No matter how old the kids get, even after they become parents themselves, the family vacation makes everyone revert to old patterns. We still argue over who gets to ride "shotgun" when we stop for lunch, and how many songs on the radio or CD each person gets to pick -- with the latter posing a special challenge on this trip. My 24-year-old son brought his collection of Eminem and Fifty Cent CDs, which was quite a cultural shock for this mom and dad. Thankfully, his grandma's new hearing aid wasn't working all that well, which didn't stop her from humming along to the more melodious tunes.
For all its difficulties, there was still something special about four generations gathered under one roof for a week. Even though we talk to our kids every day, see our grandkids at least once a week, and visit with our own mothers as often as we can, there's nothing like a few days of 24-hour contact to really get to know one another. It may not be the most relaxing way to spend a vacation, but family is its own reward.