Considering the whole family when planning a vacation
Given our daughters' varied needs, we seek balance at a soccer match
Our family has eclectic interests. These differences have been amplified by our middle daughter’s diagnosis of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) when she was 15 years old.
That daughter, Grace, is a homebody. She’s always been content within the four walls we call home. Understandably, LEMS has intensified her desire to be in a safe and predictable environment.
In comparison, our youngest daughter, Bethany, has always been an adventurer at heart. She loves to explore outdoors and stay on the go. She wants to hike, swim, jump from cliffs, tackle rope courses, ski, and snowboard.
The differences in their personalities have challenged us in our attempts to create meaningful experiences we can all enjoy. When we plan a family vacation, we must consider our family’s diverse personalities, interests, and needs.
Taking in a soccer match
Most recently, we took a trip to celebrate the birthday of my husband, Darin. He was excited to hear that his favorite English Premier League team, Liverpool Football Club, was coming to the United States to play against Manchester United Football Club. The match was happening in Columbia, South Carolina, four hours from our home, so we decided to make a vacation out of it.
First, we went to the beach for a few lazy days by the pool and ocean. We knew Grace would love this. We browsed in shops and ate delicious food. After two days, however, I could tell Bethany was ready for some activity. We made our way to Columbia and checked into our hotel before heading to the match. Many fans made the game an all-day event, getting to the stadium hours early to tailgate.
But getting there early wasn’t in our best interest, as we knew that Grace would find the late-night game long and that it’d tax her physically.
Divide and conquer
Darin and I quickly realized that for all of us to have a memorable time, we needed to split up for parts of the evening.
The stadium was crowded despite rain and lightning in the area. Because of that, we didn’t immediately take Grace to sit in our seats, even though that might’ve been comfortable. Instead, she and Darin stood in a small, tucked-away corner of the stadium while we waited for the storm to pass. Grace feels most comfortable with her dad when she’s in a challenging situation, so I knew she’d prefer to be with him.
But I could see Bethany getting antsy. She wanted to see what was going on around us, to explore the stadium and find the players’ entrance. I suggested that she and I walk around until the rain passed. It didn’t take us long to find the entrance to the Liverpool locker room and watch the players get off their bus. The excitement in the stadium was palpable.
The best-laid plans
Darin does a great job of thinking of everything to make Grace’s experience safe and comfortable, but we always find unexpected roadblocks.
For instance, we’d researched the stadium’s handicap parking. However, people had pitched their tents within the driving lanes to get to that parking, so we had to walk much farther than anticipated.
In addition, Darin purchased seats that weren’t high up to save Grace from walking up too many rows. But we were surprised to find no railings on the steps, making it much harder for Grace to maneuver.
Worth the effort
Overall, we were able to pull off a memorable vacation for the whole family. But it wasn’t without hurdles. We all needed patience and positive attitudes to make the experience good for all, not just one.
Our goal was to make memories that will last a lifetime for our children. Acknowledging that they have different needs helped us achieve that goal.
Note: Lambert-Eaton News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Lambert-Eaton News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome.
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