Travelling
with babies can be pretty frustrating for everyone so my advice is, don’t do it
if it can possibly be avoided. It’s one thing making that trip to visit
relatives with the new baby but it’s quite another to pack up house and home
and head out on a family vacation with an infant. Be honest now, do you think
your prodigy is going to remember his trip to Jamaica at ten months of age when
he grows up? As for you, what kind of holiday are you going to have looking
after said infant with feedings, naps, changings and everything else that goes
along with the precious angel? Finally, trust me, it’s no holiday for everyone
else when your teething little darlin’ explodes at dinner.
If you insist though, try something a
little closer to home before you hop on a plane with junior. Leave yourself an
out in case things go poorly. An overnight in a nearby motel is a good test.
Maybe baby travels really well, maybe he sleeps in the car, maybe he doesn’t
fuss in the restaurant, maybe he draws nothing but oohs and aahs from all
around him – or maybe not. The Caribbean all-inclusive resort is not the place
to discover that little Scotty decided that sleeping through the night was no
longer of any interest to him and that throwing pasta in tomato sauce was a lot
of fun in that five star a la carte Italian bistro.
As the kids age the challenges for mom and
dad escalate. You’ll soon find you’re nothing short of brilliant as you select
places to visit and motels to stay in and discover refreshing alternatives to
handling those recurring dreaded moments. It’s a jungle out there and you’ll be
surprised how quickly you develop your own commando tactics to survive.
Time marches on and at some point the
children are no longer cute adolescents, they become teenagers and all the
rules change, for them and for you. You are still required to entertain them
but you must do so from a discreet distance because suddenly they need their
own space and no longer want to be seen in Walmart with mom and dad.
Finally, as young adults (18 to
20-something) the contest becomes ultimate and your true genius emerges
triumphantly. My wife Karen and I were able to fight the good fight and enjoy
family vacations with our sons Adam and Gavin until they were 21 and 23
respectively. Maybe some of what we learned on our journeys will help you. I
hope so because travelling with your children is one of the best things you can
ever hope to do for them and for yourself.
to be continued
for
more information check the website www.thatroadtripbook.com
in
particular, The Holiday Road
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