You absolutely adore your kids. BUT! When it comes time to book your winter vacation, you sometimes find yourself thinking nostalgically about those epic ski trips from an earlier chapter of your life… Those golden days when you’d head out with your friends or your significant other for a week of powder and partying.
Does that make you unfit parents? Not by our standards! Love (of skiing) has its reasons that reason cannot fathom. So this year, treat yourselves to a part-time family vacation: time for them, time for you. Not only will your kids not hold it against you, but it might even make you even more awesome parents. Here are three examples to prove it!
Enroll your children in ski lessons: they'll improve twice as fast
Before becoming a parent, you had strong principles. Diapers? Reusable. Toys? Wooden. Ski lessons? Taught by Bibi himself! After all, who better than you to pass on this passion that’s driven you since childhood? Except that, in real life, it’s not that simple. Your little prodigies take advantage of your big skier’s heart to do whatever they please. At this rate, they’ll get their driver’s license before earning their first ski star.
The solution? Put your ego aside and hire a ski instructor! Your kids will make lightning-fast progress in the kids’ ski area (ages 3 and up), on the secure beginner slopes, and on the green runs (then blue, red, and black as the years go by).
The best part? When they proudly show you their progress on the Minis run (a fun run themed around the little creatures they love: ants, dragonflies…) or on the Mont Blanc blue run, leading to the Géants de Malgovert (giant, playful structures made of real wood, to help you hold on to at least one of your core principles: those famous wooden toys…).
Enjoy it while you can: before long, they’ll be beating you at your own game on the snowpark kickers and the banked turns of the boardercross course…
Let the childcare pros handle the activities—they'll make some new friends on vacation!
Do you think your kids can’t live without you? Unfortunately, you don’t have a monopoly on their hearts… Is that bad news? Actually, it’s good news! It means you can totally leave them in the care of childcare professionals for an hour, a day, or a week—and they won’t come out of it traumatized for life (you, on the other hand, might end up feeling a little jealous of the “super cool” instructor or the “super nice” activity leader).
Depending on how tired you are (or how hard it is for you to resist the call of fresh snow), opt for occasional or full-time care for your little ones during the holidays: baby/kids/teen clubs, daycare centers, babysitters… The slopes are yours; they get ski lessons, creative activities, outdoor games, meals with (new) friends… Everything you need to make the leap to “vacations for the whole family”—which are far more satisfying than traditional “family vacations.”
The best part? When they tell you that Théo, Jade’s boyfriend, accidentally spilled his hot chocolate on Gabriel, who had hidden Alice’s stuffed animal in Lou’s ski boots (just pretend to follow along, and everything will be fine).
Find accommodations that include a kids’ club, or arrange for separate childcare.
Leave your little ones with Grandpa and Grandma: laughter is guaranteed at dinnertime
Are your own parents (or in-laws) eager to spend time with their beloved grandchildren? Kill two birds with one stone: organize a ski vacation with the extended family! It’s all benefits: you can slip away on your own with complete peace of mind for a few hours (just long enough to go skiing or splash around in a hot tub with your partner), your kids are thrilled to spend some quality time with Grandpa and Grandma, and Grandpa and Grandma are proud to stroll through the resort with such perfect grandchildren.
The best part? When they giggle at the “hilarious” memory of the “unintentional” blunders your dad made at the Mountain Animal Museum (accessible even to pedestrians via the Vallandry gondola). “And there! Grandpa! He screamed! He thought the wolf was real!!!” Wink wink… Kids are amazing.
In short, leave them alone for a few hours—it’ll make the reunion all the better!
On the chairlift? You talked about the kids. At the restaurant? You talked about the kids. During your couples’ massage? Okay, you didn’t exactly “talk” about the kids—you just whispered about them. Phew, there goes that guilty conscience: you’re not unfit parents just because you miss your kids!
Watch out for the reality check: there’s a very real chance they won’t even acknowledge you when you go to pick them up… The excitement of play and new friends can temporarily cloud their sense of priorities. To win them over, tell them about the light-up murals at the Aiguille Rouge (a perfect spot to hide your teary eyes), the swings with panoramic views of Carreley and Cachette, or even the big SPLASH waiting for them at the pool if they hurry up a bit.
No reaction? Move on to the serious stuff: sledding! Adventure courses! Electric snowmobiles! Bowling! With incentives like these, the urge for a big hug will be too strong to resist. Make it last: you’ve got plenty of time—it’s vacation…
Happy holidays to all you amazing parents!
