Community Corner

Moms Talk: Traveling With the Kids

Laurel Patch's resident mom Amber McCann shares her hard earned experience in traveling with the family.

It's that time again: Spring Break. Instead of keeping the children in all week, Moms Talk columnist Amber McCann is sharing her hectic schedule when traveling with the family during the break.

The routine goes a little something like this:

  • Try desperately to get the house in order enough to find all the things we need to pack.
  • Pick through the dirty laundry to do one last load because your youngest insists the world will end if he can't take his favorite shirt.
  • Realize a bit too late that three kids clothes take up more room that you expected.
  • Vacuum out the van.  Find 42 dried up french fries and 1/2 a chicken nugget.
  • Rush to get the van packed so the parents can get to the school in time for afternoon pick-up.
  • Wait...and wait...and wait in the car pool line at the school.
  • Listen to the kid's squeals of glee that Spring Break has begun.
  • Realize that we forgot a favorite pillow and everyone's toothbrushes and drive back home.
  • Finally set out on the road.
  • Stop to go to the bathroom...20 minutes after we've finally left.
  • Take a poll of those in the van to determine where we will stop to eat dinner.  Kids get one vote, Daddy gets two votes and Mommy gets 10 votes.  Eat at Mommy's favorite place.
  • Make sure Daddy gets caffeinated coffee.
  • Enjoy the changing landscape.
  • Sing silly songs, introduce the kids to a new artist on the radio, tell a few knock-knock jokes, enjoy being a family, make some memories.
  • Watch as night falls.
  • Listen to the quiet sounds of sleeping children and adjust their little heads in the car seats so that they are safe and comfortable.
  • Pull into Grandma and Grandpa's house.
  • Climb into the bed of my childhood and rest in overwhelming thankfulness for another lovely trip.

Does your family enjoy road trips?  Where are your favorite destinations?  Do you tend to "head out" or "stay in town" when school is out?  Any tips of suggestions for traveling as a family?  I would love to hear what family road trips are like for YOU.

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Amber McCann is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and owner of Nourish Breastfeeding Support, which serves breastfeeding moms in Howard County and Laurel, MD.  More importantly, she is the mother of three incredible children and very involved in the Laurel, MD community.  She can be reached at amber@ambermccann.com or on her website www.ambermccann.com.


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