Here's a secret: Going on vacation with the kids is a lot of work.
Parents are often exhausted after being full-time nannies, swim or snow board instructors, drivers, and entertainment directors. And they have spent a lot of money.
Family vacations can be defeated by expectations that are too high. One kid gets sick, another gets testy, and everyone decides they don't really like the resort.
All that having been said, it's time to plan your annual vacation with the family.
* Don't go far, especially with small kids. It's misery for a one-year-old to fly for 12 hours to Paris, transfer, walk through the airport, and so forth. And they are going to make you miserable too. According to Meredith Gordon, writing in Mom.com, this is a rookie mistake. Kids can't tell the difference between a beach in Florida and one in Bali. Choose something close.
* Go someplace the kids will love. Forget the museum. Just go to that splash park and let the kids frolic.
* Let the kids eat cake and burgers. Don't expect the kids to enjoy that great sushi restaurant you heard about. Just let them stay up late and eat stuff they can't eat at home.
* Let them use their devices. It's a journey. So what if they want to watch the same movie 400 times.
* Travel somewhere you can afford. Nothing is worse than being stressed about money. Stuff will come up. Give yourself enough room to afford that expensive trinket or treat that the kids are begging for.