See-Lust/Frustration

The sun is shining, the afternoon is free, and Mama's heart shouts: Seeeeeee 😍. How do I get the girls to take a trip to the water?! Quite plainly by saying: 'Should we go enjoy ice cream season and grab an ice cream at the lake?' The first murmur from the second oldest 'I want to build a castle in the garden. When are we coming back?!' The ice cream is tempting though 😈. Into the car we go, driving and driving and answering the question 'When will we finally be there?' ten times 🤪. Where are we even going? 5 people in the car, 4 wishes 😝. We don't count the Little One, as she just repeats whatever is said. Mommy decides 😋. Finally there... Oh dear, it looks 'too' crowded 😬. Come on, let’s get out and take a closer look... Complaints included, of course. Off-season, only open on Sat/Sun 🙈. Okay, sorry girls, back to the car we trudge. Some are already hanging out. 2nd stop: All good, kiosk open, ice cream available. Iced Matcha Latte for the big one unfortunately sold out - hormones are rising again, help!

Then finally at the lake. Enjoying, eating ice cream, playing at the shell beach, playground - what more could you want? Holiday vibes, happy potential... Well, it’s reality again today and not a magazine cover. Hormone monster vs. aspiring castle builder, overtired active child vs. spoiled tantrum thrower... Conflicts are lurking everywhere 👹. Stealing ice cream, potty trips, emptying shells, wrong spot, I want to go home, playground interloper, don’t look at me, I don’t want to stay here, cold, too hot, I want to go up there too and whatever else the little one can think of... The fleeting glances at the lake calm the slowly boiling blood of the mother, but it still doesn’t feel quite relaxing 😏. Back in the car, on the way home, for a snack or the big one should be on the train for training in 30 minutes. A scream, famine looming. And then we drive right into a traffic jam. Split-second decision, exit off, through the countryside. More screaming. Surrender, stop, raid a village store, FINALLY peace. But of course we missed the train for the big one 🤣. Luckily, there are driving parents.

Honestly, how do families manage to go on world trips with their children?! That has always been my dream... We can’t even manage to stay together for 3 hours at the lake 🤪.