Trip to Ocean Shores

kids at Ocean Shores

Ocean Shores sunset

The beauty of going on vacation with young kids is they only remember the fun times, the good parts. The days running around the beach, digging in the sand,  and splashing in the ocean. The nights staying up too late giggling in the hotel bed as we tell them repeatedly to go to sleep. They said it was the best vacation ever. Makes it totally worth it even if the Finn and I disagree. Las Vegas is the best trip ever. Just ask the Finn.

We took the kids to Ocean Shores for Labor Day weekend. We decided last minute to get out of town, so our choices for lodging were slim. While the Finn and I would not stay at this particular hotel again, the kids adored it. It had an observatory deck to see the ocean and mountains (with filthy windows you couldn’t see out), an indoor swimming pool (with half of the ceiling above the pool covered in tarps because it was under construction and possibly leaking into the pool) and easy access to the beach (with drunks wondering aimlessly along the path and cars honking and driving recklessly right outside the hotel parking lot.)

kids at Ocean Shores

For some reason, I thought a beach vacation would be relaxing. Why do I always forget that any vacation with young kids, no matter where you go, isn’t relaxing? It’s work. My kids are early risers and being on vacation doesn’t change their internal alarm clocks from waking up at 5:30am. Our hotel didn’t start serving microwaved scrambled eggs, undercooked sausage and heavily processed cereals until 7am. So, our kids watched their iPads for 1.5 hours and ate Pirate Booty at the crack of dawn because we needed to prevent them from screaming and waking the neighbors. The Finn and I took turns reminding Niko to use his inside voice which doesn’t exist. He only speaks in two voices- loud and yelling.

We bounced from breakfast, to the “tiny” hotel room as the kids called it (Because the last hotel room we stayed in was an extended stay, so it was larger. Spoiled!) to get dressed for the beach, schlepped all our stuff to the car, drove to the beach, unpacked everything, sunblock applied, and toys scattered about. We’re there ten minutes when one kid has to poop. So, we pack everything back up and head back to the room. Then repeat the unpacking process again when we head back to the beach after kid uses the bathroom.

buried crab

While it was exhausting for us, the kids had a positive outlook. It reminded me that life is all about how I perceive things. While the Finn and I saw the numerous bags of toys, snacks, and towels we needed for a measly hour trip to the beach, the kids saw a playground with sand, water, puddles and endless ways to use their imaginations. They buried toys and chased seagulls with squirt guns (Niko’s favorite activity) while we explained what a tide was and how it works. We hunted for crabs, saw jellyfish on the beach, and witnessed a fish being pecked to death by a seagull (or as Niko calls them- eagles. We’re still trying to explain the difference to him.) I also had to explain what marijuana was to my 8 year old since someone was vaping it on the beach and she was appalled by the smell.

The kids took the lessons in stride. They soaked up the information and kept asking questions. They were engaged and entertained by the outdoors, not electronics, which was so refreshing. I was happy to see them enjoy the ocean and all it has to offer. Or maybe I was stoned from the guy’s secondhand pot smoke? Either way, it made my heart happy.

ocean shores puddle

We closed down our summer at Ocean Shores and I’m looking forward to fall and getting back into a routine with school. I’ll miss their thirst for knowledge and mostly positive attitudes. But instead of being sad they’re gone (who am I kidding? Instead of sitting on my butt and catching up on Netflix while they’re at school), I’ll choose to see things in a positive light, like my kids do, and make this is a great remainder of the year for me. Stay tuned to see if I can enroll in the classes and activities I hope to during my free time. I’ll also try to fill you in what I’ve been up to since the last time I posted.

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