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It was a holiday or holidays, we often fear the time and energy that will come back home. After years of living abroad and traveling back and forth to the Middle East with her three children in tow to eleven hours one-way flights, I got a few strategies to make the trip more enjoyable and less stressful.
...1 Be ready and prepare their children. Too often, mothers become the couriers for every thing. As soon as our children are really able to manage their own small backpack, we put the space to good use. Snacks, games, books, crayons, small toys filled my kids' bags and I kept mine in a room for important things such as change of clothes, medicines, and things for younger siblings.
...2 Be ready for anything. Travel with a duffel bag rolled up inside a suitcase in case you need another bag in a hurry. My daughter is trying to be "helpful" during one of our connections between cities. We are already running against the clock and had to be sure that we had all our bags and stuff. She saw our bag because it came around the luggage carousel and decided to pull up the floor. He was caught in the carousel and tore open. Without skipping heart, I grabbed the roll duffel bag that was inside, the contents transferred to a new bag and chucked in a torn garbage on the way to our flight, we caught in time.
3 Take advantage of teachable moments. During the trip, your children can get a great education as well as take in the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of the places you visit. Walking and taking a bus, eating in local restaurants, trying new things, hearing different languages, visit historical sites and fun things that kids will remember for years to come.
4 Capture the memories. ticket stubs, photos, postcards and souvenirs are just some of the trinkets that lend themselves to our family scrapbook over the years. But this is a story that children love to relive such memories and "see" these places from each other in the eye. Even the seats were too young to remember the visit were stamped in the passport and a part of their personal travel and history.
5 Pack light and make the most of what you have. This is the time to scale down a bit and leave things behind the charge. Help children to wise choices about what to take with you. Mix and match clothes and packing items that are low maintenance and comfortable. Too often I draw too many things you have to drag me into heavy suitcases through train stations and aircraft, and then try to cram someone in the car when we were picked up at the airport.
5 Pack light and make the most of what you have. This is the time to scale down a bit and leave things behind the charge. Help children to wise choices about what to take with you. Mix and match clothes and packing items that are low maintenance and comfortable. Too often I draw too many things you have to drag me into heavy suitcases through train stations and aircraft, and then try to cram someone in the car when we were picked up at the airport.
...6 Remember what time it is. If you are traveling through time zones, even from the East to the West Bank, to keep a watch on your local time and change others to your home time back. When we traveled to the Middle East, I had in mind that my kids' schedules are upside down and monitoring the time their bodies are still thought that helped me through those transitional days.
7 Enjoy the journey! Relax and enjoy your time away as much as anybody else. Is it possible when you are traveling with small children or teenagers? Yes! Make sure your diary and favorite books are tucked in their bags. Grab the early morning time for yourself, take a walk along the beach, get a guard and go for coffee with your spouse or friend not seen for awhile. Make sure you bring more than just underwear. Especially as a mom, you have to take some time for yourself so that you return home refreshed and not worn out.
I wish you and your family safe, happy and stress-free trip!
