Family Road Trip – Have Fun

Mistake #5

Everyone wants to stop but you’re completely off schedule.

Solution

You are going to have to stop. You are going to want to stop. You need to let those little beasties out to run around! Map out playgrounds or even fast-food places with playlands ahead of time. Check your GPS — most can locate parks and rest stops closest to the route you are driving. More important, face this fact: You can’t control everything, so don’t try. Plan for as much as you can and enjoy whatever happens. You might arrive later than you wanted, you may have gotten lost, you may have gotten sick – who knows – but whatever it was, it will probably wind up being the best story of the trip. Try to enjoy it all – while it’s happening and forever after.

Wherever you go, whenever you leave, whatever you decide to do, use these ideas to make getting there a little more fun!

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Family Road Tip – Map It

Mistake #4

Traffic is bad but the GPS alternate route is worse. There are times when you’ll want to go off the GPS’ main route and unfortunately the alternate routes offered can be confusing and frustrating.

Solution

Have a road atlas or at least a printed map of the area. You can then get a big picture of where you are, where you want to go and possible alternate routes.

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Family Road Trip – #3 The Kids

Mistake #3

Everyone is a mess, uncomfortable (and complaining). Someone’s nose is running, another just spilled some juice and a third has cookie-crumb hands. Things are getting gross, legs are getting cramped and tempers are getting short.

Solution

Be sure to pack — in easy reach — tissues, paper towels, and wipes. You may want to consider toilet tissue and hand sanitizer for those emergency pit stops. Also bring blankets, pillows, and other favorite comfy things from home. It’s cool for kids to have that stuff in the car because it’s unexpected. It’s also helpful when one person is hot and another is cold. And if they are comfy, clean and relaxed … maybe they’ll sleep (fingers crossed).

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Family Road Trip – Tip #2

Mistake #2

You realize something you really need is stuck in the back of the van or trunk of the car and you can’t get to it. Making the situation worse is the trash strewn about and the impending carsickness!

Solution

Give each child three bags that remain close to them. One should include all their toys, books, snacks, etc. (including an extra outfit, so you won’t have to unpack the whole car to change them). One is for trash. The last is for queasiness. Explain how to use the last one. Accidents usually happen because you can’t get to your little one in time and they don’t know where to point their mouth. With their own bags and instructions, these situations can be avoided.

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Family Road Trip

Mistake #1

You’re leaving later than you planned. When you travel by airplane, you’re on someone else’s schedule. You have to be on time or they’ll leave without you. Taking a road trip gives you lots of flexibility, which is great. However, it can create a lack of urgency to get out the door.

Solution

Save your yelling voice for breaking up your kid’s car-ride disputes and pad your departure time by 30 minutes — even an hour if you have really slow movers or toddlers. And be sure to fill the gas tank the night before!

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