A vacation is something we all look forward to. Preparing for a vacation is not as much fun, in fact, it is a lot of work. Going for a weekend or a week is a breeze compares to leaving for three or more weeks.

We have taken a lengthy vacation quite a few times in our 25 years of marriage and I am still perfecting my ways of preparing for them. Depending what stage of life you are in will make a difference in how you prepare.  When I had little ones, it was much more difficult to get ready for a vacation. There was so much work and so little help that you wondered if going on vacation was really worth the effort. But don’t despair, you moms of littles, because it will get better! I found that it was easier to get ready for a vacation when I had eight children then when I had four since then the older ones could help to get ready.

Start preparing several months ahead. Does the whole family have enough nice clothes or do you need to sew or buy them? Usually we need extra clothes since we only plan to wash once a week. You don’t need a whole new wardrobe and it is best if the clothes aren’t new since it is more fun if you don’t need to worry if the clothes get dirty. Outgrown shops are great places to shop before a vacation.

Plan your meals ahead of time. We usually travel in a camper so we make almost all our food and rarely eat out. When you have your menu made then make a shopping list. I like to buy the food over a few months time so I can buy a lot of it on sale.

Also if you are experienced with canning then you can can some extra things ahead of time. I like to can chicken thighs, sausage, beef cubes, and hamburger. It makes it so handy for making casseroles quickly and frees up freezer space.

A few weeks before you plan to leave, start making lists. I save my lists from the time before so I then just need to add to them. A food list and items to pack list are very necessary. As you think of more items each day that you want to take, just add them to the list.

Make a list of all the things you need to do the week before you leave. Who will mow your lawn, take care of your pets or animals, water your flower pots, or check your house? Did you cancel the mail and newspaper and notified a close neighbor that you will be gone (and give them a number to get ahold of you if they need)?

Try get all your shopping and stops done a few days before you leave. Then the last few days you can concentrate on packing and checking off your lists.

My children always moan about all the work that must get done before we leave. (“Must we get every single weed pulled in the garden?!”) I always tell them that we must work almost none stop two weeks before a long vacation and two weeks after we get home so it better be a good vacation!