I knew not everyday would be paradise…just didn’t think it would come so early in the trip. I thought maybe the first week or so would feel like vacation, because everything about this place feels like vacation. Then, in maybe a couple weeks, the pull of friends and home would start. That will probably still happen, but today caught me a bit by surprise. It was just one of those off days. And, in an attempt to have some perspective, I am telling myself that you need to have the off days to contrast with the good days. We will persevere.
Some highlights:
Parent: “I don’t think you want to wear a sweatshirt.” Child: “I’m going to.” Parent: I think you will be really hot and uncomfortable.” Child: “No, I won’t”
Thirty minutes later: “I am so hot. I don’t want to eat breakfast. I feel terrible. Can we go home? I hate it here.”
Parent: “Do you want to rent bikes and ride around.” Child: “No, I just want to go back to the condo. I want a down day.”
Back at the condo…before going into the pool:
Parent: “You should put on sunscreen.” Child: “I don’t need sunscreen.” Parent: “Sweetie, you’ll burn.” Child: “I don’t need sunscreen.”
After a short time at the pool…
Child: “Can I back to the condo?” Parent: “We haven’t been here very long.” Child: “I don’t care I want to go back.”
Later…
Child: “I don’t want to go to dinner.” Parent: “It’s only two blocks and I think you’re going to really like it.” Child: “I still don’t want to go.”
Five minutes later:
Child: “That was not two blocks. It was more like three or four.”
On the positive side, the boys had a great time body surfing at the end of the day and I had my second good latte in a row this morning, a good pina colada at dinner and enjoyed another glorious sunset.
