A Favorite Family Tradition

Every summer all of my extended family on my mother’s side gathers for an annual vacation. This year, thanks to baby Franklin, our group reached a count of 19.

The last few summers our group has traveled to the beach at Gulf Shores, Alabama, but in years past, our trips have included some unique locations. We’ve lassoed horses on a dude ranch in Colorado, traversed Indian ruins in Santa Fe and consumed countless servings of frozen yogurt on a few cruises.

But this annual trip is really not about traveling to a fun place. Don’t get me wrong, I love to travel and the beach is my happy place, but this getaway is more than just a week spent playing in the ocean. It’s a chance to pause the outside world and reconnect with loved ones.

Group photo from our trip this year - not pictured are my cousin Joseph and his wife Lindsay who were unable to come and dearly missed. 

My grandparents started this tradition years ago. They wanted to gather their family for a few days and simply spend time together. Eat good food, play dominos, sleep late, take long walks and just check in and see where life has taken everyone in the previous year. Ultimately this week is a testament to how they prioritize family.

When I was about 8 years old, my grandfather passed away while on our annual trip. We went fishing that morning and later that day, he didn’t wake up from his afternoon nap. As tragic as his death was, we found comfort knowing he spent his final days surrounded by his family, the thing he valued most in life. Since then, my grandmother has planned countless family trips, continuing their tradition of gathering family together. I think my grandfather would be so happy to know we now need nine bedrooms to house our growing group.

View from the third floor “baby penthouse.” For the past three years, family members with babies have stayed in the third floor suite.

The nice thing about the trip is the laid back nature of it all. Not many rules exist except one – no stowaways, i.e. boyfriends, girlfriends or friends. We all joke that you must have a ring to join the fun. After all this week is about reconnecting with family, and every year the trip seems to fly by and I’m left wishing for more time together.

And I really can’t thank my grandmother enough for giving us this experience. Since becoming a parent and having to make mature decisions like not spending Franklin’s monthly college savings money at Target, I’m even more grateful for the financial sacrifice she makes to bring us all together. I’m sure she doesn’t view it as a sacrifice, probably more like an investment in family, but it’s no easy feat funding a family vacation. One day Ben and I hope to continue this tradition with our own family.

While writing this post, I was reminded of some parenting advice I recently read. The author said the greatest gift you can give your child is your time. I absolutely agree and am so grateful for the time I have spent with my family on our annual trips. It is indeed the greatest gift.