Guest Post - Family Vacations

Today I've a guest post on family vacations, most of the destinations being quite local, in fact.


Top Family Holiday Ideas

It is time for your annual family holiday, and you are stuck for ideas about where to go. Before you start considering where to go, think about what your budget is and how much can you afford to spend on the holiday? And take into consideration spending money, travel insurance, any fuel costs or parking fees to get to and from the airport, the accommodation and anything else that will cost you any money.

Here is a family holiday to suit every budget:

Disney World and Disney Land:

Is the ultimate fantasy for children, every kids wants to go to Disney world or land, see all the characters and ride on the rollercoasters and fairground rides that they have available.

This is an excellent choice as a family holiday as there is something for all the family to do,
everyday. If you have children you will know how easy it is for them to get bored, even on a luxurious holiday they can get bored with playing in the swimming pool or making sand castles on the beach, Disney land or Disney world offers so much variety and how so much going on that your children will never be bored.

Both Disney world and Disney land offer accommodation for the family to stay in, and with this include tickets for the family to go on all the rides. In the accommodation itself there is a variety of entertainment and games for children and, of course, swimming pools and play areas that the children can use. Not to mention, there are bars and areas for adults to wind down and relax, taking some time away from the children.

When you are considering Disney land or Disney world, think about the fact that it is most likely going to cost you more to holiday there, meals and drinks will most likely cost a little more, furthermore there are a lot of souvenirs, toys and games available for purchase, all of which your child wants but all of which are more expensive than buying something similar elsewhere. Be ready to have to spend a lot of money to spend time in Disney land and World.

Beach holidays:

Beach holidays are perfect for children, you will be amazed at how much time they can spend in the swimming pool or in the sea, or on the beach building sand castles, playing beach games and burying the new friends that they have made. You can book a beach holiday just about anywhere, so you don’t have to go far if your budget doesn’t allow it, furthermore, most beach holidays offer an all-inclusive service. This means that you don’t have to worry as much about spending money, even if you don’t have a lot and it runs out after a few days, you know you will have all of your food and drinks covered in your all-inclusive package, and you can still enjoy the rest of your holiday.

These types of beach holidays usually offer children’s clubs and have fun and games throughout the day to keep children entertained, a few of them even offer a childminding service, meaning you can take an hour or two away from your child if you wish.

Haven or Butlins holidays:

Stay within the UK and drive to whichever butlins or haven holiday resort you like the look of most. These kinds of resorts always have a children’s club and usually have something going on all day, every day to keep the children entertained. They will have shops and restaurants on site that aren’t too pricey, and you have the option to cook for yourself as you’ll be in either a caravan or a chalet.

Camping holidays:

The cheapest and most adventurous of holidays for families are camping holidays. With no restrictions or limitations as to where you can go, camping is holidaying with freedom.

Read more ideas of memorable vacation with your family by just visiting http://www.vacation-rentals.com/vacation-rentals/florida.html








 

Guest Post - Five Worst Places to Bring Kids

Today I'm lucky enough to have a guest post on places NOT to take kids. Now I don't agree with all of them, I've had good and bad experiences for each. But, of course, any time you take kids out, it's a gamble.

...

Children are completely unpredictable and they can be on their worst behavior if they are taken to places they don’t like.

Department Stores At Christmas Time

Everyone is out shopping at Christmas and the department stores are full of last-minute shoppers. Kids aren't good in places where there is too much of a crowd. They can wander away and often get lost in the people. And of course, they tantrum. You might even have to stop shopping and leave the store.

Fancy White Table Cloth Restaurant

Taking children to a formal restaurant is not only bad for them but it has also proved to be a bad experience for the parents. (I haven't found this to be quite true.) Children can get upset at anything from not liking the food to not wanting to sit straight in a chair. (That's true.) The children often spill and break things, making the whole meal a disaster.

Art Gallery

Quiet places are the last place that one should take a child to. (Again, this depends.) Children are not really aware that they are in an art gallery or museum and therefore they are bored with their surroundings. (See, like here...I don't know that they're bored. More like, they're interested, but still LOUD.) They do not like to walk quietly or look without touching anything. They can get agitated and start crying or may do something that can prove to be embarrassing for the parents. 

Plane Trip

One might think that a child would be delighted to have the experience of flying in a plane but sometimes that is not the case. Children might seem excited at first but once they get on the plane they could get frightened of being so high and start crying or clinging to parents. They also might feel sick and throw up before the plane even starts. If the trip is necessary then it is vital that one prepares the child and takes all the measures to prevent any disaster that might happen. (Not to mention they'll kick their neighbor's seat, and yell a lot.)

The Market

If you are not going for toy shopping then a trip to the market is the last thing that a child would want to do. While the adults looks for the things that they want to buy, the child is bored and does not want to walk around behind the parent. (They could make a break for it, run around, spill stuff, tantrum. It's a blast, really.)

...

Mike has 2 young children aged 2 and 5, who keep him really busy. In his spare time (not really often), Mike enjoys contributing to blogs and reviewing kids products. In the last 4 years, Mike has published numerous articles and reviews on outdoor kids toys, baby accessories and parenting tools.

Road Trip!

Why would a person take two four-year-old girls on a two-hour car trip to go to dinner, then drive them two hours back? Exercise in torture, most likely. Still, yesterday at 3 p.m., I packed up my half-sick girls and off we went. Back by 10:30 p.m.

A huge reason, of course, is that a good friend of mine is visiting the state all the way from Canada. We went to see her.

But, why not leave at 10 in the morning? Why not spend the day, instead of just a few hours?

Good questions.

Answer 1) I had some stuff to do. Figured I could pound that out, then we'd go. It's like I don't even know me. When I finally get that stuff done, there's still enough time to go for a day trip. Which leads us to Answer 2.

Answer 2) Have you ever tried to go anywhere with twin four year olds? It's like gambling. Could take five minutes, could take two hours. Yesterday, it took the latter. First, they were hungry. Then they had to argue with me about exactly what kind of lunch they were hungry for. (They got PB&J, much to one's delight and the other's dismay. You can never win with twins.) Then it was time for socks and shoes. And I can't do that for them anymore because they're big girls and can do it by themselves. Very s l o w l y. After forgetting about what they're doing midway about 50 times.

Then potty. But one has to go poop, so then the other one won't use that same bathroom, oh no. It's too stinky in there! (It didn't stink at all.) She had to use the upstairs bathroom. Well, then, why did the second one get to use the upstairs bathroom when the first one had to use the downstairs bathroom? That's it! The first twin is taking off her shoes in anger and despair. The world will never be the same. Meanwhile, I've got the other one calling down to me, asking if she wet her hands enough. Then if she put enough soap on. Then if she rubbed them enough. Then if she...just wash your damn hands, girl, jeez!

So, now I've got the upstairs bathroom twin crying at me because I won't tell her if her hands are dry enough, and the downstairs bathroom twin going nuts because I obviously hate her forever because she chose to use the downstairs bathroom (they can always use whichever one they want. So long as they use a bathroom at all, I'm happy.)

And we haven't even gotten started yet.

Then I check the directions on my smart phone, which tries to take me to an entirely different place. Thankfully I realize this, and work hard to straighten it out and get the phone to find the right place. Now the twins need a snack. And one for the road, they decide. Then they fight about what to bring for the car ride and I want to give up on life.

By now, of course, I know we're not going to make it back for dinner, so I email my husband (who is not feeling well) to let him know I'm thinking about driving two hours down to Orlando for dinner with the girls.

His response was: "It's fine on my end, but I worry for you." No kidding.

Okay, we're ready! Snacks in hand, let's get in the car!

Oh, wait, someone has to use the potty again.

So, we left at around 3:30 p.m.

They didn't sleep on the car ride down, but we only had a few minor breakdowns (one over the fact that I cannot physically put grapes back on their stems. I'm such a jerk, seriously.)

Anyway, there are many more stories from when we were there and from when we went back, but I'm all tired out. For now, suffice to say that it was hard, but worth it.

Oh, and the answer to the original question is this: I eventually want real people in my life. If the girls are to become those people, they are going to have to start doing things, and lots of them. Expanding their horizons and such. Coming along with me. I cannot remain holed up in my Gville apartment because the thought of taking them anywhere further than the grocery store alone scares me.

So, points for us all, just for doing it.





 

Guest Post - Traveling with Children

Today, I have a guest post from Danielle Birch. She gives some much appreciated pointers on traveling with children!

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Now summer is upon us, many of us are taking our annual family vacations. From visiting relatives, to spending a week by the beach, getting away is often the highlight of the year for many of us. But if we have young children it can often be very stressful – stressful enough to make people think twice about taking their children away. But taking a holiday is really important for your well-being, as well as your children’s, as it gives you a chance to take a break from the normality of everyday life and enjoy new experiences.  But if the thought of enduring a long flight or car journey with your kids fills you with dread, there are some ways to make the whole experience a lot easier to deal with.

The way you deal with any problems or issues will really affect how your children behave. If you become very stressed and irritated because you’re stuck in traffic, or the flight’s delayed, your children will pick up on the tension and become aggravated themselves. So if you try to stay positive and calm throughout, it will help your children to stay relaxed too. If you’re catching a flight and it’s your child’s first time in an airport, they might find it quite intimidating. Tell them about the exciting adventure they’re about to embark on, and how the airport is the start of the adventure. It goes without saying that you should dress them in comfortable clothing, but you could make it even more exciting by getting them a new outfit and use a t-shirt printing company to mark the date of your holiday! This will really help create a sense of occasion for them, and if you have more than one child you could dress them in the same bright colors so it makes it easier for you to keep an eye on them.

When you’re going away a lot of time is spent waiting around. Whether you’re waiting for your flight or waiting for your car journey to be over, your children will need something to keep them occupied. However, it’s not practical to bring their toy box with them so you need to be selective. Paper and pens are always a good choice, as they’re really versatile. It’s best to avoid taking anything that involves lots of little pieces, as they will be more likely to get lost. Take an old favorite toy and you could perhaps get them a small token for when they are getting really agitated after traveling for hours. The surprise and novelty of the new toy should help keep them occupied for a little longer. A couple of their favorite books will also help you get them to sleep, and will obviously come in handy throughout the holiday. Sticking to their routine as much as possible will help them adjust, it’s not always feasible but it will help give them some stability in the journey.

How children cope when traveling will change from family to family. But ultimately you will reach your destination so if things don’t go according to plan, at least you know it will be worth it in the end!

 

Guest Post - How to Travel with Your kids

 I'm not the greatest at traveling with my kids. The two-hour plane ride to my parents seems daunting enough, never mind more ambitious trips. But as guest poster, Logan, says, maybe I should give it a try.

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Travel ranks high on most people’s list of the good things in life. There’s nothing like taking a trip to a new place and soaking in everything it offers. It seems like taking off for a trip is easier when you’re young and don’t have many responsibilities. More often than not, this leads to less frequent trips as you get older, have kids, and pile on the responsibilities. You don’t have to give up your love for travel when you have kids. In fact, you should be instilling your love for travel in your kids! Here are few tips to make your next trip with the kids awesome:

- Let them choose

So this may sound crazy, but you should consider it. Next time you’re planning trip you should let the kids decide where you’re going to go. Depending on their age (and your bravery) this can mean anything from picking out a few places and letting them choose or giving them the full choice. If your kids are involved in the decision making process they’re going to get a lot more out of the trip than if you’re just dragging them along for the ride.

- See the culture

Culture is one of the best parts of traveling. Almost everywhere you go there are going to be places that have customs and norms that are completely different than what you’re used to at home. Depending on your destination, the differences can be barely noticeable to completely overwhelming. Whatever the case, you should take advantage of the situation and use it as a learning experience for your children. It’s a big, wide world out there, and there are all kinds of interesting people and cultures to explore. Lead your kids through the learning process and they’ll thank you for it later in life.

- Keep your cool

Travel can be stressful, and kids are notorious for raising the stress level even more. The easy response is to go off the handle and react in a negative way to all the stress, but that’s obviously not going to help anything. You can combat stress before it even starts with a little bit of preparation. There are several ways to address stress, including exercise, yoga, and meditation. Find out what works for you and make it a part of your routine. If you work it in to your everyday life then you’ll be well equipped to deal with almost any situation that comes up on your trip.

Travel doesn’t have to take a backseat when you have kids. Take them with you and let them experience the joy of travel as well! If you follow these tips you’ll have all kinds of great memories with your family.

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Author’s bio: Logan is a guest writer on the topics of family travel and how to hire the best private jet charters.





 

Natalina and the Quest for Elevators

When we last left our heroes (Dulce and Natalina, of course), they were tucked up all comfy-like in their carseats on the long trek back from Orlando. But the whole story hadn't been told. Little Lilly took on her travels with a new goal in mind, a goal she would never (or so it seems) let go of.

Lilly is going to be the first toddler in history to ride up and down every elevator in the whole world. I know because she told me so.

It came about in a simple way.

As you can imagine, even the most interesting fruit can get stale after 20 minutes or so, and being in a hotel lobby (my husband had chosen a new parking service that ran out of the Comfort Suites without needing to stay in the hotel itself), there were lots of pretty shiny things to explore.

Until, of course, they spotted the elevator. After that, all else ceased to exist in the world.

Now, I didn't want to be that parent who lets her kids run rampant on the elevator, pushing all the buttons and messing other patrons up. But I also didn't want any over-tired, we-were-supposed-to-eat-dinner-an-hour-ago tantrums, either. What to do?

Eventually I settled on letting them take a ride up one floor and down again once every 15 minutes or so. They alternated turns pressing the buttons.

By the time the car was fixed, they had no interest in motor travel at all. They simply wanted to ride the elevator.

To get Natalina in the car, I told her that we would look for more elevators. That lots of buildings had elevators and we had to find them.

She gave me a look, and her "okay" was rather suspicious, but in the end, it got her into the car.

Throughout the journey, she asked where the next elevator stop was going to be, and when my husband went out to try to find us food, she looked at him hopefully.

"Are we going to find the elevators?"

He went to "check the elevators" and came back saying, sadly, there were none at the rest stop. Should we keep going?

Yes we should. At the next stop, she actually woke herself from sleep to ask about it.

Nope, Daddy said, none here either. There must be some elevators somewhere.

As she went to nod back off, she murmured sleepily to me, "Mama, I'm going to ride all the elevators in the whole world."

And that's when I knew it was serious.

We got home and trundled them off to bed, and the next morning, instead of coming upstairs to wake me and cuddle with me, Natalina awoke quietly, making not a peep downstairs.

I made my way down to find her sitting at the bottom of the stairs, shoes in hand.

"Where next, mama? We have to find the elevators!"

And throughout the week we've looked everywhere. The grocery store, the library, the car wash and the bank do not have elevators, but Lilly isn't letting that get her down.

She knows there must be some more elevators somewhere on this earth, and, by God, she is going to find them.

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Epic Journey

I have never been so happy about fake fruit in a bowl in my life as I was last night.

Remember last year, we ended up at a hotel after our Christmas Odyssey? A year later and we're at a hotel again.

But let's back up. You know how a few days ago I posted about our traveling travesty? Our plane ride back was pretty much exactly the same. Happy, cheerful girls, on permanent maximum volume for the entire three hours, plus the half hour we waited on the tarmac.

We finally get off the plane and wait forever for our bags. We go out to the shuttle area at area 35. Our shuttle will arrive at area 3. That's a long walk with two toddlers, let me tell you. So, we're waiting at the area for what seems like forever.

My husband says to me, "This is the last time we use a hotel parking service. Back to car lots for us. This is ridiculous." Actually, it was the best thing that could have happened to us.

Bags are in the trunk, girls are strapped down. In the passenger seat, I plug in the navigation on my phone. My husband turns the key. Nothing. He turns it again. The car is completely dead. It's 10 p.m., we're two hours from home after spending six hours traveling so far, and my car is dead.

Awesome.

Okay, think. No problem. I'll just call Triple A. I'm on a family plan. Or...I was on a family plan. Did it expire? I don't even know. I've got the card still. It says 2011. It should work.

"Hello, are you in a secure location?"

I explain that we're stuck at the Comfort Suites Inn. I give my account number. It's deactivated. Expired in March 2011.

Can I renew it? I kind of need help here.

They transfer me to the "home office," which is in Connecticut. I have to use my maiden name and my mother's address, because, yes, at 29, I'm still under my mom's Triple A. (This is why it had expired. I was going to get my own, you know, being an adult and having a family myself, but I never got around to it.)

I can't renew it. My mom has to. No problem. Call my mom. She doesn't answer. Twice. Call my stepdad. He doesn't answer. Call my sister to see if she knows the house number. She doesn't answer. Call my brother. You guessed it. He doesn't answer. It's 10 p.m. on a Sunday night, do you know where your family is?

Meanwhile, we've moved the whole circus inside, and thank God we parked at a hotel. Meeting us inside was a cheerful lobby with decorations and people still moving about...as opposed to the dreary, dismal inside of a car self-service park. The girls immediate took to a bowl of plastic fruit on a sitting table and played with it for an entire glorious hour.

I'm waiting on a callback from my mom. My husband has spoken to the hotel staff and they went outside to try to jump the car. But they can't reach it because there are other cars parked on all sides. I call my mom again. She answers.

"Can you reinstate me on your policy, Mom? We're stuck in Orlando and my car is dead. I need Triple A."

"Am I going to have to explain why you're living in Florida?"

"I don't think so. Just try to put me on and don't mention my address. They won't ask you when setting up the account."

She does it. It works! I call again, and Triple A is on the way!

58 minutes later...Triple A is still on the way. Ugh.

They eventually show up and talk my husband into buying a new battery from them, which they install. I put all the fruit back, we pack up, and finally, we're on our way.

Why is traveling never simple?

Oh, and the reason the battery was dead? We'd left the reading lamp on after following directions to the hotel five days ago. Fail.

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Traveling Travesty

 7:30 p.m.

"Lilly, you a monster, okay? Okay Lilly?"

"Okay!"

I watch the three-year-old twins running around the airport terminal, full of laughter and games, shrieking and giggling away. It's so nice to see people actually happy to be in an airport, even if their joy comes strictly from youth. It lends the desolate place some much needed cheer this holiday season.

Right behind me, surly business folk are typing away on their laptops, always plugged in, despite the hour, despite the day. Money is to be made, and they will make it even as they step onto the plane, talking into their Bluetooth, checking their financials with an app on their phones.

To my left, a few old women totter, nodding off and starting awake when the twins venture too near. Those girls are the only children on this flight. Eight at night must be too late for most kids, I guess. Either way, I feel lucky. No crying brats, no fighting siblings. These two toddlers I can handle. At least they're happy.

8 p.m.

We're all lined up now. The man behind me smells sticky sweet, like old tobacco and coffee. I hope I'm not sitting next to him. The woman right in front of me is sneezing. Gross. Actually, I'll take stinky man over sick lady.

Beep.

"Beeeeep!"

Beep.

"Beeeeep!"

Oh, isn't that cute? The twins are mimicking the scan machine as the flight checker goes through the tickets. Most people are chuckling. I guess I'm not the only one who finds them adorable.

Oh, the father is talking to the checker. Trying to get them on board first. I don't know how I feel about that. On the one hand, they have a lot of stuff, and they'll have to settle those two in. On the other hand, stand in line like everyone else.

Family boarding. Blast them. They'll probably take up all the space in my overhead bin.

8:20 p.m.

"Mama, can I press the button?"

"Mama, turn my light on."

"Mama, why are we moving?"

"Mama, are we taking off yet?"

"How about now?"

"Now?"

"Are we taking off now?"

"Mama? Mama? Mama!"

They're sitting right behind me. They're so full of energy that they must be overtired. I'm sure they'll sleep soon.

The woman next to me turns around.

"They're adorable," she says.

The mother shoots a harried-but-grateful look at her. "Thank you," she says. "I hope you feel that way by the time we land."

"I'm sure they'll fall right to sleep," came the reply.

The mother nodded, not convinced.


9 p.m.


If I have to hear 'Old MacDonald' or 'Jingle Bells' one more time in off-tune toddler shout-singing, I may go insane.


9:10 p.m.


I changed my mind. Bring back the songs. Anything to stop them from kicking my seat.


"Stop squiggling," I hear their mother say. "You're bothering other people."

You've got that right.

9:15 p.m.

Did that little girl just call me a witch? This is getting out of hand. I know she didn't mean it (I think), but, really, I spent $60 on these holiday-red nail tips. Someone should teach those kids some manners.

"Not everyone with red nails is a witch, babies," I hear the mom say. "That was just in that one movie, okay?"

Thanks for confirming, Mrs. Can't-Shut-Your-Kids-Up. I hide my nails behind my Kindle cover and try to continue to read.

9:45 p.m.

I cannot handle any more children's laughter. I don't want to hear it ever again in my life. Do these children never sleep? Why, in the name of God, would their mother let them have a tickle-fest on a plane? What is wrong with people?

10:15 p.m.

"Mom, can I tell the nice lady to get me juice? Can I tell her to get me peanuts? Mom, why did she give me Cheez Its? I thought we were getting pretzels."

Child, can you talk at a volume other than the top of your lungs? Don't we teach these things 'inside voice,' anymore? I think I'm losing it. Their little happy voices are chipping away at my last shreds of sanity. My brain feels like mush.

10:45 p.m.

We are finally descending. I will never have to deal with those hap-hap-happy brats again. Praise the Lord. I cannot handle another minute of their prattling on. Oh God. Now they're talking about how their ears hurt. I didn't think it was possible, but they've gotten even louder. They're trying to pop their ears by going "YAYAYAYAYAYA." I'm going to pop my fist in their faces in a minute if they don't stop.

I have a headache.

11 p.m.

We're all getting off now

The mother smiles wanly at anyyone who is looking at her, which is everyone, so aghast are we at the attack of insistent toddler-cheer for three entire hours without respite.

"Thank you all for putting up with us," she says.

Oh. So she knows how utterly annoying they all are. I'm not sure if that's better or worse. I chance a glance at her. She looks haggard, her eyes glazed over. I decide not to say anything. Her flight has been as rough as mine. And she doesn't get to walk away.

I still think she's a bad mom, though.

**From the assumed point of view of the woman sitting in front of me on our flight to Connecticut.

Toddler Necessities on Vacation

My family goes on a few two-to-four-day vacations a year. Whether you're going for a real week-or-two vacation or just overnight somewhere, this is what we've found to really help our trips.

- Make sure breakfast is included. If it's not, you'll spend $40 on it anyway, and most likely the kids won't eat much because they'll be excited to get where they are going. Plus, a buffet-style breakfast speeds up the meal and gets you on with your day without being a hassle.

- If breakfast is not included (which it wasn't for us this time), make sure your room has a kitchenette. This saved us, so many times in just a few days. A dozen eggs, a loaf of bread, some tuna and breakfast sausages from Publix and I was armed with breakfasts and lunches for days. No cleaning everyone up only to hustle them into the car, drag them to a restaurant, wait forever, pay a lot of tourist prices, race back home, get back in the suits and go back to the beach. Nope. Scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast, tuna sandwiches for lunch, and it still felt luxurious.

- Bring some toys with you. I brought along their loveys and sand toys and a few books. It was not enough. One of our daughters kept talking about how she wanted to go home. The best reason she could give us was that she missed her toys. Maybe one or two small toys would have helped her with homesickness.

- Use nap time wisely. Take turns when the toddlers are conked out in the afternoon. One of you stay with them, the other can go off and do something close by. We walked on the beach, perused the town, had a drink downstairs at the pool. The two hours of nap time should not be squandered.

- Keep a routine, even on vacation. The girls soon got used to our vacation routine which was breakfast, beach in the morning, shower, lunch at around 2p.m., nap, pool in the afternoon / evening, shower, dinner, bed. Every day. Would we have done things differently without them? Absolutely. Am I happy we did it this way with them? Yes, yes, yes. It's worth it to let them know what they can expect. Trust me.

- Understand that the first night is going to be a trainwreck. The kids aren't used to the room, the bed, staying with you in close quarters (in our case. At home they sleep in their own room.) They'll be hot, cold, someone will have more covers than the other, someone will want a bigger side, someone will be touching someone else, someone will roll out of bed, someone will have a coughing fit...and that's all before 2 a.m. Don't give up. The next night will be better. The first night is always the worst.

- Take pictures. This way, when you look back, you won't remember the whinefests, the embarrassments, the tantrums, and the obstinacy that is a three year old. You'll remember this:

And this:

And this:

 

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On Vacation, Know What You're In For

There are a million posts about traveling with toddlers: what to pack, where to go, how to book successfully, activities to plan, ways to keep the kids entertained...the list goes on.

Well, here we are, on a short vacation again, and the best tip I can give you is that you had better know what you are in for ahead of time.

You are in for three days, or a week, or two weeks of whining, heckling, discombobulated nervousness and crankiness.

Don't leave until you've accepted that.

Because once you have, the rest is piddly and you'll have a great time. Vacation is fun, even with toddlers, and even if they are throwing you curve balls left and right. You just have to know that those curve balls are coming and adapt.

No, they're not going to sleep right away in a strange bed. Yes, at least one of you will be stuck in the room during nap times (if they even sleep) and at night. Yes, you're going to hear all about how they want to go home or to the beach or to get their lovey or to go to the pool, or any number of things that you are most definitely not doing at that precise moment in time.

You'll get requests for a video you don't have or a book you left at home. You find yourself awash in the tears of a baby faced with the cruel, cruel world of inconsistency and change. Don't be alarmed. It's all part of the process.

If you can keep your game face on, if you can not lose patience, if you can reason with them as best you can and distract them, you will have fun. You will. You will be talking at them 24/7 so that they remain at peace, and even then it won't be nearly enough, but you will have fun because you will have been prepared for this.

A vacation on your own with toddlers is very different from an adult vacation. There are sacrifices to be made, but it is still vacation nonetheless, and in the end, you'll all be better off for it. Your children will see a little bit of the world they wouldn't otherwise have known. They'll have fun in 30-minute increments, on the beach or even in the "big room's" shower. They'll break down, but you'll buoy them back up, and again and again the cycle will continue.

A vacation with toddlers is all about your mindset. And as I type this out on the balcony of our room with the fresh Florida breeze coming through the waving palm fronds, and I look up at the ocean hitting the waves while my children sleep for their first nap in two days, I'm not thinking about all of the life out there that I am missing (okay, only a little), I'm thinking about how glorious it is to be here and to see the sea and to feel the breeze. It's different. It's nice. It's fun.

And yes, in a few moments it will be back to "she hit the button on the elevator last time," and "mama, I want to go home," but right now it is peaceful and quiet and I am on vacation.

It's all about your mindset. Know what you're in for.

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Accidental Segregation

Southwest Airlines is doing it right. I don't even know if they know that they are. I certainly didn't. I was annoyed at the "pick your own seats." I was even more irritated when they let people who had A seats board the plane before families. As I stood in line watching 60 plus people board the airplane that has a choose your seat mandate, I quivered in fear. We'd never get a row together. We'd all be stuck in middle seats. We'd have to ask people to move. We'd bang them with all our stuff. It would be a disaster.

But the plane we were on fit 125 people or so. So, we hurried down the aisle, looking at row upon row of singles, half at the window, half at the aisle, the middle predictably empty. We jostled ourselves farther and farther back, past the wings, toward the bathrooms. The people seated were good natured. They were still riding the high of being able to pick the best seats. An elbow knocked here or there didn't even phase them.

We made it to the back of the plane, which was empty. We had several entire rows to choose from. We set up across. I was at the window, the two babies next to me, each in her own (very expensive) seat. My husband sat on the aisle seat of the row directly across from us. A perfect formation of baby control. I had the duties of distracting and playing with the kids, keeping them in their seats. My husband had break-away duty, should either of the twins decide to make a run for it.

All of the families ended up in the back because that's where the empty rows were. We segregated ourselves. In this case, though, segregation is nothing but a good thing. Because when my kids decided it would be the best thing ever to kick the hell out of the seat in front of them, they were kicking a 12-year-old girl and her father. The girl found it funny. The father understood our plight and appreciated our hurried attempts to stop the madness. A childless person would not necessarily have been so understanding. But in the pick-your-own-seat scenario, at least they would take a bit of the onus upon themselves, for choosing a seat directly in front of toddler twins.

You see, just like regular travelers do not want to be bothered by families, for the most part, families do not want to bother regular travelers. In our family mecca at the back of the plane, no one needed to be embarrassed at the occasional tantrum or shout-fest. Everyone around understood. This makes traveling for us so much more pleasant.

As the people without priority tickets boarded next, we saw several pass up the middle seats at the front, hoping for a golden aisle or window seat in the back. Then they saw us. My husband heard a young woman, as she about-faced by our seats, shaking her head. "It's families back there," she told her companion. They took some middle seats up front.

This process leaves everybody happy. It knows them better than they know themselves. Should the families have boarded first, we'd have spread out, infesting the entire plane, not understanding that this decision would cause us all misery in the long run. Had the seats been assigned, everyone would have chosen seats they thought would be best for them at the time (because when sitting in your living room as your angels watch a video quietly, you think to yourself, I deserve a seat up front. I'm sure everyone will behave and no one will be annoyed.)

No, with this particular arrangement, the people on board first are so happy with their prime seating, they're okay with being banged and jostled as they watch the rest of the travelers find mediocre seats. The families get to sit together, something they would not have thought of had they been left to their own devices (at least, not collectively). The travelers who left their seating for last and have to settle for the dregs will turn from their middle seats every once in a while to look at the family section in back. They will heave a sigh of relief. We may have to sit between two strangers with no view, they'll think, but at least we don't have to deal with raucous toddlers and crying babies.

Everybody wins. Excellent work, Southwest. Excellent work.
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Tripping with Kids - Guest Blog, Part II

XLMIC is back with how to travel everywhere with your kids...after you take off! If you missed the first part, check it out!  Also, give her a vote over at Circle of Moms. Her wit and writing at her blog, Taking It On, deserves it!

Once that plane has touched down, it is time to review your checklist for a successful rest-of-the-trip... communication, flexibility and division of labor.



Before the "fasten seatbelt" sign has been turned off, everyone else on the plane is standing and grabbing their stuff out of the overhead in a real hurry... so they can stand there and wait. Do not get sucked into this "hurry up" mentality. Remember... you are traveling with kids! Your new motto is:  ssssslllooooowwww doooowwwwwnnnnnn....




You have just flown for an eternity... and so have your kids. Whatever you are feeling, so are they... but they have a very limited or nonexistent skill-set to deal with how they feel. You still have to get off the plane, get through passport control and collect your luggage... ALL of it!

 there is a stroller full of carry-on stuff right in front of me... see it?

this is just on the way to passport control and luggage collection...

after luggage collection, waiting outside the airport for our ride... 

both luggage carts you see are ours

typical amount of luggage for our travels with two kids for a trip lasting two weeks

Here is the first question... how do you leave the airport?



Cheapest always seems to be public transportation. But if you take into account the hassle-factor of getting from wherever it drops you off to your home away from home, combined with whatever transfers you will need to make, added to how many bags you need to lug around through all of that, compounded by tired and cranky or asleep kids... you may just decide that a cab is worth it. That is the method I choose. Worth the extra $40-50, no doubt about it.



Creating a comfortable set up



I'm proceeding with this as if you are staying in an apartment. Right off the bat, one adult goes through the place and puts all heavy, breakable, valuable, not-kid-safe items up out of reach (out of sight is preferable) ... screw the décor... we want our kids safe and our deposit back ;-) We want to minimize our stress... this step helps immensely. While that adult is doing what we call 'the sweep', the other is getting the kids something to eat or drink from the small stash that you hopefully have left over from the plane ride (try to make sure there is something to snack on... I even pack stuff to eat in the checked luggage).



Food



They have grocery stores abroad! Just like we have here in North America! It is fun to peruse the aisles and see the different stuff and how they organize the store... often very different from here! Be sure to bring some change (a euro or two) for the carts... many grocery stores require a deposit for cart-use. And watch out! Most grocery carts in Paris move on FOUR swiveling wheels... they seem possessed! Restaurants are not your friend...unless your kids do well in restaurants at home. Mine don't. (I am always sure to pack tons of food in a daypack before heading out) Street vendors selling crêpes are wonderful... especially for staving off those hunger-triggered temper tantrums.



What to do?



–Playgrounds! The Paris playgrounds are awesome... even the little neighborhood ones. And they are plentiful. See my two posts about the Jardin du Luxembourg playground here and here... they alone will make you want to take your kids to Paris!

–Kids like big stuff, colorful stuff and going to the top of stuff... and they like to move. Even just seeing the Eiffel Tower up close strikes kids with awe. It is HUGE.

–Boat rides and bus rides are a wonderful way to see Paris... especially when little legs are tired of walking and playing :)

–most kids don't tend to groove on museums, but here are a few fun kid-favorites... the Cluny Museum of the Middle Ages, the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Paleontology.

*there are lots of books outlining fun activities for kids in Paris.



Tough things to contend with...



–Sleep... in all likelihood, everyone's sleep is going to be screwed up. This comes with the territory. My advice is to not fight it but to work with it. Don't plan on naptime and bedtime being the same as at home. I always work to get to a 10 or 11 pm bedtime which leads to a 9 or 10 am wake-up time. And the nap comes when it comes... usually on the go. (this was hard for me to finally get... I tend to be a real sleep nazi at home). We travel from California, and it takes five days for us to feel "normal" when we go to Europe.

–Food... is hard with picky eaters. My plan is always to try to get some healthy stuff into the kids, but if I get uptight about it, my trip sucks. And I want to have fun, too!

–going to the bathroom... if your little one(s) are still in diapers then this is not of concern, but if you have potty-users and especially new potty-users, finding a place to pee or poop is of tantamount concern! Many cafés have restrooms that they will let your children use... often if you just ask with a smile of desperation while clutching your child's hand, they wave you on back. And there are pay-toilet booths around town... it always feels weird to walk into one of these, do your biz, and then walk out... everyone knows why you were in there! And no one snickers. Those cost money. So always have a pocket full of change! There are also public restrooms at some parks and monuments... these often require a payment as well. With the very new-to-the-potty kids, I always brought a little plastic potty with me everywhere. I had it in a double plastic bag in the bottom of the stroller... and it got used...

these are from other trips we took... not in Paris... but they illustrate the potty-use!

I'd rather get the odd glance than deal with pooped-in pants!



As I said in the Getting There post, it is a lot of work. It is a lot of hassle. And it is a LOT of FUN!



There was a question raised in a comment on my last posting... how do you afford this? In the "old" days (from 1998-2005) I was able to score super cheap tix... like $378 round trip from San Francisco to Paris. And the dollar was strong back then. We traveled a lot. Our last trip we afforded with all those accumulated frequent flier miles! And our friends were doing a home-exchange in an enormous house and invited us to stay with them! We really lucked out... and I acknowledge that. While we were there, we didn't spend much money... no shopping excursions, no restaurants... only a few attractions that cost money. And we had a blast! Swinging the airfare and the lodging expense are the biggies, granted. But not traveling simply because you have kids... I'm just saying that you needn't use that as your excuse!

Tripping with Kids: Getting There - Guest Blog

For me, going to the library down the street is a lot of effort. Visiting my mom a three-hour plane ride away is pandemonium. But XLMIC is a worldly traveler, and she goes with her kids! Here's how she does it.

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If I had a dollar for every time I've heard someone say, "We'd love to travel abroad, but we have kids...", I could pay the roundtrip airfare for at least one member of my family to fly to Europe.

Okay, that's an exaggeration. But isn't that really what most people say? And if they aren't saying it, they are thinking it, right?

People talk about international travel as something that needs to happen before they have kids, or after the kids are grown up and out of the house, or at least old enough to stay with Grandma and Grandpa for a week or two. Well, I am here to let you in on a secret...

This is not the case.

The first thing you do is change the wording... You are not going on a vacation. You are changing location. Travel with kids does not allow for much vacating :)

Taking a trip with your children is not going to be heavy on the romance. If you get any nookie, you get a gold star.  You can, however, experience the world with your children AND have a great time doing it! All it takes is some tweaking of the agenda, thought and planning, patience and flexibility, a stiff upper lip, the ability to roll with possibly major sleep deprivation, and the willingness to ignore mean people on the airplane.

What follows are just a few tips I can share that may help you embark upon a successful family trip abroad. This is by no means a complete list, nor will all points work for every family. I am simply sharing with you what has worked for US in OUR experience traveling with anywhere from one to eight kids ranging in age from 5 weeks to 22 years.

Accommodations
Get an apartment. You are going to be there for a while. Do not jump 6-9 time zones with kids for less than 7 days... two weeks is the minimum I will do at this point. You don't want to be living out of a suitcase. You don't want to try to find family-friendly restaurants that are open at 3 a.m. ('cuz that's when you will be awake for the first few days!). With kids, you want a kitchen and some separation of space. The first 5 days will be hell if you are going from the West Coast of the U.S. to Europe. On Day 4 you will wonder why you are on this #@&* trip. On Day 5, you and your spouse may start talking about divorce and swear you will never, ever do this ever again. And the next day... it will all make sense :)

On our trip to Sicily, the kids had their own room with a neat loft bed.

Having your own kitchen means some kids can draw while others eat...

and eating breakfast while still in jammies is not a fashion faux pas!

Flights
It is nice to try and schedule your flight for a time when you know your child(ren) will sleep. Unfortunately, some kids sleep on planes and others don't (I have both). If you don't know which you have, go for the cheapest flight with the fewest number of shorter layovers. You don't want to be hanging out at the Dulles Int'l Airport for 8 hours and then Heathrow for 6 hours with your kids en route to Paris. Trust me.

I like nonstops. Get me up there, let me spread out and don't make me move for 10-14 hours. The more relaxed you are, the easier it is on your kids. If your kids are unruly, you only make one set of enemies. And remember... you will probably NEVER see those people again in your whole life... so it doesn't matter.

My non-sleepers.

Some flights, everyone wants to be with on mom.

Packing for the flight
I don't pack light; I pack effectively. Traveling with kids under the age of 4 requires a lot of stuff for me to feel adequately prepared. They have accidents... pee, poop, food and beverage spills, vomiting not in a receptacle... so I bring full sets of clothes, for them and for me, in a carry-on. I also tend to max out on the number of carry-ons we are allowed... even it if means I have to carry 5 of them. I have gotten weird looks and even had flight attendants start giving me grief... until I point out how many seats we have paid for and how many bags that means we may carry on ... with a big smile on my face :) I do not want to run out of diapers or food or entertainment items in the event that there are delays, which there often are.

Make it fun :)

Equipment
With one child under the age of 3 in the mix, I prefer to use both an Ergo carrier (or sling) AND a stroller through the airport. I have the child in the carrier, and I put the car seat and as many carry-ons as I can pile up in the stroller. Then once at my destination, I have both at my disposal. One of my children is very curious, so I bring the port-a-crib not only for him to perhaps sleep in, but also as a means of containment once we are settled. And to ensure the right sort of car seat at the destination, I have learned to always bring our own.

This picture shows most of the carry-on (and gate check) items we had on our last trip to Europe.
This picture was taken right before my 11-year old vomited while going through security...
fun times.

So far, I've just covered the 'getting there' part. It sounds like a lot. It sounds hard. Putting this work in ahead of arrival allows you to enjoy more of why you're doing it!

XLMIC blogs over at Taking It On. She is a mom of 4 and stepmom of 6 who has traveled internationally several times with various members of her blended family. Not traveling in her early years fueled her desire to have her own children see the world. Her 11-year old son filled his first passport before he turned 5 years old. She and her husband recently returned from a trip to France with their 4 youngest children.


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The Hanging Carrot

Packing up, leaving the house in a cluttered disarray of wrapping paper and toy pieces, and hurrying off to the airport at 8 a.m. just before the holidays, I felt nothing but dread as I looked ahead to our day of travel.

First a two-hour car ride to Orlando where we would drop the car off and wait for a shuttle to the airport.  Once there, we would have to check the bags in, go through security, and wait around to board the plane while trying to keep two toddlers amused and calm.  The plane ride itself, while a direct flight, was to be three hours.  Then picking up our bags on the other side, searching for our ride, and driving another 45 minutes to Nana's house.  What could go right?  Probably nothing.

I braced myself for crying, screaming, wriggling embarrassment.  Surely the twins would not be able to stomach this epic journey.  My memories of the flight down to Florida in May were still fresh in my mind.  Adjusting, trying to keep the babies calm while not completely annoying those around us.  Babies in captivity.  It was harrowing to say the least.  In May, we were that family on the plane.  That family.  But what could we do?  How do you keep a kid entertained for hours on end when they aren't even allowed to move around?  There are only so many entrancingly interesting things you can pack in a carry on.

This trip, though, we had a promise on which we could deliver.  We were going to see Nana.

I had no idea how much weight that idea would carry.  Whenever we had a restless moment, whenever it looked like the twins were going to lose their patience (or their minds), we gently reminded them that we were going through all this to get to Nana.

With that, I saw them set their little jaws in determination and settle into the trip.  They were going to see Nana.  They didn't want to mess this up.

And they didn't.  For seven consecutive hours, the babies, in a fit of grim determination, pressed on without tantrum or complaint.  They were going to see Nana.  Mommy said so.  No matter how long it took, or what they had to go through, they knew, at the end of the day, they were going to see Nana.

It is essentially the power of bribery taken to a whole new level.  And honestly, I'm lucky they believed me, given all the empty promises I accidentally make to them.  You know, like, "We'll go outside after you eat lunch," when what I mean is we're taking a nap after we eat lunch and then if it's still light out, we'll go outside.  The more truthful I can be, the more promises like seeing Nana will work for me.

I have never been so proud of my little girls, truly.

Discovering Priorities

Last night, I saw my mommy-life flash before my eyes.  We were mid-way home from our trip to Connecticut.  It wasn't the plane ride, or the airports, or the unsafe bus, or the fact that we were all exceedingly ill that pushed me over the edge.  It was Bean.

Bean, Dulce's blanket and lovey.

You see that pile of dusty, threadbare pink in the middle?  That's Bean.  Sitting right next to Bear, Natalina's lovey.  Bean watches us eat.  She watches TV with us.  We pretend to feed Bean.  Bean goes potty with us.  Bean definitely sleeps with us.  Bean is the perfect complement to a pointer finger in the mouth in the late hours of the night or the early hours of the morning.  Bean understands Dulce like no one else. 

Bean is torn, tattered and faded.  In fact, when describing her to a stranger who was doing a last check on the now-vacant bus for us, I said, "Please, sir, can you just check the corners and floor for an old pink rag?"

I felt bad.  Poor Bean.  What an awful description.

Of course, the main point here is that Bean was lost.  We had lost Bean.  Dulce, already strapped in the car and ready for some well-deserved pointer-finger action after a long day of traveling, was calling for her.

"You lost Bean?  How could you lose Bean?  You know better than that.  Really?  Are you sure?  You lost her?"  My husband, beside himself.

"I... I didn't lose her.  The baby must have dropped her."

Oh, okay, sure, Darlena.  Blame the baby.  In my defense, I was reacting in cold fear of the nights and weeks and life ahead of me, should Bean fail to appear.

I saw then where my priorities actually lie these days.  I even thought, 'Oh, I wish I had lost my license, instead.  I wish I had lost a bag.  Anything but Bean.'

That rag, worthless to the common eye, is worth more than spending the day at the DMV to me.  It's worth more than a $200 necklace.  More than an entire week's worth of clothes.  Bean has quietly risen to being one of the most important things in my life.

We were headed back to the airport.  I would scour the grounds, asking the throngs of people if they had seen a faded pink rag.  I would check the trash cans.  I would cry at security if I had to.  I would make them turn that plane back around somehow. 

Then, we found her.  I had stashed her in a bag after Dulce had dropped her for the umpteenth time.  The whole ride home, I was merely thankful Bean was still with us.  I could hardly think of anything else except for what my life would have been like without her.

Turns out, we did leave a bag.  Now, I'm biased because it's my husband's bag, and I only have a few things in it, but I'm so thankful it's the bag and not Bean that's missing.  And it only further proves how important that scrap of cloth is.  We left his bag at the car lot because we were madly searching for Bean and took off in a cloud of worry, without checking that we had everything.

Don't be like me, parents.  Have a spare.  Someday, this nightmare will be my reality.  Whether we lose her or she disintegrates completely, someday, we will no longer have Bean.  And my life will never be the same.  Buy many, many loveys.  Switch them out frequently when your kids are babies so they get equal use and wear.  You need spare loveys.  Your future depends on it.  Save yourself.

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