We all know that we love our families but that doesn't mean they don't drive us a little insane sometimes. No matter how much we want to avoid all the routine conversations, time spent with our extended family on these vacations is beyond necessary.

Vacations have become some glamorous thing when in reality, they should just simply be a break. Instead of raving about where you got to visit, start embracing all the little memories created on each vacation. We need to focus more on who we go with rather than where we go.

At our age, we sometimes forget how valuable conversations are. With all the technology available to us we are able to multitask and have hundreds of conversations simultaneously. We all need to remember to slow down every now and then to commit all of our attention to a single, face-to-face conversation. A five minute convo with our grandpa about our job or school might seem insignificant to us, but we have to realize how valuable these little things we share about our lives are. This is how the people we are related to, but don't necessarily know very well, get to see who we are.

Even if the vacation only lasts a few days, it is a few more days than we would have otherwise spent with family. Laying out on the beach with your family next to you is loads better than doing it alone, because it is simply time spent together. Even the road trips or airport adventures can turn into stories and memories.

It's the big hugs and the little "thank you's" at the end of the visit that make it all worth it. Whether you consider the trip your favorite one ever, slightly above average, or tolerable, just know that the time you spent with your family is invaluable. These are the times you will look back on when you no longer have the ability to visit with these people. We need to appreciate the time we have with the people we love and not take it for granted. So, although family reunions or vacations might not always be the most exciting, they are the most important.