Is it wrong for a father to be jealous of his children?  I’m older and supposedly wiser, so therefor should be able to regulate my emotions and the little voice inside me that has been throwing a temper tantrum for the past 7-days, and yet, here we are.  A grown man sitting here steeped in self pity, packing his lunch and getting ready to head out for another day of work, questioning the whole way there: ‘why don’t parents get March break too?’

Alright, so that’s a bit melodramatic, I’ll admit. Though I do think it would be great for parents to get a ‘free’ week off without having to dip into their vacation pool, I also know how unrealistic and challenging that would be and,  in truth, this past week has actually been quite lovely, even if I have still be grinding through the 9-5.  I unfortunately don’t remember specifics of how we spent March break when my brother and I were at that age, but I am certain that my parents put in quite a bit of logistical gymnastics in order to ensure we were cared for and having fun.  I know this because it is what parents have been doing and will continue to do for generations – booking vacations, scheduling camps, calling in favours, playing hooky from work, scheduling play dates, whatever needs to be done to secure care and safety for kids during a much needed and deserved break from their studies.  I know for us at least – it takes a village.

Alison and I constantly find ourselves commenting to one another just how grateful and fortunate we are to have a supporting and caring family nearby to help us out; not just at Winter, March and Summer breaks, but always.  Whether it is our parents meeting the bus, taking on PD days activities, hosting sleepovers, or popping over last minute when there’s an unexpected sick day we need help with, Alison and I have never lost sight of the fact that we have support systems in place that not everyone has.  In recent years, because we live is such a wonderful area, this level of support has also begun to extend beyond family and into our neighbourhood, where we have found ourselves surrounded by good people who are not afraid to jump onto a text chain and ask one another for help.  So to all of those around us (and I trust that you know you are) thank you for helping to create the community that we have come to rely on; you are all proof and a reminder that there are so many good people in this world.

As for our actual adventures over the course of the break, it worked out rather well that, between the community support mentioned above and the vacation time we had already booked, we got to spend some great together, both as a family and in going our separate ways.  Kick starting it all off with a trip to Ottawa and some skiing at Calabogie peaks, we got to enjoy the final few days of proper snow before the rains and warm weather rolled in.  It was a hill we had not been to before but one we’d certainly consider returning to – the hotel was under new management and still ‘figuring things out’, but all in all it was a worth while excursion as part of our greater Ottawa experience.

From Calabogie to The Byword Market, where we found ourselves a nice little air bnb, conveniently located only minutes from an escape room (I swear that wasn’t pre-planned as part of some inception scheme with hopes that my wife would see it and suggest that we go…of course we booked it, and nailed it.).  This trip to Ottawa has become an annual tradition for us around this time of year, and I do quite enjoy exploring different aspect of the nation’s capitol every time we go.  As the girls get older, they interests continue to evolve, be that with food, culture, or how far they are willing to walk in the cold.  This year we took in the Children’s Museum; probably the last year of interest for them at their age group, but that just means that next year they will be ready for the rest of the Museum of History, which is a place I haven’t visited since I was in high school, so I look forward to exploring and learning alongside them.  It will interesting to compare what I have in my memory of our history to what is now being taught…

Back home in Elora, the rest of the week was just as adventurous in different ways.  Yes, we predictably tackled another escape room, but we also spent many hours at the climbing gym, spent good quality time at the library, hiked various trails around the area, and got lost in our imaginations at the park.  What impressed me most about the whole week, however, is that not once did the girls ask for screen time.  With the weather turning warm, sunny and inviting, they were more interested in hanging out together in the backyard, or exploring through the woods.  Not that I am against screens and entertainment, but I do find they tend to absorb more of our brain space in the winter months than I care to admit, so these first signs of spring and the desire to get outdoors are things that I think everyone looks forward to taking advantage of.  And though I know there will be a cruel return of the snow and the cold in the coming weeks, and that I, alongside just about every other person I talk to, will need to suppress the urge to not start planting our flowers just yet, it is at least nice to get out more often and start once again soaking in some natural vitamin D and a little fresh air.

March break is a time for kids to reset a little, and for parents to spend heaps of money on camps, day care, travel or vacation.  Yes it means more tourists and traffic back into our town, yes it is that confusing time of not knowing exactly how to dress for the weather, yes it means I am going to complain about how unfair it is that they get to stay home while I have to go to silly old work,  but it also feels like the formal passage for everyone into a new chapter, a new season and a more frequent return to the outdoors.