Traveling with Kids: The Good, the Bad, and the Crazy!

[RIF]

Do your kids treat the airport's moving walkway like a roller coaster ride? Or worse, do your students act like wild animals during annual field trips to the zoo? Share the good, the bad, and the crazy of your experiences traveling with kids.

[Jo]

I had a great adventure with my teen sons last summer hiking in Mesa Verde National Park to visit the Balcony House ruins. We were awed by the wild beauty of the mesa and the determined architecture of the ancient Anasazi represented by the cliff dwellings. Climbing the 32 foot ladder that hung over the 400 foot cliff made us appreciate the lovely front porch waiting at home. My sons were eager to read all the signs at the park museum explaining about the people who had lived in that precarious place.

[luvbeingmom]

I have not had the opportunity to fly with my kids yet! Notice I said yet. To begin I' m not much on flying.....that being said we do road trips. Last May we traveled down to the Texas Coast and this was my daughters first three ++ hour trip since being potty trained. I state this because she had only just discovered that by stating "I have to go potty" this would release her from the car seat and set her free into yet another disgusting road side store restroom. For some reason every store we ventured into was located in the back of the store. I was 7 months along totting my daughter through the store not very inconspicious. My daughter quickly discovered she not only got out of the car seat for a few minutes but Mommy would buy some stupid little trinket on the way out. (I have always felt obligated to buy at least something when stopping in to use a restroom.) Let me tell you I was broke of that nasty habit by the trips end. I returned home with more assorted fuzzy keychains, crazy coozies, and candy than I care to ever own, use, or consume!!! Moral of the story: Get in Get empty Get out and back on the road to your destination. Consider teaching a child to hold it for a least a few miles longer.

[Rakisha]

My husband and I drive to Indiana about twice a year to visit his family. My oldest daughter, who is three, suffers from motion sickness. During the last trip, we had to stop every three hours to clean her up. Because she doesn't want to go to sleep, she stubbornly keeps her eyes open. However, when she keeps her eyes closed, she's fine. Luckily, we've taken to draping a huge trash bag over her so when she does barf, we just rinse her off at the next rest stop. Febreze is our friend.

[Nicole]

The best advice I have for flying with children is make your self as comfy as possible and enjoy yourself.

1. bring little gifts for the kids as a mid-flight suprise (a book, magazine, small toy, awesome pen...)
2. pack fresh snacks (fruits and such)
3. bring your favorite teabags (stewards can supply the hot water for you)
4. bring wet wipes and lotion ( rehydrating your skin during a flight can make you feel so much better)
5. don't forget the neck pillow!
6. don't forget the eye masks for night flights
7. bring extra ourfits for each kid
8. give them their own carry-on backpack to be in charge of

I love travelling with my kids and they really love to fly. Our next trip is to Denver. Hello Rockies!

[Rakisha]

Nicole, I keep trying to convince my husband that with the cost of gas and the length of our trips, it might be easier for us to fly. I think the girls, who are now 4 and 2, would love it. We would get to our destination 9-hours faster! He doesn't want to be bothered with the whole checking and claiming of baggage. He said I shouldn't complain because he has to do all the driving. I tell him that I'm the one who has to drag the two little girls into the rest stops bathrooms through all the crowds. Every try to fit three people into a stall? Especially 2 squirmy kids. LMAO. One time, my 4 year old unlatched the door to wash her hands while I was still sitting.