What is it with parents and vacations?

I'm sure you've all dealt with this. Just happened to me. We're taking a trip in a few weeks to go to the beach. We're going to a chain hotel on the beach and a couple of days at a house on the beach. We've been working non-stop this last year and need a little break from the daily grind.<br><br>I told a friend and he said "that sounds nice". I told another friend and she said, "we're jealous". But, then I told another friend, who has kids. She said, "we're jealous" and then went on about how she needs to take a break. She then says that maybe after the kids are grown, they'll be able to take some trips. <br><br>It's like, if you need a trip, hire a babysitter, and go to the hotel down the street for the weekend. We aren't going to another continent or country. We aren't going on a Disney vacation. We're going 2 hours away to the beach. Do parents not realize that kids are not a barrier to a vacation, but rather a reason to vacuum up your money so you can't afford a vacation?<br><br>Every parent I've ever known has said how they need a break and they'll probably be able to take a real vacation once the kids are grown. It's sad, really.