Travelling as an Adult With Family? Here’s How to Stay Sane

As an adult planning a vacation with a parent or older relative, it can be difficult to know what to expect. Now that you're an adult, wouldn't it be great that you could talk, laugh, and make friends like before? Or, after an argument about where to stop for lunch, you might flash back from the coach in a chilly silence. It's hard enough to master parent-child relationships as an adult, but when you mix in the stress of travel, it's easy to mess things up. but it is not the truth. As long as you enter your family vacation with clear expectations, you may find that this is everything you want and more. Here are my top 5 tips for traveling with my family as an adult.

 

Plan one's time

 

You may already be on this journey to spend more time together, but that doesn't mean you don't need space. Book individual rooms, get individual tents, and even schedule some individual activities. When you're on vacation, you may have to book some vacations, and while it's admirable that you choose to spend time with your family, you still need time to relax in your own space. It can also take some of the stress out of the whole family when you have your own corner to retreat to and possibly cool off.

Make sure you have boundaries and they are respected

 

This is so important! If your parents (or other relatives) are the type of people who constantly push your boundaries and don't try to follow or respect them, I fear going out with them might not be the best idea. Setting boundaries doesn't mean being cold, cruel, or just making laws; it means knowing your limits and communicating them clearly to others to ensure you feel comfortable and safe. Things like personal space, topics you want to avoid, and how to meet your own needs are perfectly valid areas for setting boundaries. Setting boundaries is a must for a family outing, as long as you set them clearly, kindly, and stick to them (with respect for others, of course!)

 

Compromise

 

As a final note, there is definitely a difference between setting boundaries and being demanding, stubborn, and rigid about your personal desires. If you expect respect, you should give it back. This doesn't mean sacrificing your limits, but staying flexible and adaptable while you can stick to everything else. This means taking into account the emotions, needs and desires of others, and finding compromises when disagreements arise. That means choosing your battles and letting things happen from time to time. You won't always agree, and sometimes other people's boundaries can interfere with your preferences. You are an adult now, and that's part of being an adult. Sadly, gone are the days of busy work.

 

Try not to fall behind

 

It's easy to get back into the rhythm of family life on these trips, the problem is that the rhythm is usually based on the fact that you're a kid. Family dynamics are always tricky, and turning yourself into someone who is totally dependent on others for their every need can make you sick and your parents even worse. Sure, your caregiver will love the chance to spoil you, but demanding, unreasonable, and whining is not good for the holiday spirit. I mean love, but you have to grow up.

Comminicate

 

Final communication! You are no longer a child, you can use your words. Speak up if something bothers you, speak up if you want to express your opinion, and then talk about your thoughts. Equally important: listen. Listen to your family's thoughts, feelings and needs. Keeping everything open can prevent resentment and arguments over time and can also increase your time with your family. You can even get to know each other better!