It is that time of year, when many of us are planning or have just returned from our vacations, and I’ve just gotten back from a great vacation! As any adult can attest, there is something so energizing about getting away from work and your everyday life. One of the things I like best about vacations is the chance to try something new and different, especially when you can stretch yourself beyond your usual limits. Yes, that is me in the photos, and if you didn’t guess, facing my fear of heights was a definite stretch beyond my usual limits! It was definitely nerve wracking for me being up on a cliff, but I felt such a sense of accomplishment when it was all over! And it has definitely given me something to talk about!

There weren’t any kids on that cliff, but as you are planning your vacation, you might think about things you and your family can do that would be new, and that might give someone in the family a real sense of accomplishment. You don’t want to push your kids into something they are truly not willing to do, but gently supporting them while they try something that is a little scary for them can really build up your kids’ self confidence and make their summer. A friend of mine recently told me about taking his daughter, who is veryshy, to a camp she was interested in. It was a little hard for her at first, but her parents were there and reassured her, and now she wants to go back every year for the rest of her life! This was a summer she will never forget. What a wonderful gift!

What did you do on your vacation?