A few lessons I’ve learned.

I have done a lot of traveling in the past few years. I’ve traveled by myself, as a young married couple, pregnant, as a new Mom, with a toddler while pregnant, with a toddler and a new baby, and with two little munchkins. I guess the next frontier in traveling will be to do it with three kids…but we’re not quite there yet. Seeing as to how we’re currently stuck in New Jersey, awaiting a flight to Washington to await a flight to Hill Air Force Base in Utah, I feel this would be a good time to put together a comprehensive list of things I’ve learned from traveling. Let me tell you something, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve at this point.
1) Well rested children is key. I used think that if I kept them awake before traveling they would sleep better on the plane, in the car, wherever. Not so much. It just means I have two VERY grouchy children to add to an already stressful situation. Get those babies as much sleep as possible before you leave.
2) Don’t start packing until the day before. Take the week before the trip to get caught up on all your laundry, cleaning, shopping, etc. If you start putting stuff into the suit cases too early you’ll be digging through them for days trying to find something you need. Your kids will unpack them when you’re not looking to turn them into a sail boat, or a prison, or a really really good hiding place. If the house is clean, the laundry washed and folded, and your life is in order, packing will be a BREEZE.
3) Individually packaged snacks. We never buy them. Except for when we’re going on a trip. If it has one serving size in its own darling individual package, it’s coming with me. This way when a kid starts whining it’s easy to grab a package of cheese itz or fruit snacks and get their mouths busy doing something besides driving me crazy. Plus all those treats are exciting because they never get them…so the treats can also be used as bribery for good behavior.
4) Portable DVD player. This thing is my salvation. Plus head phones. The head phones are very important because I don’t want to listen to The Princess and the Frog over and over again for hours, neither do the people whom you are flying with. We bought a sony DVD player with the longest battery life on the market. Plus I charge the DVD player anytime we have a layover.
5) Go buy a new movie. Maybe two or three. I always head to the nearest store selling new releases and pick a few new kids movies (or bring the kids with me and let them pick them out) but I don’t allow them to watch them until we’re on the airplane. And that is ONLY if they’re good. I’m not above bribery. When they have a new movie it’s double rewards for you, you can hold it over their head that they can’t watch it unless they’re good, and when they do watch it you won’t hear a peep out of them for hours because they’re so into this new show they have never seen before. The more new movies, the more time you get peace and quiet.
6) Bring some pillows. If they can get cozy when they do finally fall asleep your chances of them staying asleep are much better.
7) Wear a sports bra. Seriously, just skip the real thing.
8) Charge EVERYTHING before you leave. Cell phone, DVD player, ipod, camera, etc. There’s nothing worse than having your batteries die on your electronics when you need them.
9) Have cash!! This way if you end up in an airport in the middle of the night and nothing is open, you can still use the vending machines to get your drinks or more snacks if you need them.
10) Be prepared! If you think you’ll only need 3 diapers in your carry on bag, bring 6. Bring spare clothes for in case of puking, diarrhea, spills, and every other kind of catastrophe that can soil a clean pair of clothes.
11) Drugs. This is a lesson I learned from my Mom, who also happens to be a walking pharmacy. She was always ready for whatever illness her kids could throw her way while we were out. I always pack the motrin, Benadryl, excedrine, and any other kind of medication that could be needed for the trip.
12) Dress comfy. It makes me shudder when I see a woman walking on an airplane with her kids wearing her high heeled leather boots and fancy clothes. I think it’s a good idea to dress like you’re going to the gym…since this trip will most certainly be a workout.
13) HAVE FUN! I think sometimes it’s so hard when you’re traveling with little kids to remember that this should be fun for them too.

And last but not least, if you’re military and traveling Space A on military flights….be prepared to be stuck in random places for days and to put your kids to bed on the floor in random passenger terminals. Maybe even in New Jersey. Maybe we should go see New York?