One thing we have been doing recently, is traveling. In the past year we have had so many awesome family trips! We have driven and flown, cruised and stayed near home. All of it has been wonderful....and, sometimes, a lot!
We all seem to be on the same page when it comes to traveling now. In fact, when the kids got home from a visit with their grandparents about 30 minutes before my husband and I pulled in from our trip away, we walked into a clean home where the kids had already put all the dirty clothes in the laundry room and all the suitcases away. But this has come after so much consistency and not giving in when they do not feel like helping. They knew they would have to help clean up, so they just got it done and it was awesome!
The prep before each trip is about the same. I let them know - verbally or written down - just how many clothes I need to approve and what types of things they need to pack. Organizing and packing and getting out the door is no joke. It is a lot and it is okay to be overwhelmed. I have a word document that is our basic packing list that I print out every time and just add to or subtract from, based on what we are packing for. This seems to help me remember, gather my thoughts and eases that "what am I forgetting" feeling. I also have this list in my phone, just in case I need to get packing without printing out the list for everyone.
Traveling and vacationing is so wonderful! But, it definitely requires a lot of forethought and focus, especially when traveling with children. What are your tips and tricks for staving off frustration or angst in the preparation part of getting out the door?
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