Beach Babies… actually in the ocean! I didn’t bribe them for this picture.
Greetings from Myrtle Beach!
Like us, you may be soon heading to (or recently returned from) some time at the beach with your family. Seriously, we are really having a great time in spite of with our six- and four-year-old! I am sitting here on our balcony, enjoying my cup of coffee and listening to the sound of the waves crashing. It really is quite beautiful.
For those of you about to embark on your beach journey with small children, I feel compelled to share some words of wisdom. Recent beach-returners, chime in! These are the rules I’ve learned so far.
- Getting lost and almost running over a family of ducks will only make you appreciate arriving at your beach destination that much more.
- The number and volume of backseat sibling spats will increase the longer you are lost on the way to the beach.
- For new swimmers, pool trumps ocean. This will result in your daughter constantly whining, while you’re on a gorgeous beach, how she wants to go to the pool. Concentrating on the sound of the ocean helps offset the whining only slightly.
Ahh the alluring pool.
- For moms and dads, ocean trumps pool. Your dream of a laying down on a towel and reading on the sand All Day is just that. YOUR dream. Be prepared to fight for it.
- The kids’ love of the iPads and pool trump mommy’s desire to lay on the beach. Thus more whining. See #3 above.
- Sand? What sand? All those times your son demanded to go play in the sand? Forget it. The biggest sandbox he can imagine is now right in front of him, and he whines to go the pool. {Yes, this is a repeat of #3 but it bears repeating because… WTH!?}.
- The kids won’t behave better just because you’re on vacation. You still have to be a parent on vacation. Bummer! Setting rules, establishing limits, and enforcing time-out still apply, oh my! But…
- Your kids’ wonder will make it all worth it. Like my son asking, “Is the ocean made of soap?” and…
- Bribing the children to stop crying, to play, and to try a new swimming move is OK. You’re on vacation! Let the dollar bills fly, y’all! Make it rain!
- You can’t make all the people happy all the time…. but everybody will be happy at least some of the time and that is terrific! You’re not at home and that rocks! And you’re at the BEACH. With a POOL! That you can swim in even at night if you want!
As long as you know the rules up front, you’ll have a great time! I’m already dreaming of our trip to the beach next year!
About Mary Beth Cox