There’s really nothing better than a vacation. Getting away from everything and just relaxing is something that everyone needs every once in a while. While vacations are great, traveling to (and from) your destination isn’t always the most enjoyable part … especially when you need to drive. Road trips can be fun in theory, but being stuck in a car for hours with your family always leaves you with a mix of emotions.
Stage One: Excitement.
Finally the day is here, and it’s time for vacation! You eagerly get into the car because you know, in just a short couple of hours, you'll be at the beach. Your family happily follows your lead and you begin your trip. Everything seems to be going great as you fall asleep in the car and know that, once you wake up, you’ll be at the beach.
Stage Two: Boredom.
Your plan to sleep the whole car ride didn't really go as plan. About two hours into the ride you wake up and expect to be there, except you haven't even left your home state yet. Since it’s early in the morning, social media hasn't been updated yet. You forgot your headphones at home. You don't feel like watching the movies you've seen hundreds of times that you brought for the ride, so you just sit there and stare out the window.
Stage Three: Annoyance
Although you're only a few hours into the trip, it feels like it's been a decade. Your mom is playing her third CD from the '80s and you've had enough out of the GPS informing your dad to “turn right." Even just looking at your siblings is making you mad, especially when you can slightly hear the annoying rap song they're blasting through their headphones.
Stage Four: Hunger
With each passing fast food restaurant you get more and more hungry. Although you attempt to settle it with the multiple granola bars you brought for the ride, you know a meal will be the only thing that can help. “Dadddddd, can we please stop at McDonald’s” you whine, to which he replies with a sharp “NO” which is when you know you've hit the next stage …
Stage Five: Anger
You've officially spent too much time with your family. Everyone is getting on each other’s nerves and vacation hasn't even started yet. Dad made a wrong turn and ended up adding an hour onto your route. While your parents are passive aggressively fighting about the drive, you and your siblings are actually fighting. You have no idea how you're going to spend the next week together until ...
Stage Six: Happiness
And finally you see it. The beach is right in front of you. Everyone stops fighting and all is right again. Life is always better on vacation. As Lilly Pulitzer said, everyone is finally in “a sunny state of mind."
Somehow you have made it. You’ve survived yet another family road trip and made it to vacation with little trouble. All there’s left to do for the next week is relax ... and prepare for the car ride back home.
