Family Vacation in Oceanside, CA

At the end of June, we traveled to Oceanside, California, for a family vacation. We were lucky to have found a two bedroom condo located right on the beach to rent. During our extended weekend, we explored the city of Oceanside and its neighbor to the south, Carlsbad. We basked in the sun and body surfed in the waves at the beach. We rode our bikes. We walked to various restaurants and shops. We enjoyed the cooler weather, especially the dogs. We watched the Phoenix Suns play against the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA Conference Finals with several other vacationing Phoenicians. We experienced extreme high tides and tall waves. We even tested our strength as we climbed structures and wall at a local climbing gym.

For the most part, it was a great family trip. Our kids are at an age where they are yearning for independence and trust. As a parent, we largely love this. This allows Josh and I to have a little more freedom and space from the kids which resulted in us enjoying a couple of date nights while on vacation. Knowing that we have pretty good kids, we felt super comfortable allowing them to stay at the rental while we were away. All they wanted was technology time and we knew that they could use their watches to reach us if need. And vice versa, we could use the watches to make sure that they didn't deviate from the plan. However, there are other moments, when that vein of independence becomes unruly and confrontational. One of those moments ended in Aiden and I sitting at the Oceanside Harbor for over an hour because he didn't want to acquiesce to what his parents were asking him to do. Childhood and parenting is learning how to balance these moments. And hope that you have more of the former and less of the latter.

Hopefully, someday our kids will look back at these family vacations with fond memories. I know that I will.

On the road to California