Vacation does wonders

Vacation does wonders for me as far as my temperament. Going into both family vacations this summer I was in a bad place with the kids, impatient, yelling, frustrated. It makes getting away that much the sweeter and that much more necessary. Before kids, getting out of the everyday routine was nice. But now, it's like therapy.

I'm not sure how or why vacation calms me. Is it because I couldn't yell at the kids in front of the family? Is it because I actually had brainspace to think about how to best handle the kids because I'm not solely responsible for them all day? Is it because I'm able to see their fun and cute side playing with cousins or interacting with aunties/uncles/grandparents? Is it because they're sufficiently and happily distracted with all of our fun activities of the day so they don't act up as much? Is it because I'M sufficiently and happily distracted with all of our fun activities of the day so I don't act up as much?

It'd be too naive to think vacations solve any cranky parenting style I have for good. It only took two weeks and the start of potty training to have any good vibes from Niagara Falls fade away. But with each break from the routine I get, I hope to gain more wisdom, more calm, and to stall any return to cranky parenting just a little more.