Family Gap Year Post #21: Hawaiian Island Hopping—Our Family Dynamic (July, Part 2)
Today I’m going to reflect on what our Family Dynamic was like during our month of island hopping around Hawai’i. Spending more time together (and hopefully growing closer) as a family is one of the primary reasons we wanted to go on a Family Gap Year.
Family Dynamic
Highs
There are so many sweet little highs that come from spending more time with my children.
There was the time Henry and I saw a shooting star together while laying in the grass in Maui and we made a collective wish that this trip brings us closer together as a family.
There were the evenings spent diving through waves with my children in the ocean off Waikiki Beach.
There was the time we sat on a curb in a parking lot in Oahu eating shave ice from a place we saw recommended on one of our favorite shows (Somebody Feed Phil).
I feel like I am making up for lost time, and that feels really good.
This month we read Alcatraz: Believe It or Not together. I love when Henry actively requests that I read out loud.
And because I’m less stressed, I’m able to show up better for my children. I’m trying to correct my tendency to over-control my children by saying yes to their requests whenever I can. I try to lean in more to their visions and their ideas of how life should unfold (except we are not ending out trip early!).
Lows
An expert on the science of fun said that he has never interviewed a family who regretted taking a Family Gap Year. That was a relief to hear! I needed those words of encouragement this month. Our lows were really low.
The sibling rivalry is out of control. I’m in the process of trying to set up a mediated conversation for them, so they can talk it out in a safe space.
And it didn’t help that we ended our two months of on-the-road traveling by staying for a week at a campground with no electricity and not very good WiFi!
It’s so hard to help everyone get their needs meet within a dynamic and diverse family.
Stay tuned for next week’s post when I talk about Lodging & Food. In the meantime, you can see daily update on Instagram or weekly updates in my newsletter!