What We Discovered During Our (Very Wet) Summer Getaway

home insemination Kit

While we had our fair share of soggy rounds of golf, tennis, and snorkeling, the relentless rain soon dampened our spirits. Our villa turned into a makeshift laundry room, with wet clothes draped over every available doorknob. A cooler stocked with frozen candy bars that Alex stumbled upon at the deserted marina shop quickly became the highlight of our day.

In an effort to create some family fun reminiscent of my snowstorm survival tactics, I pulled out a couple of classic games and our collection of family-friendly DVDs, which I unearthed from the depths of our bags. But my enthusiasm was met with a collective shrug from my teens. “Really, Mom? School of Rock?” Alex exclaimed. “And Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?” I replied, trying to inject some excitement into our options. However, my attempts to revive family game night fell flat; my kids showed no interest in a round of Bananagrams or a simple game of Tic-Tac-Toe. The morale was plummeting.

Even when the sun peeked through the clouds, my kids were still moping about, wanting to retreat to the pool just 45 minutes into our beach outing. Those days of easily making friends by burying my husband in the sand felt like a distant memory. At ages 14 and 17, they weren’t easily enticed by beach games. On one particularly dreary day, I nearly considered arranging a playdate with a random 15-year-old we met in the elevator.

Our typical rainy day distractions were limited—no arcades, malls, or shopping centers to explore. And of course, we didn’t have a car to venture further. I felt like I was marooned on Teenage Island, and this was my official call for help.

As if the rain wasn’t enough, we were running low on groceries just as the stores closed for two days for Cup Match, Bermuda’s beloved cricket tournament that rivals the excitement of the Super Bowl. The moment the news broke, Alex and his brother Jake began squabbling over the last frosted strawberry Pop-Tart, which was slated for breakfast the next morning. Tensions were high, and everyone was on edge, forming alliances and bickering like contestants on a reality show. To top it off, I misplaced my go-to curl taming gel, leading to a full-on frizz fest that would have made any ’80s hairstyle proud. There was even talk of changing our flights to head home early, despite the oppressive heatwave waiting for us back in the Northeast.

Amidst all the chaos, however, there were unexpected moments of joy that shone through. Alex, our budding comedian, kept us entertained with his spot-on impressions during dinner. Meanwhile, Jake surprised me by singing along to songs from History: America’s Greatest Hits—his voice echoing through the villa as his phone battery died. My partner and I managed to sneak in a “date” by lounging on soaked chairs by the pool, sharing the last cold beer. During a particularly intense downpour (3.5 inches, to be precise), we teamed up to create a home video showcasing Mark’s not-so-stellar wet golf game. We all laughed together, brainstorming background music and clever captions.

In the brief moments when the rain subsided, the boys splashed in the teal waves, their sun-kissed skin still managing to tan through the clouds. Mark caught up on work emails, while I found refuge at the spa whenever I could. Being cooped up indoors turned out to be not as dreadful as I’d imagined. We not only survived our rain-soaked vacation, but we also came out a bit closer as a family. New memories were made, and we captured plenty of amusing selfies to remind us of our adventure. As I packed away the untouched Coppertone lotions and sprays, I found myself pondering if sunshine was indeed overrated.

For more insights on family planning and home insemination, check out our other post here.

In summary, rainy vacations can present unique challenges, but they also offer unexpected opportunities for bonding and laughter. Sometimes, the most memorable moments come from the unplanned adventures.