I remember going “Down the Shore” when I was a kid to Sea Isle City. We lived in Philly at the time. Now I live down here in another town all year round. I miss that vacation feeling driving the hour and depending on traffic, minutes it took to get there. Catching a smell of the salt air was when the excitement in my belly would build…telling me we were almost there. The sound of seagulls was music to my ears.

I loved the fun in the sun, but I loved when it rained too. I remember it flooded often there, so we would be stuck in the house. My Gram would bust out the UNO cards and we would enjoyed two of my favorite things nowadays, food and family. I swear food tastes better on vacation. So many vivid memories of the house we rented. I think it was maybe just two years, but in kid world, made a huge impression.  Lots of brown décor in that home. It was the early 80s the, so the shore house was probably done in the 70’s.

Fast forward to being a parent in the summer at the shore. When you’re a tourists, shopping, going out to eat, and even playing games like I did back in the day is perfect. When it rains on your regular, normal day, what do you do? When my hubby is off, we plan game nights/days, because with five kids, trying to find a movie everyone likes is like trying to find the Holy Grail. Games always end up with yelling and tears, despite our good intentions. My husband will buy treats like soda and ice cream, not the organic, non-GMO kind I get. Yay for Dad. I roll my eyes and smile as he creates memories for them.

Today he was working. My oldest daughter was babysitting my friend’s kids. I had no fun intentions. I had laundry I had to fold that was sitting in a basket for a week. I let the day recharge me. I made healthy smoothies. I took five different snack, crackers, cheese puffs (healthy kinds which were iffy on taste by themselves) and combined them into a symphony of cheesy flavor mix. I made myself a healthy dinner. Cooking is something I actually love. One of my go-to’s for getting my creative juices flowing is cooking, among others like music, putting on make-up and creating a look with my outfit, exercise, or nature. My two youngest sons are now watching the LEGO movie for the 100th time. My oldest son is being a teenager and watching Netflix. The baby, my youngest daughter is asleep in my lap. We needed this.

We have to take those veg-out days to just be.  You may accomplish some things, like cooking meals, and stuff around the house, but it’s different.  There’s no pressure.  Just ease.  You don’t force anything.  There’s just a freedom feeling of almost being a kid. You can relax.  Nothing needs to happen or get done.  And play is a necessity of life for the spirit.  That I know, but sometimes forget.