Growing up as an only child, I didn’t really learn until college how to play well with other kids; like taking turns and how to share. What it did give me was a great imagination and keen skills at impersonating characters, especially farm animal sounds. Yet, some of my fondest childhood memories, that seem to serve me greatest today, are all of the road trips with my Mom and family. I became an expert at how to occupy my time and have fun on what seemed like endless drives to fun destinations like Yosemite, the beach, and more (including the short hour trip to Grandma’s house that as a child seemed like the longest day).
Fast forward to later in life, being married for 15 years to a man that was 1 of 7 siblings, ensured lots of kids at every family gathering. I was blessed to get some great training from those amazing Clauss nieces and nephews on giant trips to Niagara Falls, Disney World, and the annual summer lake house retreats. Road trips, family vacations, holiday get-togethers and kiddie birthday parties…became a part of my life I loved and filled the void from not having kids of my own.
Now I was not always great with kids. I went from the not-so-grown-up adult that once bonked an annoying kid over the head with his own shoe because, well, “he hit me first,” to the patient and entertaining fun adult that kids can’t wait to have visit. But it was last October that my skills were put to the test. My good friends invited me to join their family road trip down the southern coast of Brazil. Sounds great. Then I mapped it! Um, what? 19 hours one way? Yikes. But these are close friends and I love the kids so … I opted to meet them at the top and do the drive back. And wouldn’t you know that it was one of the best trips of my life. Who knew. Here’s what I’ve learned: