I'm worried my teens are growing up too fast, so I booked a family vacation to Maine. The trip helped slow down time.

The author's family was able to reconnect in Maine.Courtesy of Rebecca HastingsAs my teens grow up, I feel like time is slipping away, so I booked a family trip to Maine. I worried they wouldn't have fun like they did when they were younger.But we came together as a family, allowing for time to slow down.Driving the narrow street into Northport, Maine, I worried I had made a big mistake. My family has visited before, always loving the cottages and the quaint village feel. But something about this family trip felt different, specifically the ages of my kids.The last time we visited, they thought bike rides were freedom, and finding a piece of sea glass was magical. Now, they drive actual cars, and most of their magic is found on a screen. At 15, 17, and 18, they are racing ahead to find their feet as almost adults. I wasn't sure Northport would hold the same appeal it once did.Luckily, my teens tapped into their younger selvesI planned this family vacation because it feels like time is slipping through my fingers.When they were just kids, I wished things would hurry up: When would they walk? Talk? Sleep? Love Business Insider? Add Business Insider as a preferred source on Google to see more of us. Now that those steps are all in the rearview mirror, I find myself waxing nostalgic for the one thing we can't buy on Amazon: time.Pulling up to the cottage, my kids looked up from their phones, a flash of recognition in their eyes. I kept my enthusiasm at bay, not wanting to frighten off their smiles. Still, I couldn't help but exhale as I got out and felt the salty air on my skin. I asked if they wanted to walk to Kelly's Cove, bracing myself for a chorus of "no's." Surprisingly, they all said yes.I watched them mosey down the street ahead of me. The three of them walked shoulder-to-shoulder, bumping into each other the way you do with people you know as well as yourself. Phones were stored in pockets or maybe back at the house. I could hear them laugh and tease one another the way you hope your kids will when they get older. Climbing down the stairs to the rocky shore, each one set out in their own direction.The author's teens loved exploring the cove.Courtesy of Rebecca Hastings"I found one!" I heard one of the kids call, and we all rushed over to see the treasure they discovered. It was a piece of sea glass, worn by years of being tossed in the vast ocean. I could relate. As we marveled at the smooth edges, I wondered if there was ever a better picture of parenting. I hope my edges are smoother now than they were on our last visit.Standing together, a bit of my worry fell away. It wasn't a vacation I was after; the only thing I was trying to escape was turning the calendar page.I was finally able to slow down with my teensThe week unfurled like a picnic blanket. We let things settle, embracing the slow, relaxed feel Maine provided. We played cards and went for walks. I read a book, and the kids ventured to the cove again and again, always coming back with handfuls of treasures. Turns out you're never too old to find a treasure if you look hard enough.Our outings involved copious amounts of ice cream and baked goods on our way to places like Camden and Acadia. We explored Belfast and found a hidden trail at Marshall Point Lighthouse. There was no agenda, only a mental bucket list of things like lobster rolls and jumping off the pier.I was even brave enough to leap into the frigid waters as my teens cheered me on. Standing on that pier, I remembered the tiny hands holding mine as we stood in the same spot only years before. Instead of being sad for what was, I felt grateful for what is.I longed for time with my teens before they stepped fully into their own adventures, and these activities gave me that.I got much-needed time with my teensIn a world tempted by bigger, fancier vacations, the one thing my family needed was found in the simple things.As we packed up the car at the end of the week, I didn't feel sad. Instead, I felt grateful. Before my trip, I thought I wanted a simple vacation, and in so many ways, Maine was. But even more than simple, I realized what I really wanted was time — time with my kids as they grow up. And Maine delivered.Read the original article on Business Insider

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