Road Trip

As many of us do in the summer months, my family is planning a vacation.  We have decided to embark on an experience we haven’t yet ….a road trip to Florida.  According to Google Maps, it will take 17 hours and 51 minutes to make this trek from Pennsylvania to Florida.  This, of course, is the approximate time with no stops, going straight through.  We will be traveling with our five & four year old sons and 17 month old daughter.  Are we nuts?  Yes, I am certain we are. 

Planning this trip has brought back some memories of other road trips we have taken, the longest ever being about eight hours.  One particular trip, my husband was in Long Island, NY on business for two weeks, and I decided to go visit him on the weekend in-between toting along our, then, 9 month old son.  I had the duty of packing my son and me up, and driving to a place I had never been.  I packed an enormous amount of things for my son, including clothes, diapers, wipes, bottles, food, bibs, spoons, Excer-saucer, Bumbo seat, baby wash, stroller, diaper bag, sippy cups…and probably more.  I remember getting to the hotel, seeing my husband and feeling that everything I was worried about, the baby supplies, equipment, worries about what I am going to do with my son in a hotel for the weekend all went away.  I learned that it didn’t’ matter what I packed; if I had his favorite toy or his favorite baby food.  He didn’t really care, he adapted to the situation and environment like a pro, and only was concerned if he was being loved and taken care of.    

Now as a mom of three, the list of things to pack for an 18+ hour road trip and a week-long stay seems beyond daunting.  Not only am I concerned and planning for the long, monotonous hours in the car, but also for the seven day stay at my brother’s home.  I have been gathering inspiration and ideas for activities on many websites for road trips with children, as well as talking with my trusted friends with children.  I have been Skyping regularly with my brother and sister-in-law to talk about what they have vs. what I need to bring.  I have been scouring the internet to find a replacement stereo system, as my four-year-old stuck coins in my current stereo in my mini-van, which fried the entire radio/dvd system.  Is all of this researching and planning necessary??? 

I don’t want my children unhappy or uncomfortable, but have realized, it doesn’t really matter if I have their favorite toy, book, movie or food.  What they truly want and need are people who love them, protect them, and entertain them, which I *hope* my husband and I are for them.  I have decided to stop stressing about the materials, and focus on what I have to offer to my children.  I have also come to realize that it doesn’t matter what materials children have, whether on a road trip or at home, the most important thing are that they feel loved, cared for and protected.  This, in my opinion, is the most important job a parent can have!

Sincerely,

From  The Stork’s Nest~

Rebecca

What are some of the ways you love and entertain your children, whether at home or away from home?

 

~Liz's Top 10 List of Things We Couldn't Live Without in My Family~

1.  Mum Mums ~ My baby’s favorite treats, individually wrapped and 

     easy to bring on the run! www.mummums.com  

2.  Sesame Street ~ An oldie but goodie…Just the theme song makes  

     the little people in my house smile. 

3.  Magnetic Drawing Boards ~ The single greatest toy in my 

     opinion…offers endless creative fun and always seem to make my 

     kids happy.  

4.  Fish Sticks ~ Even when my kids are protesting and refusing to eat

     dinner, they are always thrilled when fish sticks are presented as an 

     option.  

5.  HBO’s Classical Baby Series ~ The good folks at HBO figured out

     how to hook my kids with their beautiful shows full of calming

     classical music, bright colors and sweet poetry.  I like watching, 

     too! 

6.  Cardboard boxes ~ No matter how many toys my children have,

     their absolute favorites are cardboard boxes.  Whether it’s climbing

     into them, coloring them with crayons or pushing each other

     around in them, they’re always a bit hit! 

7.  Reading Hour ~ Whether at the library or the local book store,

     taking time out listen to a book being read to us seems to be not

     only good for our kids but good for our souls as well. 

8.  Pandora Radio ~ Or any other online radio for that matter…music

     that you can select (and even rate) for your very own Living Room

     Dance Party in an instant! 

9.  Baby Pools ~ If you don’t have the real thing, a portable baby

     pool will do the trick.  In the heat of the summer, it always amazes

     me how everyone can find instant relief in just a few inches of

     water! 

10.  Microwaveable Heating Pads ~ This one is for all the caretakers

       out there…after a long day of family activities there’s nothing like

       putting your feet up with a toasty heating pad on your back for a

       minute of relaxation! 

Sincerely,

From the Stork’s Nest ~

Liz

What can’t you live without in your family?

SICK DAY

Remember pre-kids when most of us worked in the job force, and when we had a bad cold, stomach bug, migraine or the flu?  We didn’t usually hesitate to call in sick from our job (or at least I didn’t hesitate). 

Since I’ve had my children I’ve had both the stay-at-home experience and the working outside-of –the-home experience, however since having kids, my boss(es) have remained the same…..three little people!  These are the hardest bosses I have ever encountered, and ones that don’t care if I am feeling like death warmed over, they demand to be dressed, fed, bathed, played with and loved!

Of course, over the last 5 ½ years, I have had my share of colds, stomach bugs, and fevers,  usually after caring for one of these bosses that were generous enough to share their germs with me. 

So what do I do?  My husband still needs to go to work, and can’t call in sick because I’m sick in order to take care of the kids.  Many times , there is no calling someone to be a substitute, as many school teachers get to do.  Some parents can send their kids to daycare, although it still remains that they need lunches packed, to be dropped off and picked up, fed, read to and put to bed.  Since I have been working outside-the-home part-time, it’s also raises the question, is it easier to go to work sick, or stay home sick with these little boss people ?

You know what us sick parents do?  We don’t call in, we do our parental job SICK!  We muddle through the day, meeting our children’s needs regardless of how we are feeling.  I distinctly remember (and cover your eyes if you are squeamish) having a terrible stomach bug, and praying to the porcelain god many times one day when I was home alone with my then 14 month-old son.  I was kneeling in the bathroom ready to let it go AGAIN, and he came walking in, probably curious as to what Mommy was doing kneeling on the floor in the bathroom.  I grabbed a handful of bath toys in reach and tossed them out into the hallway for him to chase and not have the chance to see food coming out the wrong way!  He was never the wiser.

Each time a new parent is born (or born again) we continue to do amazing things for our kids.  We put ourselves on the back-burner and do whatever it takes (even while tossing our cookies) to keep our kids happy, healthy and safe. 

I do stand by and reiterate my message in many of my blogs that we need to ask for help and accept that help whenever possible.  When the opportunity arises and if you can get some help – GET IT AND GO TO BED!

In the meantime, know that if your child is fed, happy and safe – that’ll do until you are feeling better or reinforcements arrive!

I believe these will be the hardest, most demanding bosses one person can have, but the payday is more than any check one may get!

Sincerely,

From the Stork’s Nest~

Rebecca

Tell us some of your “wish I could call in sick” stories!

Grand Kids

Written May 30, 2011

After My Grandkids Visited

Your favorite chair is covered with biscuit crumb,

When your grandkids come;

Set high precious souvenirs,

Away from tiny hands, the Dears.

The floor is sticky from spit up drops,

And God knows what else flops;

Whirling Dervish without trying,

Things not nailed down go flying.

A blur of color as they go by,

Cyclonic energy just 2 feet high;

Crayons draw on nearby wall,

Mark how soon they grow tall.

Today is but a moment in your day,

Till they are grown and gone away;

And night may follow day without a care,

And soon they are pushing your wheel chair.

And you leave crumbs and spit up too,

They get the chance to care for you;

Grandkids are heavens’ dove,

Sent to earth to share their love.

Sincerely,

A Guest in the Stork’s Nest ~ 

Grandpapa

Shhhhhhhh........... Happy Fourth of July!

This Fourth of July not only conjures up appreciation for the wonderful Country in which we live, but it also brings up a fond memory for me.  That’s because this Fourth marks the three-year anniversary of the first time my son slept through the night.  I remember that day like it was yesterday.  We had a lovely visit to Valley Forge National Park in honor of the day, then headed home for dinner and bath time.  As the sun started to set, I remembered what had clearly escaped my memory: FIREWORKS.  You see, this was the day I had been planning all week for us to move our son from the bassinet to his crib to see if he would sleep all night long.  As the dusk turned to night, I still remember the scene like it was yesterday:  My husband and I sat in the living room, the baby monitor glued to my hand, cringing each time a firework would go off outside certain that the festive booms would wake the baby.  We fell asleep sometime after midnight and when I awoke with a startle the next day since I hadn’t heard the baby cry, I ran into his room to find him still asleep!  It was a holiday miracle! 

Now, anyone with children remembers the wonderful memory of the first time your baby slept through the night.  How life changing it was!  And for those parents whose babies still haven’t figured out the sleeping thing just yet, know that it will happen and you, too, will get a full night’s sleep again I promise.

I wish each and every one of you a happy, festive and safe Fourth of July holiday ~ as well as a peaceful slumber that night.

Sincerely,

From the Stork’s Nest~

Liz

What memories does the Fourth of July bring back for you?