This morning my neighbors packed up the car, kids, and dog and headed out on their week long family vacation in Tahoe. By the time the car was packed and all were ready to go, the tension was already brewing. Forgotten items, an argument over packing strategy, kids too excited to sit quietly and a baby picking up on all the chaos. Even the dog looked as though he were tired before the trip even began.
When we travel, it is easy to paint a perfect picture in our minds of what the family will experience. But reality is a full day of travel with a tantrum-throwing two year old and an infant can be chaotic simply because routine is thrown out the window and vacation is a disruption to the family dynamics.
The key to happiness when traveling with kids is to realize that naps, play time, food, and poop all still matter. In fact, they are more important on travel days than those routine days at home. The journey to the destination needs to be filled with flexibility for forgotten items, different packing strategies, flat tires, delayed flights, or stinky diapers. And most important? There needs to be an outlet for the extra energy and tension the family day of travel produces.
Here are 7 tips to help deal with travel day quirks:
1. Plan for time to run and play before getting into a car or on the airplane. Allow the family to release the pent up excitement before buckling in for the journey. (Yes, even mom and dad would benefit from a walk or run!)
2. Use lists and plan ahead to avoid last minute trips to the store or back into the house.
3. Plan something for the kids to do while adults are packing up the suitcases and car. It’s easy to focus on packing and forget kids WILL get in the way just because they are excited and this is something new. By first getting them involved in an activity, adults will save time and energy trying to redirect them as we trip over them.
4. Consider asking a friend, relative, or neighbor to take the kids to the park or entertain them for an hour while you focus on the last minute preparations. If that is not an option, consider rotating roles as parents. This will help!
5. Eat a healthy, routine breakfast even if it means preparing it the night before. Low blood sugars will mean low tolerance and sensitive tempers. Grabbing breakfast on the road usually means unhealthy, expensive options or upset tummies from junk food.
6. Laugh together. Appreciate different personality traits and talents. Recognize that getting ready to travel often causes families to quarrel just because of our different personalities. I am a procrastinator and my husband plans ahead. After 14 years together as a couple and 6 years as a parenting couple, we have learned that instead of trying to change each other we have better results if we plan ahead to maximize our talents. (My husband will pack the week before and be the one to take our son to the park or in the backyard the morning of our travel. He has learned to allow me space and time to wrap up the preparations. I have learned not to feel threatened by him packing so far in advance and to be grateful there are not two of us procrastinating!)
7. Plan extra time. Always-always-always plan extra time. This is VACATION. The earliest flight is not always the best flight. Rush hour traffic, busier airplanes, business travelers, and a shorter night of sleep does cost in the quality of travel. That first day is the first impression of your trip.
Try something different this next family vacation. Acknowledge reality and plan ahead so there is time to enjoy vacation day #1. Rushing around to get to vacation only starts things off on the wrong side of happiness and relaxation.
And remember – a family vacation is about enjoying family. Make it easy for kids to behave and the whole family will benefit.
ENJOY your trip!
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