We’re going to be traveling soon, and I’m at the point where I start making a list for every member of the family so that I don’t forget anything when we’re packing. This happens to coincide with Darren Rowse‘s current Group Writing Project. Here’s my list:
1-Sanity. Definitely going to need this while traveling with 3 kids in the car for, at minimum, 9 hours (each way). Now, I don’t think I have enough of my own in my stash to make it through the whole trip. I’ll have to “borrow” some from others. They won’t miss it. And, even if they do, they won’t need it as much as me.
2-Former nanny. One of my very best friends is going with us. I love her completely in her own right. She’s one of the most wonderful people I know. In addition to just being awesome, she is also a former nanny. And not one of those former nannies that was mean and cruel and just in it for the big bucks. No. She actually LIKES kids. Crazy, I know. She’s one of those people that just has a knack for taking care of kids, and mine happen to adore her. And her presence on the trip puts us at a 1:1 ratio of kids to adults. Unbelievable. I’m looking forward to it! No more ganging up on mommy.
3-DVD player. We’re borrowing one. A great road trip tool, as long as you’re willing to sacrifice some of that aforementioned sanity when you’ve heard the same movie 3 times in a row. Whatever it takes to keep them from yelling and fighting. Gotta be able to bore the little ones to sleep, if nothing else. Oh, how I hope they’ll sleep!!!!!!
4-Bribing snacks. And this is where we usually go wrong. Because you need a stash of snacks to bribe them with when you’re traveling and they’re driving you crazy and you just need them to be quiet NOW, but what we usually have with us is something sugary. Yeah, sugary snacks don’t aid in the “calming” process. I’ll have to think on that one a bit more.
5-Flexibility. Because with kids, there’s just no telling what can happen. Seriously. You can try and plan and then everyone just laughs at you when you say, “Well, this is what we’d planned on doing…” Yeah, kids don’t care that much about plans. Neither do chicken pox. Be flexible.
Wish me luck. 
LOL I need a nanny!! Love the DVD player idea, the laptop playing DVD’s has saved our own sanity in the past. Our list is up if you’d like to look – http://lilduckduck.com/ducky-moments-in-time/240
Have a great day!
She is awesome. Already has little car travel kits prepared for the kids! She’s gooodddd. I’ll head over and check out your list!
Love the sanity part! As for the flexibility, I ended up coming down with a full body rash during my last Disney trip! Who knew meds/RX react to the sun?!!
You mean you hadn’t planned for a rash?
Thanks for visiting here!
Yes, bribes are critical…. just don’t let them catch on
http://joshmaher.wordpress.com/2006/08/14/top-ten-reasons-you-should-not-blog/trackback/
Yep, gotta keep the bribes effective! Thanks for commenting.
I wonder how lucrative it would be to market myself as a “vacation nanny”? Travel, play with kids, get paid… That might be my dream job.
Maybe. And your rates can’t be beat! Though I suspect we’re getting a “friends and family” discount.
See you soon!
Now that’s a great idea, Jackie. If you like kids, that job has it all!
My wife and drove 600 miles with 4 kids under the age of six in a Chevette when we were young poor. Extra sanity would have been a godsend, then.
We found bananas, snack crackers, cheese, and those soft-pack juice boxes pretty popular snacks and relatively non-messy. Baby wipes were great for face and hand cleanups in the car.
6 people in a Chevette for 600 miles and you lived to tell about it? I’m assuming everyone else did, too?
Yep, gotta have the baby wipes. I remember my mom brining “Wet Ones” on our road trips, well into our teenage years!
Yes, we all lived through it.:-) And, as Garrison Keillor would say, we’re still married.
The next year we made the trip, we did make sure we had a larger car, though, with air conditioning. Life was so much better!
Ahhh…air conditioning. Amazing the difference a little comfort can make!
oh yes – you need ALL that!! I agree!!!
You’re going to have to do a follow-up after the trip. I dread going on long trips with my 3 young kids. The 3-year old and the 6-year old argues with each other and the baby cries. I might have to borrow your former nanny. Check out my “Secret to Blogging and Baby Poop” post:
http://daddyforever.com/2006/08/15/the-secret-to-blogging-for-baby-poop/
Just thought I would let you know that I have posted a link to your blog from my blog, here it is if you want to check out the post http://www.dipnoi.org/archives/category/children/
Remember money too;)
I just went on a roadtrip with my daughter. We jammed to CD’s the whole way. Here’s the post:
http://kellycurtis.blogspot.com/2006/08/wish-for-you.html
Thanks everyone, for commenting. Somehow, the comments got stuck and I didn’t see them right away. Sorry!
Janice: Thanks for commenting. And yes, we needed it all!
Daddy Forever: Love the name! Very true. And let me know if you need that nanny. We’re trying to figure out how to market her as a travel nanny! I think she’s nuts, but she seems to enjoy it.
And I’ll head over and check out your post!
Scott: Thanks for the link!
Pass the Torch: Oh yes, the money. It just flies on trips! Will check out your post as well. Thanks for the comment!