Vacation Expectations

When we go on a trip with our boys we like to talk to them before the trip about their expectations. It's practical and it makes the trip nice because everyone knows what to expect. This started because one time when they were little, about four days into the trip one of them asked how we would ever find our car back. I guess, from our car to the shuttle van from the parking lot to the airport to the shuttle van to the rental car was too much without an explaination. We felt bad that this little guy had been worrying for four days instead of enjoying the trip. So, we started asking them what they expected and what they wanted to do while on the trip and told them what to expect. Of course, things don't always go as planned and some surprises are nice.
When we took our guys to Las Vegas, to visit Aunt Bonnie and family, we had our expectations talk and mentioned that they might see women without very many clothes and that they may even be handed brochures with pictures of scantily clad women. We told them not to stare and not to take papers from anyone. So, we go one morning and take the rental van to Hoover Dam. The youngest says, "I have been here two whole days and I have not seen one naked lady!" The middle child says, "hey, look straight ahead and you'll see one on the taxi ahead of us." Okay folks, so they missed the point of that little talk, we did not mean to LOOK for them just a warning that they are in Las Vegas. There was also some confusion about brochures and 'trading cards'.
Anyway, we try to hash things out before we go. This next trip we are going with friends and so we invited them to "the talk".
We held our talk at Coconut Kenny's, a great sandwich and pizza place that we usually go to during spring break instead of Hawaii. Good food and tropical atmosphere to get us in the mood. Not really any surprises, Sam would like me to not blog on vacation. Sam, Max and Braden want to spend a lot of time in the water. Me too. Mark wants to eat Spam and run on the beach. We all want to visit Pearl Harbor. Karen and I want one day with a cabana boy to carry our chaise lounges to the water's edge and bring us drinks (this can be arranged!) Fred wants to hike up to Diamond Head. Everyone is pretty much on the same page, lots of beach and pool time and good food! Pretty easy to do in Waikiki, so we'll see how we do.