Today was a travel and transition day for my family. This morning, we woke up in our hotel on Cape Cod. By bedtime, we were back home in Vermont. Transitions can be difficult for toddlers, and I could tell that today was a little rough for Dylan. He did his best, though, and I am proud of how well he has done this week with all of the new places, excitement, and different experiences.
I am hoping that as we unpack and get settled back in to our home, Dylan will feel happy to be at home. I’m expecting that tomorrow morning he may be a little upset when he wakes up and is not able to go into the next room to see his grandfather, because his grandfather is at home in Massachusetts. He will probably also be sad when my husband leaves for work, because he has been having a great time with him all week. Most kids usually do experience a little bit of a low mood after they return from a vacation, because after a week or so of fun and excitement they are returning to their normal routines and familiar places.
My husband and I are happy to be home, and we hope that our enthusiasm will help Dylan to feel better about the end of our vacation. We loved every minute of our vacation, but we also love our little house in the mountains of Vermont. When we got home, we found a surprise that will certainly make the transition a little easier for all of us. While we were away, my husband’s father came over and mowed the lawn. That’s not all he did, though. He made a sandbox for Dylan in our yard.
When we got home this evening, there was a little daylight left. Once my husband and I saw the sandbox, we knew that Dylan would want to play in it immediately. We took him out of the car and told him to look around the yard and tell us if anything was different. After about a minute, he found the sandbox and squealed with delight. He played until we brought him inside for a bath. Our home just got a little more exciting for Dylan, and I am sure that his new sandbox will help him to transition from vacation to home without much disappointment.