Conflicted

Mike and I have been discussing taking a mini family vacation for a couple of weeks now and I have been pondering where we could go that would be close, cheap and kid friendly...having a two year old and thirteen year old in tow really narrows that list down so I was excited about finally making a choice. We had thought about the beach but that is always pricey this time a year plus it's a pain trying to keep up with Brody around the ocean because he thinks it's a giant bathtub! It's also a pain in the ear hearing your teenage daughter huff and puff out of boredom while complaining that not having a friend tagging along sucks. 


We are stuck in between the Gulf and Atlanta so with the beach sounding like a nightmare our only alternative other than staying home is Atlanta. I have been to Atlanta several times and honestly had no idea what it had to offer other than a racetrack and Buckhead (nightlife) but after a friend told me about all of the "kid-friendly" activities it sounded like a dream!


Atlanta is a smorgasbord of educational fun waiting to happen for the family and I think we would all enjoy a trip to "Hotlanta"! I know the heat will be an issue but we already live in the Deep South where we're already hitting a toasty 85+ degrees so it's not like we aren't used to it. Half of all the attractions I am interested in are indoors so that will provide some relief from the sun in the big city. 


A few of places that I am eager to check out are the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Zoo Atlanta, World of Coca-Cola and the Children's Museum. 


All of this sounds great, right?!?!? Right, if your not conflicted like I am! For once when I get stoked about a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of our normal every day life I am only greeted with more hustle and bustle in the form of a school letter. Victoria cheerfully threw a letter at me this evening and after reading it my smile turned upside down into a frown. There is an after school event for her soccer team the weekend we had planned to go out of town. You have GOT to be kidding me...sEriOusLy?!? And not only is it the weekend we were planning to get away it's an overnight school thing so we can't just push the trip a couple of hours back. 


I know I probably sound just as shallow as she does at the beach grumbling about not having a friend to pal around with but I was really looking forward to getting away. My life has been nothing but 24/7 errand runner, Band Mom, Soccer Mom, Chef, Laundromat worker, Diaper changer, Wife and the list could go on & my husbands list is equally as long so this little retreat was a welcome break. 


I guess we will have to wait and book all vacations once we retire and the kids are out of school because it looks like their extra curricular activities will keep us very busy for the next 20 years or so!