Do your kids have seasonal affective disorder?  Is that possible?  After taking a recent vacation, I questioned whether my kids had a severe case of the winter blues.  Once they stepped off a plane and into a warm, sunny climate, they changed entirely.

Here's Melissa and Raina's MOMmentary:

MELISSA:
I'm not sure if my children have seasonal affective disorder, however I do like myself and my family much more in the summertime or in warmer climates.  I see a change in me and my kiddies. 

I think our children need time away from everyday life just as much as we do. Getting away as a family and going on adventures lifts everyone's spirits and getting off a schedule is glorious.  That is why summer could not come fast enough for me.  

If I feel the need to break the daily routines of work and school stuff then certainly my kids must feel it too.  This was proven just this past weekend when we packed up and took a train ride out to the beach.  

I didn't raise my voice the entire weekend, everyone embraced the change, especially me. 

RAINA:

For the first time since having kids, I recently returned from a family vacation and didn't feel like I needed another vacation.  For this working mom, spending 24/7 with kids is much harder than going to work every day. Changing diapers, worrying about meals, bathroom runs, activities, snacks, naps, more activities, games, baths, activities, a la all mommy all the time is just not for some of us.  Not that I don't do many of these things during the week but as a working mom, I'm super mom on weekends.  So vacations usually wind up to be more work than I bargained for.
 
But this time was different.  Was it the ages of our kids? At 6 and almost 3, are those the perfect travel ages? Or was it the trip itself?  

We spent a few days traveling around south Florida visiting family including lots of cousins to play with.  We ended our stay away at a relaxing hotel with friends.
 
I even wonder if it's possible for kids to be afflicted with seasonal affective disorder.  From the moment we stepped off the plane in sunny Florida, our kids had smiles glued to their faces.  
 

Melissa believes she has disappointed her kids too many times with plans that change and scheduling conflicts.  She wonders if her enthusiasm has caused her kids to feel let down too many times.  Her son even said, "You're not going to cancel right mom, because you do that."  

What do you do?  Do you tell your kids about upcoming plans?  Do you cancel?  Do you disappoint?  Does it matter?

Here's what Denise and Raina think.

DENISE:
I actually think I disappoint myself.

I've learned I should keep my mouth shut.  It's just really hard.

I'm also not opposed to my kids learning disappointment and patience.  But I have tried to tell myself, sometimes it's better to keep the news to myself for as long as possible.

If my kids' cousins are planning to visit, I try to keep it a secret.  (Never works)
If we're planning a vacation, I try to keep it to myself.  (Doesn't happen)
I found the new toy my kids really want, but I'm holding it for a special occasion.  (Fat chance)
If we're going to a baseball game, it's no one's business.  (Yeah, right)

But then something happens, and in an instant, I need leverage.  So with the flip of a switch, all of my planned secrets turn into bribes.  If you do this...then we'll go to the game.  If you stop screaming...your cousin will sleep over.  If you put all of your clothes away for a week...I'll give you the toy you want.  Oh, and if keep acting this way...we won't go to Florida.

 
I have always loved the excitement and anticipation of an upcoming event.  The countdown to a birthday party or a trip or even a show is a great feeling.  I feel like the build-up is actually part of the event in itself.
 
Yet, just recently I'm finding I have to control my enthusiasm with my children because I fear I will disappoint them if the event doesn’t happen. In life we understand as adults that of course not everything runs smoothly; sometimes obstacles come into play, schedules conflict or someone gets sick, which may alter our plans at the last-minute.  Kids are less likely to understand this reality, which is why I'm starting to realize that I have to keep the future fun and plans to myself.
 
My 9-year-old son brought this idea to my attention when we were planning out the events for the summer.  I spoke of the beach, baseball games, concerts and he looked at me as if none of these activities would happen. Then he said, "You're not going to cancel right mom, because you do that." My face dropped and I felt awful. That made me think...what have I canceled, when and why?
 
Then it struck me, the Lego store visit that didn't happen, the Boston trip that we backed out of, the baseball game I didn't make, my list of unavoidable cancellations went on.  When I have had to call off an event I've always had a good reason.  Yet maybe I should slow down and conceal the preparations and planning with my children.
 
I’m the one who keeps the social calendar filled as I'm a big planner and I love to look forward to stuff. But maybe it is too much and I'm actually creating a disservice when it comes to my kids.  I’m now thinking that it is better not to mention possible events to my kiddies until I know they will actually occur.