Vacation

  We have been in Florida for the past 7 days.  My dad and his wife live in Naples in the winter.  It is such a different life with them.  A life of no money worries, a life of no children, and most importantly, a life of sunshine and warmth!  It was 88-90 degrees and sunny.  Every single day!  Gorgeous!

  What I mean by a life of no children, is they don't have children.  This is a life that is completely foreign to me.  They live day to day, dictated by their whims.  They eat dinner at 8:30 at night!  WOW!  What a concept!  My children go to bed at 9.  So it was an interesting week.  Because my dad and his wife are so removed from our lifestyle, I tried very very hard to understand their lifestyle.  I still don't get them. 

  A few examples,  they used only plastic plates for us to eat off of.  Because they didn't want chipped plates or bowls.  Really??  Chairs couldn't be dragged across the floor, it would cause scratches on the tiles.  Chairs at the counter were not for spinning around on.  Really??  Even I sit at a counter and spin!!  I mean I do understand the rules, it's just, really??  They are kids!  They want to eat as fast as they can to go play in the pool!  They drag their chairs to get closer to PaPa.  Counter chairs are magical spinning rides.  Everything in front of them is to jump into, push across, or try and figure out another use for.  I love how kids minds work.  They are always thinking. 


  I don't mean to sound whiny and ungrateful.  Sorry if I do.  A week in a gorgeous home with a pool.  Fishing every day.  We went to beaches and museums.  Ate fantastic meals, (at 8:30 at night!).  It's just that being there was like being in a foreign country.  A country that doesn't have children and doesn't want to either!  My 3 children handled things very well.  It bothered me way more than it did them.  They don't know a life that doesn't revolve completely around them and their schedules.  So does that mean my children are oblivious to all this or does it mean they are happy and well adjusted kids?  Hopefully, they are well adjusted kids.