10 Good Reasons Not to Take a Family Vacation

Family vacations aren't for everyone. In fact, most families would probably have more fun ... and appreciate each other more ... if parents and children took separate vacations. The parents could spend a week or two in Europe or the Caribbean while the children spend a few weeks ...or most of the summer at sleep away camp. Here are 10 practical reasons why:

Family Vacations Aren't Really Vacations At All

Vacations are intended to be well deserved respites from our usual routines like work and watching the kids. Taking the kids on vacation is just like having them at home ... only more expensive. In fact, it's almost as bad as taking your boss along.

Family Vacations Are More Expensive

It's much cheaper ... and much more fun for a married couple to go on vacation without the children. Family vacations are not "cheaper by the dozen".

Getting There Is An Unbearable Journey

Whether you're flying or driving, traveling with children is an ordeal. They're always hungry, thirsty, hot, cold or bored. And of course, when you travel, they always seem to have to go to the bathroom more than they do at home. Don't even think about taking the kids on a cruise. You're stuck on a ship with them in the middle of the ocean and there's no where for you to go but overboard!

Usually The Only Babysitter Is You

It's not easy to find trustworthy babysitters in strange cities. So unless you go to a Club Med with a Kids Village or all-inclusive tropical resort with supervised activities during the days and babysitters in the evening, you and your spouse are the only game in town. It doesn't make any sense to pay a lot of money to go on a vacation only so you can be the babysitter.

No Sex

One of the reasons couples need a vacation is to have wild passionate sex without worrying about making too much noise or being interrupted by the children. Taking the children on vacation usually means a "sexless vacation" for sex-starved parents.

It's Impossible To Keep The Kids Happy

Even if you plan every minute of every day around the children, you never can seem to satisfy them. Many parents think taking the kids to a child-friendly theme park created with them in mind, will guarantee that the kids will be happy. Unfortunately, this doesn't change a thing.

Rainy Days Are Mayhem

When it rains, it pours if you take children on vacation with you. Children expect perfect weather every day. If it rains, the kids act as if the weather is all your fault and torture you until it stops raining ... unless of course you're a genius and can find a way to amuse them until it stops raining.

You Can't Drink The Kids Away

When you're on vacation with the kids, you can't drink to much and go wild and have a great time. You and your wife have to stay sober and keep a constant eye on them so they don't get lost or drown. As a parent, you're the one who always has to be on your best behavior ... only the children can let loose and misbehave.

People Stop and Stare

Did you ever notice how whenever you're on vacation with the kids, even if they're well-behaved and just being kids and having a little fun, people who don't have children with them stop,stare and talk behind your back saying things like ... "our kids would never misbehave like that" ... or "some people just can't control their children" ... or "why don't they leave their kids at home"? The nerve of them!

You Never Can Take Just One

Once you take one family vacation with the kids, you set a precedent and start a "tradition". The children then expect to take a family vacation every year. Take a family vacation once, and you and your spouse will never take a vacation alone again until you're over the hill.

We love our children and we want only the best for them. That's why separate vacations for parents and children makes all the sense in the world.