Pismo Beach: Our family's first work-vacation

Over Labor Day weekend, our family drove up the coast for three hours to a lovely tourist spot called Pismo Beach. This was our family's first "work-vacation" (or shall I call it "workation?"). Seth was hired to clean Hunter Douglas window treatments at a home near Pismo Beach, so we decided to make a family vacation out of it. We wouldn't save much money from the job, but we'd pay for the whole weekend and be able to splurge a bit.

We left early Friday morning, and my hope was that both kids would sleep in the car. But, alas, we had no such luck. We stopped briefly in Montecito for a coffee, a muffin, and a potty break, and then resumed our drive. Both kids were pretty tired and cranky by the time we arrived at the hotel.

We had splurged on a suite at the Hilton Gardens so that we could close off one room with the kids in it when the went to sleep at 7:00 p.m. This proved to be a very prudent decision. While Seth was working, Annalisa took a nap and Josh and I played games. Four hours later, Seth returned, and we went for a delicious swim in the hotel pool. The rest of the evening was low-key: Seth and Josh went grocery shopping and brought back Thai food for dinner, and then the kids went to bed and we retired to our room to watch TV.

On Saturday morning, the kids woke up bright and early, and we headed to Pismo Pier for breakfast. After feasting on eggs, potatoes, bacon and pancakes, we went for a walk on the pier. The minute he placed a foot on the pier, however, Josh took off in a full-blown sprint. He ran...and ran...and ran...and didn't stop until he got to the end. Josh marveled at the fishermen and pelicans. Annalisa marveled at everything and everyone. After a brief walk around the beach, it was time to return to the hotel for Annalisa's morning nap.

To be honest, we spent much of our three-day trip in the hotel room. When traveling with two young children, it's difficult to stay out and about for very long. Nevertheless, Seth and I enjoyed indulging in crab legs and bottle of white wine. We also loved swimming in the warm pool and relaxing in the hot tup, strolling around downtown San Luis Obispo, visiting Avila Beach, and just being OUT of hot, busy L.A. for weekend. 

It was also our trial run at a "work-ation," and I gotta say, I kinda like 'em. 

Josh's First Day of Preschool

The day did not go as planned. Then again, does it ever?

In my fantasy version of the day, Josh woke up excited and eager to attend his first day of preschool. He cooperated while I dressed him up in smart-looking shorts and a coordinated shirt. I combed his hair, brushed his teeth, and snapped a First Day Photo of my handsome little preschooler with his Thomas the Train backpack.

Here's the picture I had planned to take:

In reality, the morning went much differently than I had imagined. Josh woke up cranky and uncooperative. Everything was a battle. He screamed and cried when I put on his navy blue Polo Ralph Lauren shorts (because they were too roomy in the waist), so had to settle for navy play shorts (with an elastic waist band) and a Hawaiian shirt. He resolutely refused to put on his new tennis shoes, so I ended up having to put them in his backpack and taking him to his classroom barefoot! And, the first day photo…never happened. Josh arrived at his preschool class barefoot, tear-stained, and grumpy. 

When we arrived promptly at 9:00am, I explained the “no shoes” incident to his teachers, who told me not to worry. “We’ve seen everything,” they calmly stated. “We’ll talk about the importance of keeping our feet safe at school.” Oh well, it could have been worse. The mom next to me had to pry her screaming, clingy son off of her and make a mad dash out the door. Josh, by contrast, happily sat (shoeless) in the circle with his peers.

The first day was a short day- only two and a half hours- barely enough time to get home and back. When I arrived, I saw a little boy who looked like Josh playing with a little girl. But, he wasn’t dressed in the clothes I dressed him in or his extra clothes. At closer look, I realized that it was, indeed, Josh, so I figured he must have had a potty accident and the teachers had put him in the wrong clothes.

When I inquired about the mystery clothes, his teachers told me that Josh had had not one, but TWO potty accidents, so they had put him in school clothes. I was mortified. The teachers, however, were very nonchalant about it. Not to worry, they assured me. He’ll learn.

Well, we have a fresh start next week, so, fingers crossed, it’ll go much more smoothly.

 (Josh's actual First Day of Preschool photos)

Regrets

I don't believe in regrets. After all, there is nothing we can do to change the past. All we can do is learn from the past and use it to change our present and our guide our future.

If I did believe in regrets, I could give you a whole list of them, such as:

I regret not taking more family photos, especially some with ME in them.
I regret not having had professional photos taken (then again, we couldn't have afforded these).
I regret not writing down my children's milestones right when they happened (because I forget the specifics now).
I regret not hugging, kissing, and appreciating my children more when they were teeny tiny babies because they are growing up so quickly (but sometimes I find myself  wishing they were older so I could finally get a decent night sleep!)
I regret not starting a blog sooner...
...and the list goes on.

And, if I'm not careful and start to go down this path of regrets, I could easily start regretting my career choice, my decision to travel around the world, my overseas teaching experience...and a whole host of other dangerous and useless regrets. Because all of these decisions (which were actually the RIGHT  decisions) came with costs and trade-offs (as all big decisions do). 

We all make decisions based on the best information (and limitations of time, money, and resources) that we have at the time. We don't know what the future holds, so we have to go with our gut and hope for the best. We make our decision and we don't look back.

And, about those things we didn't do that we "should have" done...? Well, obviously, we can't change our lack of action. Rather, we forge ahead and make goals and action plans for the present and future.

So, I won't dwell on regrets. Rather, I will create "I will" statements for the future:

I will start taking more family photos.
I will find a way to occasionally pay for professional photos.
I will appreciate my children each day and tell them I love them.
And as for the blog....

Well, here it is. My imperfect, ever-evolving, three years overdue blog. Better late than never.