In the tranquil beauty of Bora Bora, where the turquoise waters gently lap against the pristine shores, the family gathered for a celebration and an unforgettable vacation. John and his wife carefully planned this trip as a gift to their grandchildren, a testament to their love and generosity accumulated over a lifetime of hard work and success.
Bora Bora, with its overwater bungalows and luxury resorts, seemed like the perfect setting to create lasting memories. The family, including grandchildren and their spouses, reveled in the prospect of experiencing paradise together. For John and his wife, the trip symbolized not only a vacation but the culmination of their dreams to provide the best for their family.
My plan to treat my grandchildren to an opulent family vacation took an unexpected turn when one of my granddaughters insisted on staying at the most extravagant hotel. I made an unorthodox choice to teach her a permanent lesson.
Since my husband John and I have been lucky in life, we wanted to do something for our family that would be especially memorable.
“Why not make it a big family holiday?” was our idea when our granddaughter Robin recently tied the knot.
We chose Bora Bora because, let’s face it, who hasn’t dreamed of visiting there? It’s like those places on postcards where you wonder, “Do people really go there?” We really do and we decided to be among them.
This trip was a great experience for us. Three bungalows for the grandchildren and their families and a large villa for John and me, it was a beautiful place we discovered that could accommodate us all.
The bungalows were quite beautiful, each one thousand square feet with a bathroom, a king bed or two queens, and a small outdoor area.
But the villa, my goodness, there was another story. We had four thousand square feet all to ourselves, with a living room, a bedroom, a bathroom with a sauna, and—best of all—an outdoor space that included a pool, a tub, and a slide that led directly to the ocean. It felt like heaven.
The problems started before we were there all day. As we enjoyed the wind and the sound of the waves over dinner, Jenny, my other granddaughter, mentioned that she wanted to use our slide.
Robin asked to see the photos as she had not seen our villa yet. I assumed she would be excited to show it to her. She was rather upset. Very angry.
“You have a four thousand square foot villa with a sauna and a pool and you expect us to live like peasants? There at the dinner table, she said, ‘I want it!’
My ears were unbelievable to me. First of all, there are no peasants on Bora Bora.
Second, we believed that having everyone present was a good thing.
I tried to convey to Robin that spending quality time as a family is more important than the size of the space. Besides, if we gave her that lonely villa, what would that say to the others?
But she would have none of it. She barged in and threatened to leave the next day and accused us of holding money over her head.
John suggested we surrender to keep the harmony, but for some reason, I couldn’t. It wasn’t appropriate.
It felt like everything was falling apart in the room when all we wanted was a nice family vacation.
I didn’t even blink that night. John passed out, but me? As I tossed and turned, my thoughts went to Robin and her outburst about the plot.
You know, it’s funny. One moment the kids can be tiny and they can rely on you for everything, but the next they can be adults demanding villas on Bora Bora.
I spent the whole night wondering what I was going to do. Part of me wanted to give in to Robin’s demands to end the drama, but another part of me thought this was an opportunity to impart some important knowledge to her.
So I decided to try something else the next morning when Robin flatly refused to attend breakfast and pretended she wouldn’t join us for anything while we were there.
By the end of their conversation, Robin’s demeanor had changed. She apologized for her behavior and expressed her newfound appreciation for the family gesture. They rejoined the family where they exchanged apologies and the atmosphere relaxed as they continued their vacation with renewed harmony.
Reflecting on this event later, the grandmother felt a sense of fulfillment. She knew the lesson Robin was being taught went beyond the immediate discomfort—it was about instilling values that would shape her character and relationships for years to come.
A family vacation to Bora Bora eventually became more than just a luxury retreat; it became a pivotal moment of growth and understanding for all involved. As they enjoyed the pristine beaches and azure waters of this paradise, they did so with hearts filled not only with appreciation for their surroundings but also with a deeper appreciation for each other.