There is so much truth to what is said here. The very first trip after my divorce, was to a Continuing Medical Education conference in Chatanooga Tennessee in 1996. With 3 kids. Across the United States in a Ford Explorer. And, I don’t think I can count how many times we had to stop before one or the other of all the less cooperative kids was belted in before the car could start again. And, it wasn’t just once….or twice….or…..

But, it became a way of survival. We rock climbed a bridge, facepainted with natural things (note to self: blueberries are fairly permanent on an 8 year old boys’ face…but then, he seemed to enjoy even THAT!), rode the train, watched movies….What didn’t we do??????

What were we doing? In the words of a Counselor friend….we were creating new memories…..for each of us…. and a new life…..

And, at Christmas, we were off again. Their Dad was no longer in our lives, or even in the region, and rather than sit at home, realizing that we would not see him, or rather, THEY would not see him, or be a part of his life that fateful first Christmas, we traveled again.

And, back then, before TSA, with 3 young kids – 5, 7, and 9, each armed with knitting needles and a huge ball of yarn – back before we could afford, or even think that it was reasonable to have them playing games that much, we marched off to Florida. We spent the last of what money we had that Christmas on peanut butter and jelly; macaroni and cheese; and hot dogs. We didn’t go anywhere but the beach and the heated pool outside our room…but it was just what we needed….new traditions and new memories.

Each Christmas for many years, we did just that. It was so much easier than face the empty living room, with no dad. Some people would say we had no Christmas in the sand, but it was our new tradition, and we loved it.

And, after a failed 2nd marriage, the kids wanted so much to go back this year. We went, and I was so very glad. My oldest graduated college this year, with honors, and didn’t have enough PTO accrued to go with us, (but how could I complain, with that for a reason?)….but the rest of us are here now, as I read this….

And, they created the menu on Facebook, as we tag teamed to each other. And, though its somewhat different now, the menu is hardly different. We searched out the same Ice Cream Shop, which is by now closed, but found a new one, for new memories, and hit the waves to body surf.

I feel so very lucky, as a mom, and as a person, by now, I am their friend, not so much an authority figure. They have the travel bug…Each of them has been to Europe, knows how to be safe, travel inexpensively, knows how to write and looks like one more will graduate next year (2010).

I have taken my first SRT, without knowing thats what I was doing, and can’t wait to take my next. And, you can tell from the jillions of photos on Facebook from Colorado, that I agree 100% with what you said!

You can bet I’ll be reading along!