Are We There Yet? Part II

When traveling with children, especially during meal times, you must remember that kids usually don't care about "atmosphere/ambiance" as much as they care for their food served quickly and in a familiar fashion. And, when they're done, they would prefer to get up and leave instead of sticking around for a pianist's entertainment or a floor show. What to do. Well, you can have a picnic, cook in your own room if it's permitted, or even have a sitter for your younger kids while you take the older ones out for a more formal dinner.

Now that you're filled up, another thing to consider is educational travel. You can take your children out of school for your family vacation, especially if you bring along their homework, which had better get done now what all of that extra time and that relaxed attitude. Travel, itself, is educational. Journal writing, postcard sorting, math (souvenirs and restaurants), geography (maps), children's, art, history, and science museums, and zoos are all wonderful things to do and places to see that could be education for your children. For the whole family, really.

Now I've arrived at the part of the book entitled "Stresses and Strains." The first part, and what a strain it is, is about traveling while pregnant. You can do mostly anything up to about your sixth month, but you still have to plan your vacation very carefully. You will certainly require more rest/free time and a more relaxed-paced schedule. Take along some extra pillows, especially for those terribly uncomfortable seats you'll almost surely encounter. By the way, some cruise lines and airlines might not let you board if you are over six months pregnant.

Taking the baby, post-pregnancy, is another story, however. Just remember that traveling with an infant isn't like traveling with your new spouse. Taking your parent to babysit the child isn't always a given, either, remember. They do have lives of their own, too. Here's something I never knew: pediatricians recommend NOT using sunscreen on children under 6 months, just shade. Also, it's best to have a suite or connecting rooms, because a small, quaint inn or bed and breakfast room will not give the baby enough room quietness to nap.

It's quite an event to travel, and even more so with children, but it's always rewarding in one way or another!

So, when you're ready to book that vacation, pre- or post-baby, make sure to do it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first!