Parenting Away From Home
For the last two weeks the Jaws attacks music has been droning in the background of my brain. Dun nuh dun nuh dun nuh dun nuh… This Thursday will find me driving off for a 4 day trip to grandma’s house, just me and three kids. Duh nuh, duh nuh. The last time such a feat was undertaken it was me and two kids. One nasty hurricane later my short trip turned into a 9 day single parenting hell. While I am looking forward to spending time with my mom (especially the part where we get to go to IKEA! together because it’s fun to go with someone as starry eyed about it as you are), but I’m really DREADING parenting away from home part.
I’m open to advice, actually I’m BEGGING for advice.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:14 am
Sedation? Booze? Bribes?
Dude, I got nothin’….
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Here’s my advice for traveling with kids, and I’m sure it’s against every “decent” parenting philosophy out there, but I stand by it.
Go to the Dollar Store. Buy enough junk so that you can distribute one piece to each child every thirty minutes (or whatever length of time you feel is just right) during the car ride. Wrap it up in pretty gift wrap, so the kids will see it as OH BOY! PRESENTS!
I even did this on airplanes, and it worked great, because it kept them happy and entertained.
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Not sure how far of a drive you are talking about but when the girls and I did our trek this past summer my most favorite thing to do when I got tired was “scream” yep like a crazy person. Count down and take turns, the kids loved it and it woke me up. I suck at screaming btw, LOL.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Don’t go! You remember how these things go. Just don’t do it!
Sorry, just wish someone would say that to me when I get the idea to spend some time with my mom and the kid. No one actually ever tells me not to, and after I’m like “why didn’t some one remind me?”
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:10 pm
No advice from me but a hardy amount of good luck! No seriously, I will be thinking about you non-stop. Maybe the good vibes will help. Have a great and safe time. Can’t wait to hear all about it!
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:28 pm
I have no advice either. But I hope the trip will be worth it!