When we’re on the road and we cross over to another state, I say “Bye Minnesota!”

And my kids all say “Bye Minnesota!”

And then, Me: “Hello Wisconsin!”

And them: “Hello Wisconsin!”

This has a few benefits:

1. It gets everyone on the same page.
2. It aurally marks when you’re entering or leaving something. Sometimes these things shouldn’t go unnoticed.
3. It’s always good for a family to cheer something together.
4. It may help the kids learn geography.
5. It builds excitement.

I also do this to help myself more peacefully leave a place I love. I think, at least we can acknowlege that we’re leaving and not like we’re shaking the dust off our feet as we go:

“Bye Black Hills!”
“Bye Black Hills!”
“You Were a great place to visit!”
“You Were a great place to visit!”
“We Hope to be back in a few years!”
“We Hope to be back in a few years!”

See the whole “Dads and Vacations” list of tips here

Dads, if you are throwing a football (or frisbee or baseball . . . )around in a circle with a number of kids who have different abilities in throwing and catching, do this:

Start in a circle so close that you are almost touching. Start throwing the football and every time a participant successfully gets the ball to the next player he gets to take a step back.  If the catch is not made (the ball is dropped), the two players involved take a step towards each other.

The result is a uneven circle with all players perfectly spaced.

The good news is that generally speaking at least 50 percent of the throw/catch attempts will be successful.

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

and apply it to fatherhood. If so, it’s a bit scary:

If you are not proactively pushing your children towards Jesus, you are pushing them away from Him

Or said more expandedly: If you and your kids can experience the same amount of Joy on a vacation that costs less, by all means do it.

One benefit here is that you will be less tempted to experience regret when things don’t go perfectly.

And the good news is, kids often don’t need much to experience a great deal of wonder or have a lot of fun, especially if you haven’t set them up to need it. This can be a happy truth if you are very low on funds.

When it comes to extravagant trips, don’t start them young.

See the whole “Dads and Vacations” list of tips here

Enjoy both of them. Let God have them both.

See the whole “Dads and Vacations” list of tips here

. . . or your feelings about the trip while you’re in it.

Here is an idea you have to get used as you go on vacation: It is quite likely that bad things will happen on the trip. Not until Heaven are we guaranteed otherwise.

So someone may get injured, or a great attraction will be closed, or you might have car trouble or the weather will be horrid, or a fight might break out. And for a moment you might think “The trip will be ruined.”

But while I say that moments like this will likely happened, I think it is also very likely that the trip won’t actually be ruined. You’ll look back and say “That wasn’t as big a deal as I feared it was going to be.”

This is the way it should be. Don’t allow it to be other wise. Don’t think, “Never again – it’s not worth it if things like that might happen.”

No, instead remember the good point. The moment that were you surprised by the joy you experienced.  Focus on that.

And then thank and glorify God for it. It is all grace. Every good moment we get is Grace.

See the whole “Dads and Vacations” list of tips here

The Chief End of your vacation is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Try not to forget it or let your kids forget it. Every time you pray, pray that God will be glorified on your trip. Look for signs of God on your vacation. Talk about how nature points us to the splendor of heaven and being in God’s presence.

Every stop on your vacation has potential for instant object lesson material. Use it.

* Or rather, let God use you to bring your kids to Himself.

See the whole “Dads and Vacations” list of tips here

1. Find A Place For Them To Run.
2. Let the kids vote.
3. Don’t expect perfect behavior.
4. Bring them to God.
5. Don’t let the lowest moment of a trip dominate your memory of it.
6. It’s the Journey AND the destination.
7. Choose the less expensive vacation.
8. Note The Notable and Get Closure.

Disclaimer: All of these are a reminder to myself. We have yet to do any of these perfectly.

If anyone has any tip suggestions, let me know.

As you head into a vacation you might be tempted to think, “This trip is going to be so fun, surely my child will show his/her appreciation by being a more obedient/happy/non-complaining/unselfish offspring”, or “They’ll be enjoying it so much they won’t have time to fight with each other!”

I recommend avoiding thoughts like this, because they are setting you up for feelings of failure. And when you don’t get this good behavior, you’ll think, “Why am I paying all this money then?”

No, your kids are still your kids. Do your sins go away when you’re on vacation?

See the whole “Dads and Vacations” list of tips here