There's an Actual Safety Net at This Safety-Net Summer Vacation

It's summer. that means the kids are out of school and we're looking for a family vacation, right? When looking to take the kids on a trip, I want to create memories and experiences that will last a lifetime, but I also want to give my kids the opportunities to try new things, discover more about themselves, and learn resilience and perseverance. Basically, it would be ideal if there was a place to flex my Safety-Net Parent muscles.

We just got back from vacation a few days ago, and it was all about Safety-Netting (it literally had a safety-net). My wife and I took our 11 and 16 year olds to Club Med Cancun. We saved for ten months to be able to pull it off, but with the older one looking into colleges, we realized that there won't be many more summer vacation opportunities.

The Cancun Village is family-oriented. Not all Club Meds are, so you'd want to look into that before choosing one. The weather was wonderful. the Caribbean Sea water was glorious. The food was remarkable. But, what really worked for us was that it played right into safety-netting.

The girls had ample opportunities to discover new passions: snorkeling, cooking, trapeze (that's where you find the safety net), dancing, volleyball, kayaking, swimming, and much more. And, when they found something they loved, they started to build on it every day to make it a strength. you don't always have that kind of opportunity at home. The other thing was that when they messed up, slipped or failed, the staff was there to show them where they misstepped, how to rectify it, dust them off and have them try again.

There was so much to like as a Safety-Net Parent at Club Med Cancun: trying new foods (frog legs and octopus), exposure to new cultures and languages, and learning independence ("We'll pick you up at the Kid's Club at 4:00"). It's great for us parents as well, because it gives us the chance to model the behaviors we want our kids to internalize: taking calculated risks, trying new things, being physically active, meeting new people, and making healthy food choices.

It also gave me and my wife the opportunity to keep the romantic fires burning while the kids were off with the groups, in bed or at an activity. And, one of the best things parents can do for their children is model a strong, healthy and loving relationship so that they can bring that to their own relationships in the future.

If you were wondering about where to take the family this summer and you want something tropical, my vote is for Club Med Cancun.