Beach Baby Beach Baby there on the sand

Well, we are back from our first week long beach vacation. We traveled 3 1/2 hrs to Dewey Beach, Delaware. We = Me, Audrey, Jimmy, My dad and Mom, Jim and Val and Lathan Natale.
Our beach house was set right in the heart of Dewey Beach, just a 5 minute walk to the sandy shoreline and a 45 second walk to the local bars....not what we expected.
Also, right next to the road...no seriously, right on top of the road....
HOWEVER, we settled in and despite the small surprises, we set out to enjoy ourselves.
It was one HOTTTTTTT with a Capital HOT week!
But, we enjoyed time on the beach and boardwalk during our first few days there.
My mom and Dad were kind enough to allow the Natales and Jim and I to go out for a kid-less dinner in Rehoboth and a little shopping time; although during our child-break our conversations centered most frequently on our kids. What can we say, we love them!
Val and Jim and Lathan headed home on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, we rested.
On Thursday, rented a pontoon boat and headed out for a crabbing trip on the Ocean City Bay. Audrey HATED the lifevest. For the first 5 minutes I was pretty sure we were going to need to turn around, but once the vest came off and we dropped anchor, she was quite pleasant.
Friday, we spent the day at the bay beach and went crabbing. Jim scooted around on his raft. Mom and Audrey sun-bathed. Later that night, we headed to the Rusty Rudder for a much needed SEAFOOD FRENZY!!! I am still stuffed!
We tried family pictures later in the evening, but Audrey WAS NOT having anything to do with it....her pleasantness finally wore out it's welcome!
PLEASANT is something Audrey typically is, but sometimes PLEASANT TURNS to CHAOS..TANTRUMS...LOONINESS!!!!
I am trying very hard to navigate this change in my daughter. Sometimes, it can be a bit trying...but I'm...trying.:)
To say that that made me a bit edgy on vacation would be an understatement.
I want to be a good parent! I want my family and friends to believe that I am a good parent!
I forget sometimes that my mom, who is laden with advice just wants to be helpful, and not judgmental.....SOOO I am having mixed feelings about my behavior on vacation and many regrets.
I feel like I need a vacation after my vacation.
I feel like my mouth should be the one washed out with soap.
I feel like I am the child sometimes trying to lead my own child.
I feel like my husband puts up with alot of my bitterness.
I feel like God is up there shaking his head back and forth and wondering what in the heck I am doing.
And despite it all....I think I AM a good mom.
Just sometimes...I'm not the perfect wife, or daughter, or friend.
So I feel like I should include an apology to my vacation-mates for my snappiness and bad example.
If you never want to go on vacation with me again, I would completely understand and yet, just like I love my daughter even when she is chaotic...I hope you will too....love me.