vacation from vacation

It has been decided
The fam is going on vaca
To somewhere nice and someplace warm
And leave the same four walls for play

The anticipation is arduous
“How many sleeps before we go?”
Same question asked for weeks before
A torment parents undergo

Mom overwaters all the houseplants
And organizes all the clothes
Kitty needs a cat sitter
Such coordinating mama loathes

She creates a list of random things
That, if forgotten, will cause grief
Tablets, toys, goggles, 'cause mom
Is the elected Packing Chief

Van’s loaded up, gas tank is full
The crew head out on their big trip
“I’m bored”, I’m STARVING!”, “Are we there yet?”
Annoyed, she disregards their lip

Soon kids notice they’re being ignored
And that is when they start to fight
Radio cannot mask the sound, so
Mom loses her shit to set them right

Eventually, the crew arrive
At the spot paid for long ago
Kiddos hop out, explore the scene
For parents, beer and wine free-flow

She knows this time is special
Lasting a lifetime in their hearts
And snaps a million photographs
Which is the case right from the start

Group cheeses for the photos
Oops, I mean daddy and his kin
Mom isn’t in a pic unless
Another selfie with two chins

For the following seven days
They go on day trips here and there
But mom cannot relax because
There’s danger lurking everywhere

Soon, the time away wraps up
Things are packed, they head on out
The journey home’s a cranky one
The fun’s been had, the group's pooped out

There’s unloading and unpacking
Stale loads of laundry done for days
Mom is beat but understands
That their fond memories outweigh