Adventures with MaMa Berry: December 2018

I read an article today about the value of family vacations. The author quotes British psychologist Oliver James as saying, "... family holidays are valued by children, both in the moment and for long afterwards in their memory...." The author also quotes Dr. Margot Sunderland as saying family vacations "advance brain development in children and help them build concentration skills." James goes on to say when comparing the benefits of family trips to the expense and often short-lived pleasure most toys provide (think children who like to play with the boxes the toys come in), family vacations are a no-brainer.

I am a believer.

I took my children on mini vacations frequently. While James says fun family vacations are more valuable than educational vacations, I am a history buff. I wanted my children to experience first-hand the places they would study in history class. The trips made history come alive for them. My daughter enrolled in a Virginia history class when she attended Florida State University. Her professor encouraged her to share personal accounts of the places she had visited. My daughter felt good about helping her classmates learn Virginia history from a primary source as opposed from a textbook. Win-win!

Whether family vacations or everyday experiences, giving children the gift of your time is the common thread. With a few exceptions, I don't remember individual gifts I received from family members as a child. What I remember is how much I loved them and the memories we made together.

That's what I wanted for my children, and that's what I want for my grandchildren.

December 1, 2018, was a day for making memories; two of my grandchildren and I rode the Santa Express. We boarded at the Buckingham Branch Railroad in Dillwyn, VA, for a 45-minute excursion that included singing Christmas songs and an audience with Santa. Most importantly, we spent the afternoon with two of my cousins and their families. The day was magical!