This summer we flew to the midwest to visit relatives. This trip has become a yearly tradition for us. The kids and I fly out for a week to visit grandparents, great grandparents and other relatives. It’s always a bit of a whirlwind, but I’m so thankful we get a chance to see everyone.

After every family trip, I take a moment to pause and really take the experience in. Years from now, what do I hope our kids will remember? What do I hope our relatives will remember? What really went well and what would I change next time?

What would I change next year? That’s always the hardest question to answer. A year from now our kids will be very different. This year was the first time our son flew in a row by himself as his youngest sister needed her own seat on the airplane. This year was also the first time I really noticed my mom having to juggle helping her elderly parents while also entertaining her grandkids.

So what would I change next time? If possible, I would like more helping hands. We had 5 fewer adults this summer compared to last Christmas and we all definitely noticed the difference. With aging great grandparents and energetic great grandkids, a couple of extra hands probably would have made everything run a bit more smoothly. Someone to hold a tired toddler. Someone to run to the store for milk. Someone to spin a long jump rope. Someone to read bedtime books. Someone to dance. Someone to cook dinner and clean up. Someone to call the doctor about medicine. Someone to pack. Someone to find the missing pair of shoes. Someone to remember to charge the phones. No one should carry the weight of all of these details on their own. If we all chip in, everyone can have a least a little time to relax, connect and make memories.