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Three Kids and a…Bowl of Spilled Soup (Or How Family Travel Makes Me a Better Momma)
Many minutes after her final tuck in, my biggest little sat up and started spewing questions at me about our upcoming overnight flight. Through my grumpy, impatient protests, she was relentless in her need for answers. How long she would be on the plane before she had to sleep? What pillow would she use? Who would she sit with? What would she wear? Would it be a full nights sleep? Will we be fed breakfast? Dinner? A snack? How many movies should she have with her? Lovies? Where would they go? I could see her imagining herself there, snuggled into the pocket of the airplane seat, preparing for an adventure. Day…
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Three Kids and a…High Mountain (My Husband’s Travel Tale of Fear)
And then, one mountain drive, this joke turned and took on a life of its own, a darker life. A life I, nor my husband, felt comfortable with.
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This Isn’t a List of the Top Things to Do in OBX
In the world of the Outer Banks (OBX), along the coast of North Carolina, I consider myself a newbie. My family and I have only been at it two glorious years. But I think it’ll be the first two years of many. But no matter how much I come, I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to give an accurate list of the Things to Do in OBX. Layout OBX is a small sliver of land, rarely more than a mile wide. The 130 mile stretch of barrier islands sprawls from the Virginia coast and continues south through four counties. The small towns and fishing villages spotting the islands…
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Three Kids and a…High Tide
This was supposed to start as a cliched story of a fabulous vacation photo with two of my little people. In fact I had spent countless hours in the shower working out the story in my head (or minutes really, just minutes, because I'm a mom and they're always lurking, even when I'm in the shower while on vacation). And then it happened; high tide happened. And the story seemed like it was gone for good.
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The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real Family Concierge Reviewed: A Family-Friendly Resort
I wanted to melt into a chaise by the ocean, float in a pool, swim up to a bar, and stretch along the balcony as I watched the sun set. And, as any parent with preschool-age little people knows, to find this elusive vacation one must find a place to stay that would make one's children feel like the little royals they often believe themselves to be (insert eye roll). Que The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real.
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Guest Spot: Elyse from Kauffman Tànxiǎn 探险 Blog Offers Her Advice on Traveling with Kids
We got split reactions from everyone. It was either "you're crazy, I could never do that" or "that's amazing! I wish I could do something Ike that!" The truth is. You CAN do it. ANYONE can. I promise. Before you start rolling your eyes and stop reading, hear me out. Sure, it takes some serious planning and patience, but it's totally worth it. And, let's be clear. I don't mean "move to China." But if you have the opportunity to do that, please take it!
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Three Kids and a…Dash of Karma
So, my gut instinct when told that I was "brave" for going on a trip with my children, was to feel defensive. What I wanted to say was that it wasn't brave. There was nothing brave about it. My children, whether at home or traveling, don't need a parent to be "brave" to be with them. They're good kids. Great kids. The best. My mother bear wanted to come out. Claws. Fangs.
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Edaville Family Theme Park is Worth Your Weekend (Let’s Be Honest, It’s Thomas Land)
For a family that typically does Disney World at least three times a year and a momma who grew up working at a family-owned theme park in Pennsylvania (which we visit annually), we really didn't know what to expect before showing up. But it was perfect. It was small and sweet. It was managable. It was suited for everyone. And, most importantly, it had Thomas.
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Three Kids and a…Mother’s Day Hike: an Ode to My Father
There is no reason a grown man should wake up at 2 am infectiously giddy. He has no right to be singing about going to “Wally World” and moving swiftly, floating even, turning on lights, rousing children. He shouldn’t have the ability to make a house pulse with life when just a week earlier it had been flatlining with the comings and goings of the everyday. And when that man then has to take his once sleep-weary children, put them in the car, and proceed to drive 1500 miles, there are even fewer reasons said man should be anything less than entirely spent and growling. He should have every right to…
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Three Kids and a Wrong Hotel Room
I was prepared for this trip. I knew what to expect. I had a plan.
