts? Do you sneak out during breaks from large gatherings? We’d love to hear your strategies!
PS #1 Tips for Enjoying a Family Vacation, A 7-Year-Old’s Guide to Surviving Vacation Travel, and How to Plan the Best Vacation.
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