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Month: March 2014
Dreaming Of Dreams Palm Beach
When you have three children who are all four years apart, everyone has a different agenda. It is important to find a vacation resort where there is something for everyone and for every age.
We recently traveled to Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, and we found that everyone in our family from ages 4 to 12 had more than enough actives to choose from. My 12-year-old loved the daily games on the beach that included The Olympics and water sports, and all three of them got to bungee jump.
There was a daily Spanish class in a beautiful gazebo for all ages, diving classes and even arts and crafts, poolside. There were many water sports to choose from that included tubing and an ocean rock climbing wall. So, for kids who want action, this was the place! There were also plenty of snorkeling and scuba tours to see all of the fish and corals up-close. It was surprising to learn that there are different scuba tank sizes, not just adult size and child size like many people would probably think. Being able to see fish swim deep in the water with us was truly breath-taking! Even if you only go snorkeling you can still see plenty of beauty in the shallow corals.
One thing we didn’t manage to cross off our bucket list, however, was seeing an alligator. The boys are obsessed with them, so I’ve been looking at the Best Places to See an Alligator in Myrtle Beach, SC. Hopefully we can see one soon!
They also have a lovely kids club with an incredible staff. They had a game room with everything from pool to ping pong, and, of course, video games for a rainy day. If your child wants to bring their own then that’s fine too, they can check out this full list of Roblox scripts as well so they can fill their time without getting too bored. So, as you can imagine, this is probably where the kids will be spending most of their time, regardless of whether or not it is raining. I overheard another family saying how they had all the game consoles and games that you could ever dream about having, which is good news for my kids who had recently begged me to look into this eso build guide to help them to improve their Elder Scrolls Online gameplay. So, with any luck, this game will be lurking amongst the video games. When I knew the children would be well catered for, I decided to place focus on me, which as it happens was a great idea, as they have one of the prettiest spas I have ever seen. The bonus of Dreams Palm Beach was the staff. In my many years of traveling, we have never come across a more “excellente” friendly, hard-working and generous staff, where departing made it extra sad to leave these new friends behind.
The resort had nightlife that included Magic Shows, a Circus and even a water show, poolside, with many dancing and singing performers. The best part, of course, was all being together beachside and walking along a beautiful beach with our feet in the sand.
We all hope to return to Dreams Palm Beach in Punta Cana again soon. Vacations go by so quickly that in this wintery moment, it all felt like a dream.
Divorce Diaries: Top 12 List of Two Years of Separation
Wow, what a difference two years makes. Two years ago at this time, my husband and I decided to separate. If it wasn’t for a friend of ours recommending that we got in touch with a specialist divorce lawyer like PETERS MAY – SPECIALIST DIVORCE & FAMILY LAWYERS IN MAYFAIR, LONDON, I feel as if this divorce process would have went a completely different way. Even though it wasn’t the best time in my life, it was for the best. We were able to sort out our finances and other things that needed to be done. I, honestly, had no idea that divorce and Social Security were so intertwined. And while so many people stay together for various reasons, including for the sake of their kids, we decided to separate for the sake of our kids — among other things. And it’s the best thing I could have done. I encourage anyone who isn’t happy with their marriage and have tried everything to contact someone like Arnold Wadsworth & Coggins (http://arnoldwadsworth.com/salt-lake-city-divorce-attorney/) to help you with divorce proceedings.
Now, looking back on my first few pieces, and my first two years as a mom on my own, I’m going back in order to move forward and to hopefully help others just starting their journey.
So here’s my top 12 list after two years of separation.
1. I love living alone with my boys. Anything is possible once you are in a situation. So what might have seemed scary before, becomes perfectly routine — so much so that I can’t imagine it any other way.
2. I’m a better mom than I’ve ever been. No doubt. No question. I’m the mom in the pool now. And I can’t get out! I’ve been on two vacations to beaches, and I can’t wait to go back. I’m the mom on the ski slopes. I’m the mom doing the homework. I’m the mom shuttling my kids to playdates, classes and field trips all while working full time. I am actually a stay at home, full time working mom, and loving every minute of it.
3. I can do anything. You know when you complain that your spouse is traveling and it’s so hard because you have to do dinner, bath, homework and bedtime all alone? You know that rainy, snowy morning when you’re so glad your spouse can divide and conquer? You know when you don’t know how you’ll manage bedtime by yourself, or you’ve never traveled alone with your kids? I discovered I can do it all. And I do it happily. Even when there are emergencies and challenges along the way!
4. Friendships Do Change. Boy was I wrong. Or maybe just really hopeful. In my piece, “Reinventing Divorce,” I wrote to our friends.
To our friends who are shocked and sad, please don’t be.
We both deserve to be happy. We both deserve another chance. Our kids deserve to grow up in homes without tension, without arguments, without parents who are angry that they are still together.
We hope to learn from both of our divorced parents’ ways.
You won’t have to choose sides. You can continue with both of us.
And now, here’s what I’ve learned about friends and divorce. You can use a Divorce Lawyer Chicago to help you split up your belongings, decide who gets what and then discuss what happens with your kids. But what about friends? You leave with whom you came in with. Friendships that were made as a couple are the trickier ones. For the most part, people pick one person. Or one party tries harder with the relationships they care about the most. Other friends feel awkward and back away. Facebook keeps people tied together who otherwise wouldn’t stay in touch, or are on the “other side,” thus giving a false sense of remaining relations.
5. I also wrote, “Don’t Call Me A Single Mom.” I still support the point of the piece but stand corrected with the title until there is a better term that is universally recognized. While I’m thrilled to be “a single mom,” my kids do have a dad, BUT I am often in a position of being “a single mom.” I’m still thinking about this one.
And as far as the little things:
6. I love when my boys crawl in my bed in the middle of the night and I only have to answer to or judge myself.
7. I love giving my boys chocolate for breakfast as a treat and no one else has a say.
8. I can pay all of my bills (thanks to Chase for balancing for me!)
9. I can shop and no one cares what I come home with since I’m making my own money and report only to myself.
10. I can change lightbulbs but I’m still struggling with all of the remotes (it’s amazing I haven’t thrown them at the TV yet!)
11. I kill bugs without being squeamish.
12. I have mastered the system. I am happy, and I have a free babysitter when my kids are with their dad.
To view the article in the Huffington Post, click here.
Do You Do MultiGenerational Travel?
Recently we headed down to the Dominican Republic with the grandparents in tow. We headed to Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana, which is an all- inclusive resort in Punta Cana. This is now our seventh trip as a multigenerational crew, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
To see your own children with your parents, experiencing a new city, food or adventure, is one of my greatest pleasures. When you take everyone out of their daily environments and routines, it is like a breath of fresh air washing over you.
I am not saying that everything is perfect, and, at times, we can even look like a hot mess debating over restaurants and activities, but that is why you can break off into smaller groups much more easily, as well. Quite often, my son, my husband and my dad will want to golf or snorkeling, whereas we girls and Nana are left with more artsy adventures, like seashell collecting.
The key to multigenerational travel is keeping the agenda light and knowing these are precious moments that do not last forever. I also reflect upon how much my parents did for me as a kid, and I want so badly to return that favor. Having them join us on our family vacations is not only meaningful but is also my way of saying thank you. Going on a road trip vacation with the extended family is not that easy in a single car and perhaps an RV is worth considering. Of course, you’ll need somewhere to store it – RV Storage Buildings are available to be constructed on your property should you need it.
Of course, if you do intend on traveling with older relatives it is important to make sure that you visit somewhere that everyone can afford. Our parents are very financially independent and have even released some of the equity from their home. They had thought about freeing up some of the value of their home to live out their retirement in style for some time, and after a friend told them to check out The Equity Release Experts online, the deal was all but sealed.
Our parents decided that they would much rather have the cash value of their property in hand to enjoy while they are still relatively active so that they can travel as much as possible. So far they have put the money towards well over a dozen exciting vacations. I do not blame them at all. Your retirement is all about doing what makes you happy after all, and thanks to retirement mortgages, more elderly people than ever before are enjoying their golden years to the full.
The other bonus to this traveling crew is built-in babysitting! I find that my husband and I can take a break and go out for dinner, and even have an evening alone. Sometimes when I get this opportunity I play bingo games on my mobile because it tends to give me stress relief as well as winning some cash. Recently I have decided to compare bingo sites so that I can find the best one for my money, either way, an evening alone is still bliss. It is hard to have a family vacation and also, somehow, simultaneously give oneself a vacation. The grandparents are the secret weapon for this. Even if you are still “on duty”, having another set of eyeballs on your kids, whether they are building sandcastles or monitoring pool-time, is extremely helpful. I actually read an entire book this past vacation.
Yes, there are amazing kids clubs, too. I have experienced them at Dreams Resorts & Spas and Beaches Resorts; however, still being able to all be together during the day is important to me. I don’t want to take a family vacation and not see my children.
The bottom line is that you should be appreciative when you are a multigenerational traveling crew. It is about time together, and we all know time is fleeting, especially when it comes to our grandparents.
No matter where you are going on your vacation or how many people you take, you’ve got to be on top of all your financials for it. Taking everyone on a countryside trip, (if you’re going across the pond to England) means that you’ll need to know the tax laws of that country and how they apply if you want to get a caravan, for instance, it also is the same for motorhomes and campervans and must be adhered to.