We just spent 5 days as a family at a cottage. We won't have a lot more of these opportunities, as my oldest are 18, so we took it. It was really a great time. I think my oldest two are realizing they are leaving in the fall, and they are going to miss their family. Everyone seemed to be on their best behaviour - not like it was being enforced, or it was forced behaviour, we all just had a really good time together. Lots of games, miles of walking, veeeery long meals that we prepared together. It was fanfuckingtastic.
So, for everyone who struggles with little kids right now, I can tell you that when they get older, there are really, really wonderful family times ahead. Not to say there aren't great family times when they are little, but having an hour long discussion about a relevant topic in which all your kids participate while you eat food together that everyone prepared? Plus, there's no fights about bed times, because everyone gets tired and goes when they want to/should? And having your kids ask to go for another walk on the beach or through the woods where you sing songs and laugh and throw footballs and frisbees?
That, my friends, is wonderful.
