I am a college student, and I choose to go on spring break with my mom.

I did this for a couple reasons. Actually, there is one reason in particular, but I will get to that later.

The first is the most obvious... I am a broke college kid who can barely pay for a pizza, so just the thought of going to the beach for a week made my bank account laugh. So, when my mom brought up the idea of going on a cruise together as a girls trip I was all for it! Now, I do not want you reading this and thinking “wow what an ungrateful kid. Just using her mom to pay for a vacation.” If that was your first thought you clearly do not know me very well. My mom and I have been mentioning a girls trip since my junior year in high school. It just so happens we decided to take this trip during my freshman year spring break.

My mom and I have the best relationship.

I can honestly say she is my best friend. It is crazy apparently! Who knew not all moms and their teenage daughters weren’t as close as my mom and I are.

Now, for the main reason I decided to go on this trip. Like I just said, my mom is my best friend. We are two peas in a pod, and sometimes that causes us to butt heads, but five minutes later it is like nothing ever happened. (My dad thinks it is the craziest thing. How we can be fighting one second and laughing together the next.) Anyway, with all this being said, I am honored to go on a week-long trip with my mom. Growing up, you see your parents every day. Every vacation you go on is with them. But moving away to college has taught me to appreciate the time I get to spend with my parents. Going on this trip is a lot more special to me than I have led on. Who knows how many ‘family vacations’ are left. Schedules are getting busy, and with me taking summer classes and working I will miss most of the beach trips this summer.

I try not to think about the idea that I will not always go on vacations with my whole family, but then again it is part of growing up. I also find peace knowing how close my family is. We are a “cool family” as my friends say. So, I know no matter how busy we each get there will always be time for a family vacation starting with this spring break with my mom.