Sharing a hotel room with my family while visiting Yellowstone National Park wasn't easy, but it was worth it.
Kinsey Gidick
My family is very close.Six years ago, we moved from South Carolina to Virginia, and my 74-year-old mother-in-law followed us, settling into a converted barn on our property.Our 11-year-old son has grown up with the rare gift of seeing his Oma almost every day, having her pop over after school, sharing dinners together, and making memories that might otherwise be reserved for holidays.Not only do we spend so much of the day-to-day together, but we also love to travel as a family, typically settling into either a spacious Airbnb or hotel, where my son bunks up with his grandmother in a separate room.However, last year when we road-tripped to Wyoming and visited Yellowstone National Park, we decided to share a single hotel room at each of our stops.On paper, it felt like a practical call — peak-season rates were high, and availability was tight. Plus, we figured we'd spend most of our time outdoors anyway.Three generations in one space for 10 days. How hard could it be?
In reality, all four of us in small hotel rooms with two queen beds became an unexpectedly intimate exercise in negotiating space, privacy, and patience across three generations. And I'll admit, it wasn't always pleasant.We had our moments, but despite the challenges, we've grown closer than ever because of it.We were cramped, but still bonded amid the challenges
