By Shirin Yadegar
It’s that time of year when the excitement of having our college kids home mixes with the relief of pressing pause on routines, finals, and sports schedules. If we’re fortunate enough to plan a holiday getaway, that’s another layer of joy, and let’s be honest, another layer of stress. Coordinating travel that keeps parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, and kids happy is a multigenerational miracle, but also a logistical minefield.
As a mother of four and a journalist who has survived and learned from many chaotic family travel seasons, I recently navigated our 25 year anniversary trip, a celebration that included nearly ten families across three generations. It was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, but it also taught me a powerful lesson. You don’t have to do everything yourself. In fact, research shows you really shouldn’t.
Delegate Like Your Sanity Depends On It, Because It Does
One of the most effective decisions I made was hiring http://www.YesinCabo.com to handle all our group dinners and events. I shared my vision and budget, and they executed everything beautifully. For the first time in years, I was able to sit on the beach with a margarita in hand without worrying about confirming dinner reservations, coordinating rooms, or chasing down excursion times.
Psychologists have long emphasized that delegating reduces cognitive load, the mental burden created by managing too many tasks at once. Studies in family and organizational psychology consistently show that when people outsource logistical responsibilities, they experience lower stress, greater emotional availability, and higher overall life satisfaction. In other words, delegating is not indulgent, it is healthy.
Capture the Moments, Because Multigenerational Time Is Precious
When you are lucky enough to share a vacation with three generations, you want to remember every moment. That is why I hired Tomas Barron Photography (check out his instagram) to capture our grand Shabbat dinner on the beach and the anniversary celebration. It was one of the best decisions I made.
Research on family memory making shows that shared photos help reinforce emotional bonds, support intergenerational connection, and allow families to relive positive experiences long after the event has passed. Those images are now framed, gifted, and treasured, reminders of a milestone that could have easily slipped into chaos if I had tried to micromanage every detail.
The Lesson: You Don’t Have to Be the Family Cruise Director
This trip reminded me that we do not need to do it all ourselves. In fact, trying to manage every detail is one of the leading predictors of holiday burnout, especially among women and parents who often take on the emotional labor of family coordination.
Research in well being and behavioral science is clear.
- Delegating reduces stress and increases happiness.
- Sharing responsibilities strengthens family relationships.
- Parents who manage less enjoy their families more.
And isn’t that the point of the holidays?
Instead of pushing yourself to handle every detail of family travel, give yourself permission to delegate, share the work, and genuinely enjoy the people you worked so hard to bring together.
Because the memories matter more than the logistics.
Shirin Yadegar is the creator of http://www.lamommagazine.com and a mother of 4.