Essentials for Traveling With Children
March 2, 2010 by TiaHejny · 1 Comment
By CanCan of MomMostTraveled.com
Though I do review travel gear, when thinking about “must-haves” for travel with children, it isn’t material items that come to mind.
Starting when my first child was seven weeks old, I have traveled with my children to places like the Bahamas, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, spending time to get to know each place beyond the guidebooks and at our own pace.
When I think about it, I don’t really buy anything special for use only during trips. We use sun clothing with UPF +50, but I also send them to school with it sometimes. Recently we have made trips without the child carrier or even a stroller, but there was a time when we used those too.
I often pick our destinations on a whim or based on a good ticket price. Next I read about the history of the place, which in Asia can span back thousands of years.
Searching out specific things to do is actually my last priority, and I think that when traveling in an uncertain place where real life happens, this is actually a strength.
I guess you could say that my first “essential” is to be relaxed. Do what needs to be done to keep your family safe and fed, but be prepared to take detours and enjoy the unexpected.
The second essential is like the first: be flexible. There will always be times when things don’t go as planned. Usually these are things that provide hilarious stories once you get home! Sure, it is frustrating in the moment when the double room turns out to be 2 twin beds instead of 2 queens, you are forced to share your “day train” seat with a goat, or you can’t stomach the regional specialty. But it is the shared experiences, the awkward and the enjoyable, that cause you to stretch and grow as an individual while bonding more closely as a family.
Lastly, lead by example in showing your family that learning and doing new things is what traveling is all about. I didn’t set out with a goal to eat a plate of deep-fried crickets, but I did it, and lived to tell the tale.
What I really want my kids to learn through travel is that you can find adventure in the everyday. It doesn’t have to be a theme park or other manufactured environment to be thrilling.
Life is happening and everyone does everyday things a little differently. That is the beauty of traveling with eyes wide open rather than scanning the pages of a guide.
About CanCan and MomMostTraveled.com:
CanCan is the mother of two strapping young boys; Jojo (born 10/04) and Deeds (born 8/07). They have logged in lots of miles, traveling around the globe.
Since 2002, CanCan has flown between Asia and the USA fourteen times (and counting…).
Mom Most Traveled imparts the wisdom gained from experience on the road with my children. Read about my triumphs and mistakes, and be armed with information to have the best travel experience possible!
What kind of baby food can I buy in Laos? Are there disposable diapers in Thailand? Mom Most Traveled is continually adding more information about child-friendly activities at each destination, as well as available infant and child care items.
Balancing Life 101 Part 2
January 25, 2010 by TiaHejny · 3 Comments
By Camille of www.makeitworkmom.com
The most important thing to remember as you try to balance a career and motherhood is that you’re not in this alone. You have to depend on other players to help you get through your day, and retain your sanity. Depending on your situation, your “teammates” may be different people.
If you’re married, you’re working as a team with your husband in raising your children, so it’s very important to keep the lines of communication open in order to decide which role you will each play.
- Negotiate the workload. At a time when stress levels are low, and both of you are able to focus on the conversation, determine who will be responsible for which chores around the house. If kids needs to be taken to extracurricular activities after school or in the evenings, decide who will be the chauffeur and when. You don’t have to be expected to do everything by yourself.
- Go on date nights. Of course, it’s important to build that partnership/relationship with your husband. So, take time away from being “parents” to focus on your relationship as husband and wife, even if it’s ordering dinner in, and talking, after the kids go to sleep.
If you’re a single mom, it may be easier to feel alone in your quest because you’re the sole provider and the sole parent at home. However, you must realize that there are other people on whom you can depend.
- Recognize your daycare provider. It’s important to feel comfortable with your child’s daycare provider so you can focus at work and not worry about your child’s safety or happiness. Take some time to do something nice for this special person who cares for your offspring every day. Make a treat, give a gift, offer a monetary “tip” every once in a while with a card to thank them for making your life more manageable during the day.
- Network with other working moms. For some reason, it feels better to know we’re not the only ones in a certain situation. Collaborate with friends or co-workers who are in your similar circumstance for tips or suggestions on how they handle things. Also, there are many networking websites for working moms like www.workingmother.com.
- Keep close ties with your family members. Your children’s success and happiness in life comes largely from their associations with exemplary people. Assuming your family fits this description, your kids will definitely benefit from spending time with them. Besides, your family knows your particular situation. They love you and they love your children and are willing to help out in any way. So, ask for help if you feel overwhelmed. If anything, I’m sure your mother wouldn’t mind a phone call every once in a while, asking for advice.
About the Author: Camille is a thirty-something mommy with two beautiful daughters, Ad and C8, living in two worlds. By day, she works full-time as an employment recruiter/ staffing supervisor, with a 100-mile daily commute, living in a world governed by policies and professionalism. And by night, she transforms into a mother, living in a world where everything is governed by “Eenie-Meenie-Miney-Moe” and fun. Like so many other moms, she wishes she could stay at home with them, but certain situations require her to work full-time. To learn more about Camille visit www.makeitworkmom.comor contact her via twitter @makeitworkmom.
Mom It Forward This Halloween by BOOing!
October 26, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · Leave a Comment
Check out these great Halloween boo-ing ideas from fellow blogger and friend, Cindy Hopper from Skip to My Lou. She shares how it’s not to late to Mom It Forward Halloween style to your neighbors, family, and friends! What’s more is this is a perfect family activity! In her own words: “It is all about the ding & dash.”
Gather some treats, download and print this special Ghost Door Hanger and you are ready to go. One side lets everyone know you have been booed, the other a fun poem and instructions about how to BOO!
You might also like this unique way to BOO with a decorated plastic pumpkin. “Am I a Cat or Jack Boo Pumpkin” makes a great way to BOO your friends.
Another idea is to make a special BOO! Cone .
If you are into paper crafts a BOO! Sign is a wonderful way to share some Halloween fun!
Let the “BOOING” begin!
Inspiring Mom Recovers From Tragic Plane Crash Through Faith, Family, and Community
October 5, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 4 Comments
Christian Nielson describes his wife’s personality as green, because she’s “mild, lovely, and creative.” Even after only meeting Stephanie once, I would agree!
Stephanie, or Nie Nie, as many refer to her, writes the Nie Nie Dialogues. Her bio reads: “Stephanie Aurora Clark Nielson returns from an almost fatal plane crash. Happy to be blogging again from Utah and recovering too. Four happy children and one sweet husband make her life as good as it gets.”
She inspires, she motivates, she shares. And people read. Lots of people! If you haven’t made your way over, grab a box of tissues and stop by, but make sure to start at the beginning because this is one inspiring mama!
August 2008 marked a time of change for Stephanie and Christian when their plane crashed near St. Johns, Arizona and more than 85% of Stephanie’s body was badly burned. After more than 3 months in a coma and now more than a year in recovery, Stephanie shows us how to overcome challenges through faith, family, and community.
“My faith is everything,” Stephanie says when asked what has helped her overcome life’s challenges. “It is my life and my strength. I rely on the amazing power of prayer and being guided by the Holy Ghost. It is really a beautiful thing. It guides me and leads me to understand my children better. I believe that my children are precious spirits of our Heavenly Father and I am preparing them to be good parents and citizens themselves. I couldn’t do that if my faith didn’t play a role.”
Her husband, or her “Mr. Nielson” as she refers to him in her blog, has also been a strength to pull her through. “He took care of me when the accident happened as if I was his child. He became mother and father for almost a year. He has been there to lean on when times get frustrating and tough…and they did and still do. He is my listening ear, my best friend, and most importantly my greatest support in this life.”
When I chatted with Christian, I got a sense of the good friends that he and Stephanie are. He shared with me that at his last job, he used to have his desktop set to his wife’s blog. He said reading her blog was the first thing he did every day before delving into work-related tasks. He joked that he learned so much more about his family that way!
When Stephanie was unable to blog, her sister Courtney took over the writing for her, updating her growing readership regularly on Stephanie’s status and progress. The blogosphere cried together as Stephanie struggled to make it through each day. We were thrilled when Christian was able to finally see her for the first time after the accident, and we banded together to raise money to help offset the medical bills.
“When the accident happened,” Stephanie shared, “So many mothers and women sent me gifts, letters, cards and donations. My favorite was getting handmade crafts that they made for my children or me. They made me smile and cry knowing that other mothers were feeling my pain and using their creative works to help me heal. It was overwhelming and so kind.”
Now, Stephanie and Christian are reunited with their children, living near family in Utah, and are experiencing a lot of “AC” (after crash) firsts. When I visited Stephanie, she excitedly shared that she had just vacuumed the stairs for the first time since the accident. I sat in wonder, thinking how much I typically complain about vacuuming stairs. She commented, “I think the toughest part right now is not being able to help [my kids] tie their shoes, button their shirts, and run around with them. We really take those for granted.” I asked her what her favorite part of being a mom was and she replied: “I think the best part is being needed. I am nothing if I can’t serve them.”
Learn more about Stephanie and her family by reading Nie Nie Dialogues or CusineNie. You can also follow her @nieniedialogues on Twitter. If you’d like to hear her speak in person, be sure and check out her key note at next summer’s Evo Conference for women in social media in Park City, Utah.RSVP to Share Family Togetherness & Meal Time Tips This Tuesday on Twitter
September 12, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 47 Comments
Stop for a second and think about your most favorite meal time experience with your family. What made it fun or meaningful? What did you eat? What did you talk about? What was it that helped you connect and grow closer as a family?
Now think for a second about what gets in the way of achieving that on a regular basis. If you’re like me, quick and simple meals are never quick or simple enough, meal times are rushed, and while I’d love to have all sorts of meaningful conversations with the family during meal time, we are usually lucky to get a home-cooked meal and even luckier to get conversation with it.
But… statistics show the importance of family togetherness during meal times. So, this Tuesday, we are fortunate to have Libby’s and Feeding America along with other #gno gals to share with us their fabulous tips for making the most of meal time. Have lots to share? Want to learn? Or, want to connect for a little girl power? Then, join us this Tuesday for #gno.
And, don’t forget to enter to win one of our amazing giveaway going on this week.
- What: Libby’s is sponsoring this week’s #gno Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
- When: Tuesday, September 15, 9-11 p.m. EST
- Where: Party with us on our custom Tweetgrid. (Use hashtag #gno.)
- Topic: Family togetherness and meal times
- Who: @feedingamerica @goodlifeeats @hannahkeeley @janemaynard @savorthethyme @rockinmama
- Party Favors: Click here to check out this week’s giveaway sponsored by Libby’s.
- RSVP: Please leave your Twitter ID in the comments to follow and be followed (on Twitter, of course!) by other #gno gals. The best format is as follows: http://twitter.com/jylmomIF.
This Summer’s Last SOS Challenge—Giving the Gift of Cleaning and Organizing!
August 29, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 31 Comments
Does your spring cleaning ever turn into fall cleaning? Or, do you feel that the housework is never done? This week is the last in 14 weeks of Summer of Service challenges and is sponsored by Dyson, because it is all about making this week—starting with today!—squeaky clean for you, your friends and family, and/or your community. Here are 10 ways to do that.
- Make time to clean or organize one area of your house/apartment each day this week no matter how big or small.
- Put the days of the week on a different piece of paper and have your children draw a different day out of a hat. On the assigned day, help your child clean his or her room, teaching the skills needed to do it on their own.
- Go through all the sock drawers in your house, matching up all the pairs and throwing out those without a match.
- Have a family cleaning party. One example is to play songs like “Whistle while you work!” and see who can pick up the most things or get the most accomplished before the song ends.
- Be a clean person by living according to your values. For example, be honest and fair in all of your dealings, be a person of integrity, etc.
- Identify a friend or family who is sick, having a difficult time, or who could use a break. Stop by their house unannounced and do their dishes, empty their garbage, sweep and mop their floor, or clean the guest bathroom. If you know this person well and have access to their house, do it anonymously!
- Take your children to a local park or cemetery and spend 15 minutes picking up the trash.
- Call a local non-profit agency or church and make arrangements to help weed, pick up trash, or clean the facilities. If appropriate, take your children along to help.
- The next time you are at a friends, family members, or in laws for dinner, offer to do all the dishes after the meal.
- Have a laundry folding party as a family and play games as you fold and put away the clothes.
How Will You Give to Others This Week?
- What other ideas do you have for being squeaky clean this week?
- What are things that get in the way of cleaning for yourself, your family and friends, or your community?
- What are ways to overcome these challenges?
- How has being squeaky clean this week made a meaningful difference for you? For others?
Remember to enter this week’s giveaway where 3 lucky winners will get a Dyson vacuum cleaner!
Family Grows Through Love and Adoption
August 5, 2009 by Danielle Smith · Leave a Comment
Sandi Brown feels like her family of 6 is ‘ordinary’. She calls them a family made of love.
Friends describe Sandi as a “fantastic wife to a loving husband and an amazing play-down-on-the-floor-after-reading-the-same-book-for-the-15th-time mom”.
But the road to having their current family has been a long one.
About 6 years ago, while undergoing fertility treatments that, for some time, had been unsuccessful, Sandi and her husband began the process of domestic adoption. It was at this time that Sandi’s fertility and adoption journeys intersected.
Her very last cycle of fertility treatments was successful – she found out she was pregnant. A mere 3 months later, Sandi and her husband were given the name of a woman who was looking to give her baby up for adoption. Knowing her past pregnancies had been volatile, the couple decided to try both.
On October 17, 2003, Sandi and her husband were in the delivery room as Kimberly was born. They adopted her and were allowed to take her home within 24 hours. A mere 12 days later, on October 29th, Sandi went in to labor and gave birth to Annie. Two beautiful baby girls – both healthy – both theirs.
Sandi believed at the time that Kimberly and Annie were the only children she would ever have. But more miracles were in the works – Sandi got pregnant again and carried Madeline to term. This sweet girl is now 4 years old.
The newest edition to their family – Paul – was adopted from Ethiopia. Sandi believes with all her heart that they were all meant to be a family. She says adoption has been the most amazing thing in her life. She even has a series of quotes that remind her of the special bond she shares with her children:
“Natural Child: Any child who is not artificial. Real Parent: Any parent who is not imaginary. Your Own Child: Any child who is not someone else’s child. Adopted Child: A natural child, with a real parent, who is all my own.” ~Rita Law
In addition to making her family her number one priority, Sandi has a blog and an Etsy store where she sells quilts. She is also, clearly, a wonderful friend, always finding time for those around her and encouraging those going through the adoption process.
When asked how she balances it all, Sandi explains, ” I enjoy every moment. I don’t have a sparkling clean home and it is full of clutter, but my children are cared for and valued. I live by the saying, ‘Do something you love each day.’”
Clearly, it is being a Mom, wife and friend that Sandi most loves.
About the Author: Danielle Smith is a mommy to two smart and sassy small people, as well as the founder and primary author of ExtraordinaryMommy.com. You can catch her hosting a brand new live show, The Spin Cycle, on MomTV.com every Wednesday at 9pmEST. She also hosts a show on Blog Talk Radio and contributes to WhyMomsMatter. Danielle is thrilled to be contributing to MomItForward as ‘giving back’ has always been an important part of who she is and what she hopes to teach her children.
BowlHer ‘09 Giveaway—Campbell’s Gift Basket & FLIP Camera
July 12, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 351 Comments
Campbell’s is excited to reward one Mom It Forward community member with some fun products that make simple summer meals fun and easy.
The Prize
One lucky winner from this site will be selected to win a Campbell’s gift package, including the following:
- A FLIP camera
- Campbell’s Cooking Companion Cook Book
- Thermos
- Green Bean Casserole Dish
- Campbell’s Products
Entry Requirements
To enter to win, you are required to do the following three things:
- Leave a comment on this post, including your e-mail address.
- Join the BowlHer ‘09 Facebook Fan Page!
- Post one of these messages on your Facebook wall or on Twitter:
Going 2 @BlogHer in Chicago? RSVP 4 @BowlHer ‘09 party—Sat 7/25, 8 pm @ http://bowlher.com. PLS RT
GIVEAWAY! Win a Campbell’s gift basket, including FLIP camera http://bit.ly/IF6ov PLS RT
Leave an additional comment for each of these extra entries (for a total of five extra entries):
- Join the Mom It Forward Friend Connect (in right sidebar).
- Join the Mom It Forward Flickr Group.
- Join the Mom It Forward Facebook Group!
- Click here to join the Mom It Forward Facebook Page. (This is different than the group!)
- Take the Summer of Service Challenge this week and comment on that post.
The Fine Print
No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. Collective Bias and Campbell’s employees and Mom It Forward employees are ineligible to participate. All entries received after Sunday, July 19 at midnight PDT will not be considered. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered.
Inexpensive Summer Time Family Fun Tips
June 11, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 1 Comment
We heard some great tips from Kathy Peel on bringing the family together during Tuesday’s #gno party, but here are so more to consider for family fun this summer!
- Go on a scavenger hunt at a museum or zoo. Check online and make a list of the exhibits or animals you will see. Have your child try to locate each animal or item on the list.
- Make up a family trivia game. Gather the family for some competitive fun with a family trivia game. Pop up some Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn. The smell will draw the family together and get them excited to play! Write questions on the front of index cards and answers on the back. Stack the cards and let members take turns drawing. If the question is answered correctly, the player keeps the card.
- Help your kids make a “volcano.” Mound dirt 6 to 10 inches high, then clear a hole down the middle of it. Put two teaspoons baking soda in the hole. Pour in some vinegar and watch your “eruption.”
- Watch the stars. Lie on a blanket in the backyard with an astronomy chart and flashlight.
- Plan your snacks in advance. Bring snacks to the park instead of buying expensive concessions—Home-packed bags of Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn are ideal.
- Have a Hula-Hoop contest. Use a stopwatch to see who can keep the hoop spinning the longest.
Enjoy a family watercolor night. Have each person paints his or her favorite vacation spot or place the family has gone on an outing.- Have a contest for the craziest cap creation. Decorate old baseball caps by gluing on beads, ribbons, sequins, feathers, fabric scraps, pipe cleaners, buttons, artificial flowers, or anything else on hand.
- Change the location. Instead of expensive private tennis lessons, look into city or county courts that often offer free instruction for kids. And this year, try a road trip to a nearby state rather than summer flights.
- Making the most of family meals: Dining in is in the new dining out this year. Re-create family restaurant favorites such as Italian pasta dishes or hamburgers with everyone’s help.
Enjoying Theme and Water Parks on a Budget This Summer
June 10, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 2 Comments
Summer means something different to every family be it a trip to Europe or backyard camping. This summer, most families are looking for ways to cut back on costs while not cutting back on family fun this summer. Here are some great tips from Kathy Peel to help you spend summer together with your family at amusement parks while staying in your budget.
Theme parks and water parks are gearing up for summer, and the owners (not to mention your kids) are hoping that your family and others don’t cut this summer ritual from your entertainment budget. Some parks are offering massive discounts. According to Robert Niles, editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, families can get more for their money in 2009 than ever before. “Universal Orlando is offering free tickets for kids, Disney World is offering free dining for the whole family, and Busch and Sea World parks are offering year-long passes for the price of one-day ticket,” says Niles.
Families in other areas can reduce day-at-the-park expenses, as well. Here’s how you can cut costs without cutting out fun:
- Shop for discount coupons. Comb the Internet for coupons and check the Web sites of parks in your area; many parks offer Internet-only specials. Also look around for deals at local grocery stores, fast-food restaurants, and drugstores.
- Consider attendance dates. Parks are busiest on weekends, so sometimes you can get better deals on weekdays. If you live near a park and plan to attend more than once this summer, check into season passes. They often pay for themselves by the second visit.
- Try arriving and staying later. Some parks offer a 20 to 50% discount for late arrivals, at 4 p.m. or after. (Check with the park for the specific time they offer twilight discounts.) You can still enjoy five to seven hours of fun before the park closes.
- Pack your own food and drinks.
- Meals inside parks are pricy and often have little nutritional value. Check out the park’s policies. Some have picnic tables, and others don’t allow you to bring in food. If you can’t bring in outside food, have a tailgate picnic in the parking lot. Pack sandwiches, fruit, cold drinks, and bottles of water in a cooler and make quick trips back to the car for sustenance during the day.
- Bring snacks from home in a backpack that family members can take turns toting. We made a mixture of M&Ms (they don’t melt), Orville Redenbacher Kettle Korn (sweet taste rather than salty), and unsalted peanuts, and put the mix in self-sealing bags.
- Take your own rafts and water toys to water parks so you won’t have to rent them. Bring some self-adhesive patches so you can repair punctured inflatable toys on the spot.
