Vacationing with small children (#1)

Recently I had the pleasure of showing my brother and his family the Las Vegas Strip and I was reminded that certain accomodations must be made for younger childern.  This is the first post in several with tips about vacationing with younger children (10 & under).


There are some great places that you can with small children.  But there are a few things that you need to remember:
1. Make sure to allow for plenty of "potty" breaks.  Their bladders are smaller than ours, ergo more frequent stops are required.
2. Bring your own snacks and drinks when ever possible.  You know what your kids like.  This will minimize the need to buy food, which can get expensive!
3. Younger kids (10 & under) get tired faster.  You may need to alter you plans and prioritize what it is you want to see and do as a family.  It may also benefit you to rent or even buy a cheap umbrella stroller.  A five or even six year old can get recharged by being able to rest for a bit in a stroller.

Schmutz....and why kids are drawn to it.

I have a question, and no, I don't expect any kind of reasonable answers...but why on earth do small children feel the need to pick up garbage and stick it right into their mouths?  I watch 8 month old twins.  I have been watching these babies since they were 2 months old, so I have had the pleaseure of watching them grow.  Well today I had the pleasure of following around the little boy and pulling all kinds of schmutzy stuff out of his mouth and it made me remember somthing that my youngest did...she was 3 and a half, maybe 4 and we were visiting Grandma on Cape Cod.  My little girl had something in her mouth and whe we asked her what it was she proudly pulled a peice of gum out of her mouth.  Now, I must tell you readers that I didn't give her any gum, nor did my husband or his mother so I asked her where she got it and my little angel took me by the hand and pointed to a beautiful shady spot on the sidewalk where she picked the pink glob up and popped it onto her mouth.  Where do they learn to do this?  I mean, I know that any level headed parent or even a really crappy parent would not intentionally teach their kids to eat rubbish, right?  So where do they learn this.  I know, I know, natural curiosity: touch, feel, taste, sight, smell...the five senses all need stimulation, but c'mom...doncha sometimes want to scream?  How many times a day can you vacuum or dry mop?  It is somethng that all small children do and they stop doing it around the time they go to preshool and it is frustrating.  But rest assured they all grow out of it and they will survive....what ever doesn't kill them makes them stronger!!!

April 1, 2010

Okay, so I have been told that I should write about kids...having them, raising them, bargining with them, BRIBING them ("if you wear the nice outfit that Aunt Martha sent you I PROMISE that mommy will buy you the Commander Death video game!!!!  NOW PUT ON THE GODDAMN JACKET!!!!!!!").  But what makes some people better parents than others?  Is it upbringing or is it education?  Nature or nurture?  Well, I have no idea.  I can tell you that I have raised two daughters who, so far, have turned out well.  We never had any of the temper fits or screaming fights in my home.  Doing poorly in school was not acceptable and chores were a part of everyday life.  Let me be clear: we are not a wealthy family by any stretch of the imagination.  Everything that we provided for our children was a HUGE struggle, but worth every penny.  Early on, our daughters knew that we did not have what everyone else had, but they always had what they needed.  I think that a big problem today is that parents fell the insatiable need to say yes to their kids, especially if they have the money to do so.  Even in these tough economic times parents are still purchasing, X-Boxes, Wii's, Playstations and all of the paraphanalia that goes along with.  It is easier for parents to put the kids in front of the TV, movie or video game than to interact with them.  In Roald Dahl's book Mathilda the Wormwoods live their lives by what is on the television.  It is the focal point for their lives, both literally and figurativley.  Mr. Dahl's book is prophetic...we have become a society of Wormwoods.  We are all guilty of this.  After all, what is the harm in allowing your six month old to gaze at Elmo or Cookie Monster on Sesame Street?  Nothing, as long as it is done in moderation.  Why do parents feel the need to say "yes" to everything?  It's not good for a child to get everything they want.  Let's remember another Roald Dahl Character whom we all know so well: Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Need I say more.  It's good to say no to your children often and on a regular basis.  What 14 year old NEEDS an iPhone?  None.  It's that simple.