This is a common conversation we had with people before we embarked on our trip:
Wait, you’re going to Puerto Rico for how long?
Five weeks.
Wow, that is crazy!
Yep, I know. I am ready to do something bold and crazy with my kids.
I’m teaching as a substitute this year, so I can take off as much time as I want. For my piano studio and family music classes, I only scheduled fall and spring lessons to give time off for the trip. Jeremy will take vacation days to come down with us the first week and then come back to get us the last week. Our earnings this year from AirBnB are paying for everything.
The boys will miss about 4 or 5 weeks of school. Between sickness and snow days last year, they each missed about 2 weeks of school anyway. It’s obviously not advised to be gone that long, but that isn’t going to stop me from doing what I feel is right for my family. I have a doctor’s note to excuse my children since we are leaving for medical reasons, and I have put in a request to have my boys return to their same teachers when we get back. The teachers and principals have actually been very suppportive of us doing this.
So then, are you going to homeschool your kids while you’re there?
Well, they are only in kindergarten and first grade, so I’m not very concerned for their academics. But yes, I have materials for reading, writing, and math to do with them on a daily basis. Remember, I’m an elementary school teacher, so I’ve got lots of learning activities planned for us.
Where are you staying?
In an AirBnB apartment on a beach! It’s an adorable one-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and 1.5 baths. It also has neat things like a pool, basketball and tennis courts and a playground. It’s in a town called Rio Grande, on the north shore of the island, known as the town of El Yunque Rainforest. San Juan, the capital, is about 45 minutes west of us. And as a Christmas present, our parents booked us a rental car for the trip, so we have secure transportation, too.
But isn’t the country still in disarray from Hurricane Maria?
There are areas still recovering from the hurricane, but most of the north shore and rest of the island is back on its feet. There is electricity, internet, and clean running water. So we are confident it will be okay! We’re told that being a tourist there is one of the best ways to help Puerto Rico’s recovery. Also, fun fact, Puerto Rico is actually not its own country, it’s an American territory. Everyone born in Puerto Rico is an American citizen.
What about the crime? Aren’t you worried for your safety?
Well, we aren’t dumb! We looked into the safety of the area before booking flights. And we’ve both been there a few times, so we have a decent idea of what to expect. Also, our apartment is in a gated complex with security gaurds on duty 24/7.
Wow, I am so happy for you, but I’m also super jealous!
Well, you are welcome to come visit us! Flights right now are decent, and we have 4 beds in the apartment, so once you get there, you’ll have free lodging. Actually, our parents are coming to visit us, so we aren’t joking when we say you can visit.
I just can’t even imagine doing that. How did you come to this whole idea, anyway?
Well, last winter was rougher than normal for our family. Tanner seems to get seasonal depression every winter, and it definitely hit me last year. Which is weird because we were blessed to go to Costa Rica after new years and then Hawaii/Texas after Valentines day. But coming back from those trips was not easy. I felt like it took a ton of energy to pack up and get there, and before we could really soak in the warmth, it was already time to pack up and return home.
I started thinking, if we are going to bother traveling somewhere warm in the winter, we should stop kidding ourselves that being gone for one week is helping us. I had been fasting and praying for several months about other problems we were facing, and one day after praying, I got the idea that several of our problems could be addressed by going on a trip in the winter for 5 or 6 weeks.
I began imagining all the ways we could actually relax if we did something like this. Images of taking life at a slower pace, thoughts of learning skills with my kids to battle anxiety, and thinking of how I could enjoy my children without all the stress of school and work all motivated me to make this dream a reality. Jeremy didn’t like the idea when I first mentioned it to him last May, but he quickly warmed up to it. We both felt like God would support us in this endeavor. When we looked for flights somewhere warm, Puerto Rico checked all the boxes for what we were looking for and we felt really good about being there.
So, this is our effort to take a much needed family retreat. It will be fun, of course, but it will also be a lot of emotional hard work. We’re hoping to focus much of our time on developing tools and skills to gain better health for our bodies and minds. So please wish us luck!
Yes, of course, good luck! I can’t wait to hear all about it!
Don’t worry, I will make posts all about it on our family blog. 😉