{
  "id": 17986730,
  "title": "I spent years trying to make family vacations perfect. Giving up made them fun again.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/i-spent-years-trying-to-make-family-vacations-perfect-giving-up-made",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-03T16:20:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/traveling-with-kids-hack-tips-make-fun-for-parents-2026-11"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For years, the author assumed that her family vacations would remain similar to her pre-child travels. However, she discovered that this was not the case. She spent countless years feeling exhausted after these trips, as her expectations did not align with her family's desires. While she cherished experiences like late dinners and Aperol spritz at Roman street cafes, her children often preferred pizza and cartoons. Similarly, while she craved architectural arcades, her kids desired softer play areas and swimming pools. This mismatch between individual needs led to a constant struggle, making vacations feel like an endurance test rather than a break from routine. After much frustration, the author decided to adjust her expectations. Now, she prioritizes a child-led approach to vacation planning, embracing less aesthetically pleasing accommodations and destinations that cater to her children's needs. By lowering her own expectations, she has transformed her family trips into enjoyable experiences once again.",
  "summary": "Traveling with my kids was more like an endurance test than a break. When I lowered my expectations, family trips finally became fun for all of us.",
  "key_points": [
    "Author spent years trying to make perfect family vacations.",
    "Children preferred pizza and cartoons over architectural arcades.",
    "Author adjusted expectations, prioritizing child-led approach."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}