Big Break: 3 Ways to Make the Most of Vacation

The Christmas Season has left us, with only a few public places left with some decorations still up, though I’m sure by now that people have moved on to tackling the daily grind again, with more verve given the restful break we had in December.

I think breaks are necessary in the large scheme of things; it’s great that we naturally have seasons in our calendar (whether they are religious in nature or related to the effects of the Earth’s revolution around the sun) to force us to take them. We really could benefit from a break, and it doesn't have to be a family vacation abroad; it doesn't even have to be a staycation. It just has to be a change in routine; in the things we do daily. Changing routines slows the pace and gives us a little more time to breathe, think, and pray.

So, for this post I want to list down a few things (which I will call lessons, as they are something I learned) that I thought made the break particularly helpful for us—and I hope when the next break rolls around (hello summer vacation), we can remember them so we can help ourselves get back to the daily routine with better resolve.

The first lesson is that we can use the time to look around and review how we might like to change things; for instance, to review how we've been using some of our furniture and see if we can put them somewhere else so they can be more useful. Another is to look at how things have changed with the people in the family—children are not babies forever, and we adult age, too. Are there any new needs to consider or things that we don’t need anymore? I say this because a break is the perfect time to pay attention to growing. We can look at what we have stopped using, the toys or books we have stopped playing with or reading, or the clothes the children have outgrown. Could we let go of those things?

Growing

Another thing to notice is the new things the children can do. Their growing is not just noticeable on the clothes that don’t fit anymore—it’s also evident in the things they can now do (or now do better): reach for high objects, watch the younger ones, help with the laundry, the table, and eventually the dishes. Use this knowledge to give them more responsibilities around the house! Other new things they might be able to do are play more structured games: are they ready for Scrabble or just Boggle? Or how about frisbee or collective jump rope? We can also look at what to change in the way we have fun.

The second lesson, which became more apparent because the break was Christmas (i.e., get togethers galore), is that the holiday pause gives us an opportunity to learn from others. Because social gatherings came aplenty during the Christmas season, they became a lesson on social skills. For parents, to be sensitive to the needs of the little ones in the midst of merrymaking, and for children, to learn the basics of social interaction with extended family and family friends. Kelly Ang writes about this in her article for CNA, and I think, post pandemic, many people really need to learn this all over again, especially children who are the only little ones in their household.

Practicing social customs

Maybe not many people these days can relate to Ang, but I do. When it comes to parties, generally the joke on big families is that once we arrive, the party begins. But we’re not always the merrymakers: it takes a while for some children to warm up to the party… sometimes, they might even be grumpy and spoil the party. That’s because each child is different; their temperaments are different, their tolerance for new people (or not-so-new-but-not-so-often people) is different, and there is no guarantee that the children enjoy every party or switch to party mode right away.

So in a way, the partygoing that we do during the break is an exercise for little ones to practice social skills, but more so for the adults in the room who should not only understand the children but also cut them a little slack if they don’t want to be carried or be made to sit on laps (let alone sing, dance, or make a show). We adults can prep them as much as we can so that they will be in a good mood and enjoy, but we must also be ready to adjust when things don’t go the way we like.

Let the kids warm up in their own time; but make it clear to them the basic signs or gestures of respect that they need to do, such as saying hello or doing what we call “mano po” or “bless” (that is, greeting the elders by getting their hand to touch the forehead), a custom in Filipino culture. If the children forget, no offense meant; it’s the adults who can instead bless them. After all, blessing is an act of the adult towards the child, not the other way around. My 102-year-old grandmother blesses children with a prayer; she says, “sa awa ng Diyos” (or “May you have God’s mercy”), for everyone she blesses. I think many adults today have forgotten the essence of the mano po and instead feel insulted when they are “missed.”

The third lesson: the break from routine is the time to expand one’s knowledge. Learn new things by reading a book on a totally different subject, or hone old skills like drawing, handwriting, typing on a typewriter, playing an instrument, or jumping rope. They may not be that useful (for example, with playing guitar, it isn’t like you are performing anywhere) but any practice of manual skills is good for hand-eye coordination and moving muscles you didn’t know you had. Another plus is that it shows the children something else they can do besides hanker for a screen.

Good use of time

Remembering this will make it easier not to scratch that itch to bury oneself in consuming content from streaming services for the entire break. It is about making better use of time—especially free time.

Finally, yes, I agree that the free time we all get to have is ours to spend as freely as we like; but I must say that like money, free time can be spent wisely, too. Since long breaks come only twice a year (or a little more often if you’re luckier than others), it’s nice be able to make good use of them, so that not only will the daily grind we return to be a little less heavy to tackle, but also be more deliberate and have direction, as we can “grind” towards a good we aspire for.

"Changing routines slows the pace and gives us a little more time to breathe, think, and pray."