You might be Super Mom or Dad, but shoving your kids into a cramped car for a few hours is enough to have any saintly parent pulling their hair out.
You can make your holiday road trip a little less stressful, and dare I say it, a little bit enjoyable, by employing some or all of these tips when you travel this holiday season.
Make each child a travel kit. Fill it with everything practical and entertaining they could possibly need for the trip, so you don’t have to root through your bags when one needs a kleenex or their favorite book. Make sure to include wipes, snacks, drinks, paper, pencils, hand held video games, music, gum, books, and one special thing each child chooses for themselves.
Play games. When I was little, we would always play “Quaker’s meeting” on car trips. I don’t know how politically correct that is these days, so if you are a Quaker, and you don’t enjoy meetings, I apologize. The game started with the phrase: “Quaker’s meeting has begun, no laughing, no talking, no chewing chewing gum.” From there it was dead silent and the first person to make a noise lost. Sure there was tons of pinching and pointing and muffled giggles, but it kept us quiet for 3 minutes hours. You can call it The Silent Game, or whatever you want, but the only rule is no talking.
You can use the classics: I spy, travel board games, or license plate bingo, but of course, now kids can bring the Internet and video games along with them, so if they are into that, take advantage.
Bring snacks. I know I get cranky when I’m hungry, so imagine how your kids will behave without something to munch on. Bring portable snacks that create little mess or crumbs, like baby carrots, sliced apples, raisins, string cheese or trail mix. Drinks can be messy, so stick with water which won’t stain, or make sure they are in a resealable bottle (ie. CapriSuns and juice boxes are a no-no.)
Make frequent pit stops. I probably don’t have to tell you, when your little one has to go, she really has to go. Avoid messes and head aches by making stops every hour. Plus, keep the kids cooped up for too long, and things will start to get ugly.
I can’t promise you will all be singing show tunes like the Brady’s the whole way to Grandma’s, but if everyone is engaged and comfortable, the trip should be comfortable as well.
You have to handle your spouses road rage all on your own.
