You want your vacations to be perfect, right? I mean, you’ve invested all that time, money, and energy into creating a magical experience—something to spark family bonding and make beautiful memories. But let’s be honest: vacations can end up being some of the most stressful experiences ever!

We decided to take our kids to the beach for one last hurrah before our next baby was born.

I’d tried to prepare them—gently warning that once she arrived, I’d need time to recover, and the first few weeks might be a bit rough. So for memory’s sake (and maybe a little sanity), we rented a travel trailer and headed for San Diego.

The kids got their first taste of boogie boarding and absolutely loved it. The sand was perfect, the weather beautiful, and we really did have a great time. On our way home, we swung up into San Bernardino County to revisit our old stomping grounds and reconnect with friends. That Saturday afternoon, though, it became clear our van had other plans. It refused to shift gears.

We had intended to return home Sunday, but the mechanic informed us that a broken cable was to blame—and it could only be ordered from the dealer. Which, of course, wouldn’t open until Monday. So, we took a deep breath and decided to make the most of the unexpected extra day.

Monday morning came and… another curveball. The part wasn’t in stock—it had to be overnighted from Georgia. At that point, I started to seriously wonder if I’d be giving birth in California! We grabbed more groceries and settled in for yet another day of the unexpected.

How would you be feeling by now?

Thankfully, Trevan didn’t have to report to a boss for the extra days away, though we did have to keep the kids’ schools in the loop. Still, between the repair costs and the added days of trailer rental, we were way off-plan. Our oldest had a band concert Tuesday night that he couldn’t miss. So, we borrowed a friend’s car, drove him an hour down the mountain to catch a flight, and Grandpa met him on the other end. Meanwhile, we spent another seven hours making our way home later that night.

Who wouldn’t be irritable after all that? Most people would be. But if you’ve read Hidden Treasures, you know that by the law of Polarity, “bad” situations always contain the seed of something wonderful. And this was no exception.

Never before had our family had the luxury of more than 56 uninterrupted hours with no schedule and nowhere to be. The kids tapped into levels of creativity they didn’t know they had. We pulled off the road to play in the Mojave River bed—something we had never done, despite living a mile from it for seven years. We fed ducks. Made s’mores with local friends. Camped at a lake we’d never explored.

I was blown away by how patient the kids were—sitting in the car for hours, visiting grownups they barely remembered. And I realized something important: as long as Mom and Dad stay calm and unhurried, the kids are more relaxed, too. Who knew?

My kids played together—setting aside age gaps and soaking in the simplicity of nature. We made such rich, lasting memories… and only because things had “gone wrong.”

That’s life. Every detour we’re forced to take has its own breathtaking scenery—if we’re willing to look up and take it in. Don’t make the mistake of missing the view just because you’re too focused on the roadblock.

_________________

•   To discover how to start choosing more effectively now, read The Jackrabbit Factor (FREE!)  
•   If you want more step-by-step guidance on creating the life you really want, join me in the Mindset Mastery program.
•   If you want my help overcoming that giant obstacle right in front of you, learn more and sign up for Genius Bootcamp.