You got this!
If you are considering going to the beach or on an adventure alone with your kids then you already have what it takes to get outside with your kids! You can 100% do this. I have been doing this for years so here are a few recommendations before you go to the beach with your kids to make it a little easier:
Plan where you are going to go and have a back up
We have been out places so many times and it was either too crowded, giving me instant anxiety, or we couldn’t find parking. I had to think quickly of somewhere else to go before the disappointment set in for my kids. Last summer we drove up to York Beach around 11:30 on a Tuesday. The crowds and traffic were insane and we couldn’t find anywhere at Long Sands or Short Sands to park! I pulled over briefly to open the maps app and look up the coast and get some ideas of where we could go. We ended up driving all the way up to Two Lights State Park in Cape Elizabeth and it turned out to be such a great day! ALWAYS have a back up.
Lower your expectations
BY A LOT. Do not ever expect your day to be perfect and there to be no crying. Crying or whining will most definitely happen and it’s OKAY. My oldest has always had a hard time with transitions and there have been many tears on our trips. Usually it’s whining or crying getting ready to go somewhere and then the same leaving. He has the BEST time when we are playing outside but it’s those small transitions from one thing to the next that have always been difficult. As he’s gotten older it has gotten easier, but it still happens. We are not perfect, by any means, and our beach trips often involve someone upset about something. It doesn’t stop me and it never will. It shouldn’t stop you either.
it’s okay to leave early
This is one of the most important pieces of going out with kids. I wish I could scream this loudly: IT IS OKAY TO LEAVE EARLY. If you go out somewhere and things aren’t going right and it’s just one of those days where everyone is upset, then LEAVE. You don’t have to stay somewhere for hours just to prove something to yourself or anyone else. If you are just too overwhelmed, or something doesn’t feel right, or you didn’t pack the right gear, then GO HOME. Sure there might be more tears that you are now leaving early if the kids were having fun, but you can visit again another day. It is not worth it to stay somewhere that is absolutely stressing you out!
you know your limits
Only you know your limits. If the thought of bringing your kids out by yourself is too much, then bring another adult with you. Do what feels comfortable. I got a message from someone last year saying “I brought my kids to the beach and I thought of you”. So I said “that’s great! I hope it was fun!” And the response I got back was “Honestly, it wasn’t worth it. It was close to dinner time and I had to get back to cook and clean up.” Going to the beach is A LOT. The kids get very dirty, there’s extra laundry to do when you get home, there’s a lot to pack and then unpack. If the thought of that is too much and then mix it with the responsibilities of home and cooking and cleaning at home, then maybe pick a different day to go and go when you have an extra set of hands. Don’t make it harder for yourself because you think it’s something you “should” be doing. Everyone is different and everyone can tolerate things differently. You know what is best for you and DO THAT.
what to pack
Check out my packing lists for some of our favorite gear that helps make our trips a little easier! Everything on it we have used for years and I feel it all helps me enjoy the day a little bit more!
