Vacation Prep is Exhausting for Frum Moms

↑ Ema of 5

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 2:10 pm

amother Burlywood wrote:

It's a family trip. You make amazing memories on family trips. Not only on vacations.

I think of a solo trip as a trip, and vacation is with my family. When my husband and I go away for a day, we go away not on vacation. Vacation (to me) is a longer break, with other people. That’s just the way I see it. I know there are plenty of people out there who don’t agree, and that’s fine.

amother

Jade

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 2:45 pm

"Vacation " with a family is definitely not a Vacation for mom and prob not for dad either. (My husband always says he works harder on family trips than when he's at work. And hes someone that preforms physical labor on his feet all day).
All jokes aside unless children are all under 5yrs old mom should not be doing all the prep. Kids cqn do shopping ,packing, loading and unloading car...many jobs can and should be delegated

Raisin

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 3:02 pm

We do a simple menu on vacation. Bring hot dogs, burgers, pargiot, steak, chicken breast. You can hopefully buy fresh fish locally if you like that. BBQ or george foreman every night. Serve with pita/buns (pita fits compactly into frezers) or very easy side like instant couscous/rice mix. Cut up some veggies.

Your husband/older kids can absolutely take responsibility for some of the meals. They are often more open to this when it is a bbq. Smile

.

breakfast is cereal and milk or toast.

Lunch is bread and cheese/eggs/tuna/spreads. Kids make their own. We bring a sandwich toaster.

Finding a vacation spot closer to kosher amenities if that exists where you are is definitely a great idea.

amother

Chicory ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 3:02 pm

Hi! Chances are you are a fellow Joburger, and I know exactly how you feel. I have one big rule - I don't cook on vacation. My husband or sons do the barbeque "braai" for suppers. We take a snackwich and breakfast is cereal and milk or toast. Lunch tuna/cheese/parve hot dogs/ gets prepared on the snackwich. French fries on the snackwich. Cold cut sandwiches or wraps for supper for times we're out during the day and don't have time to prepare a barbeque.
As the kids get older it gets easier, they can pack disposable, non-perishables, make a menu, shopping list, etc.
But I don't think most Americans have an idea of what remote means, where you might be an hour away from the closest mini market which has at most kosher soda, potato chips and canned vegetables. So you really need to make sure you have everything you'll need especially if you're going to be there over Shabbos.
But still there's nothing like spending some time away at some remote destination without seeing a soul you know. Enjoy!!!

amother

Nutmeg

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 3:44 pm

amother Hotpink wrote:

I never cook when I'm on vacation. That's not called a vacation! For a few days the family could survive on pb sandwiches, canned tuna, cereal, frozen pizza and sometimes maybe a barbecue.

Whenever I've tried this approach, we all ended up grouchy and crotchety, including me. The food doesn't have to be gourmet, but I find that unless we have at least one solid, cooked meal a day we don't enjoy ourselves anyway. We mainly do barbecues when we go away. Schlepping the meat and all the paraphernalia is indeed a right pain but its worth it not to have to deal with the kvetching.