The Young Family European Extravaganza!

That's right folks, Clark Griswold's gonna have nothing on us after this summer's invasion of western Europe by the Young family. Thankfully we're much more adept at perusing European culture and will most certainly not be donning any cheesy berets with our names embroidered on them. BUT we're going all out on this trip. Our final city list is *drumroll*

Cologne, Germany
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg *NEW COUNTRY*
Strasbourg, France
Basel, Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland
Somewhere in Lichtenschtein *NEW COUNTRY*
Paris, France
Brussels, Belgium *NEW COUNTRY*
Brugges, Belgium
Amsterdam, Netherlands *NEW COUNTRY*

And I'm sure there will be a few more thrown in there for good measure. Im very excited about hitting Paris again because our last trip was taken before digital cameras hit it big and our pictures look like we went there in 1975. As an example:

Seriously, this looks like it should be a picture of my mom. Thankfully we've upgraded. There has even been talk of renting a fancy schmancy wide angle lens just for the trip. Say it with me "oooooooh, ahhhhhhh."

We're hoping to keep Maya's spirits up by waving tickets to EuroDisney in her face like a carrot. I'll be keeping my spirits up by keeping our travel cooler stocked to the brim with yummy cheese, bread, and cured meats. Mmmmmm, cured meat. *droooooo* What? Huh? Oh I got lost in a meat daydream. Sorry.

As a final note, I would like to apologize for my three week hiatus. Josh was gone for a week in Guatemala and, well, my mind got pretty fried before, during, and after his absence. Work has been insanely busy and frankly has been sucking the life out of me. Then Josh was gone and, well, lets just say my brain stopped functioning there for a while. Im hopefully back on track now! Hopefully.

OH! And I am so happy to report that for the FIRST TIME EVER I saw a Trunki in an American luggage store. My heart burst with joy at the sight of it. Im so happy that it's finally making it's way over the pond! Good luck to Rob and the gang. I hope it catches on!

Africa, here we come!

So the Travel Expo was great! Maya had an awesome time checking out all the musical acts, the dive tank (yes I said dive tank), and all the fun swag. Josh and I concentrated on Africa and Asia since those are the places we want to go to the most. We found a great tour company that does family focused safari tours in Botswana with a stop off at Victoria Falls! We're very excited about that. Now all we have to do is get World Cup tickets lol. Anyone have an in with FIFA?

Our Economy Stinks...It's Time For a Vacation in Your Mind

Yep, I'm sure it's a surprise to all of you to hear that the American economy is, in fact, in the loo right now. I don't know if we're in a depression or a recession or what. The fact that I'm even saying the word depression is rather sobering. Now I know, I know. Josh and I still take crazy vacations all around the world and I'm sure that loses people's respect some. I do care about what's happening to so many of our people right now, though. Right now, there are people who can't even afford to feed their kids, much less take a trip. And Im afraid that it's going to get worse before it gets better.

Last summer I posted something about staycations. It's something that I think is still relevant today. No matter how much you hide it, stress shows through to your kids. They instinctively know when something is wrong. That's why it's so important for them to find an avenue to, mentally at least, get away. It's vitally important that YOU find a way to mentally get away. Im not talking about spending money on a vacation. But something as simple as going to your local library and getting a picture book of some far off place and imagining all the things you could do there can help take your mind off things. Getting lost pretending to be in a band with your kids while you air guitar to some music on the radio could be the answer. Go out to the woods and pretend to be lost (just don't actually get lost!). Spend time with your kids in any way you can. They need it and you need it. Hunker down and step away from the bills and just laugh, even for a minute. Your nerves will thank you.

Making the most of your trip with the help of the Smithsonian Institute

One of the wonderful things about living close to Washington, DC is having the Smithsonian Institutes so close by. They are wonderful museums and are free to the public. Every now and then, I look around their site to see if there is anything good going on that Maya would like and I came across this excellent list of how to make the most of your trip to the Smithsonian. The best part is that this list can really be adapted to any trip you are taking and it really focuses on ways to involve your child in the process.

One of the biggest things I have always told parents who ask me for travel advice is to get your child involved. Make them feel like they are having an influence on what you do or, even better, DO give them influence on what you do. A lot of times, trips that aren't kid centered get nothing but grumbles and groans from the little ones, until you find a way to excite them. Things like The Postcard Game, I Spy, and Where is It? as mentioned in the Smithsonian article are all excellent games that will work anywhere you go. They also have great tips on how to prepare for a trip to the museums (which again is true for anywhere you visit), as well as ways you can keep your child excited after the trip is over.

While you're at the Smithsonian site be sure to check out the rest of it because it's a wonderful teaching resource for children. It's loaded with games and information about all of their exhibits and links to exciting exhibits around the country.

Featured Article: Smithsonian Education: Making the Most of It

Smithsonian Education for Families

The Smithsonian Institute

Really...it's not that bad

Ugh I was reading a CNN article earlier today written by a woman who clearly has no interest in kids and went on to list all the reasons why. Now, I've got no issues with people who don't want kids. Heck, at one point I wasn't sure I wanted kids. It just bugs me though that, among her other reasons for not having them, traveling was her biggest one. Why? Why is it that so many people detest the thought of traveling with their children? I really want to know. Was it because of a bad experience? Are they afraid it will be a bad experience? It's true that it's not always pretty and I've had my fair share of moments when I just wanted to burst out in tears because I was so tired but really, it's not the end of the world. Your traveling life doesn't have to end just because you've added a little one or even little ones. You don't have to be trapped into a life of lame vacations! Get out! See the world! Don't let diapers stop you! Just buy some when you get there.

Don't give in to the thought that traveling with kids sucks!!!!

Annnnnd we're back

Wow, internet is hard to come by in Tunisia! Tunisia was great all around. Sorry it's been a while since I posted. We pretty much had no internet the entire time we were there and then I was sick right after we got back. I guess I had too much fun!

Here's the low down on Tunisia!

The good

• Very child friendly - At least I think so. Maya loved it and had a great time roaming around all the ruins going on "adventures." The Tunisian people looooove children and Maya was always greeted with a smile or a pat on the head. Because of it being a former French colony there is a lot of familiarity in terms of food and drink which will help out. A lot of the cafes are accustomed to catering to tourists and usually offer a fairly western menu but there are still lots of opportunities for the kids to try new things.
  

• The history is absolutely amazing. From the third largest coliseum in the Roman world to the ancient cities of Carthage and Dougga, there are amazing sites around every turn. The vast quantity of incredible Roman mosaics alone are worth the trip.

• It's definitely pretty laid back there. There are tons of cafes and with so many cities sitting right on the Mediterranean it's easy to find yourself wastng away the hours looking at the beautiful coast soaking in the sun.

• It's cheap as all get out. Even the dollar did well there and that's saying something! Taxis are dirt cheap (though you have to watch the drivers like a hawk to make sure they dont touch up the meter). A stop off at a cafe for coffee for 3 people will set you back about...oh $2. I had a steak with Roquefort cheese sauce, fries, some spinach thing and bread for a whopping $9.

• It's olive central. If you love olives, Tunisia is the place to go as there are millions upon millions of olive trees. Ive never seen anything like it in all my life. Miles and miles of groves.

• The landscape is gorgeous. You wouldnt think so since it's a North African nation, but it really looks like southern Spain or Italy. They even have the tall skinny pine trees like the ones in Italy. Combine that with the beautiful, silvery green olive trees and you have yourself an idyllic place to be.

The bad

• It can be tough to find people who speak English so brush up on your French. Learn the basics of shopping, ordering food, and telling time. You'll need all of those things. Most of the people in the hotels speak English, but once outside the hotel you'll need to speak French.

• It's a little trashy. Not like gross but there's a lot of litter. Just something to keep in mind.

• With so many museums, historic sites, and beautiful beaches it's a tourist hot spot for sure. Visiting in the off season is a good bet and you avoid the oppressing heat of summer too!

• Outside of Sfax and a few other cities, there are a lot of roadside restaurants that butcher lamb right there on the porch. It's excellent lamb and you should make an effort to stop at one but be warned that it can be a little graphic to watch/look at.

• Watch out for people who want to help you. They just want to "help" you so they can then ask you for money. We found ignoring people who randomly approach us to be the best idea. All the more reason to brush up on your French.

• Logistics can be difficult mostly because of the language barrier. Some of the best ways to get around require some fortitude and aren't for amateur travelers. Things like the louagge. We did it, but it might freak some people out hopping into a van with 6 other people you don't know going to someplace you've never been before.

All in all I'd say Tunisia is an awesome family destination and well worth the trip if you can make it. I would recommend it for those families that are a little more seasoned unless you just plan on going to one of the beach resort areas. If you go to Carthage, definitely wander your way over to Cafe Neptune. It's incredible eating right on the coast for an excellent price. Order the clams. They're to die for!

A Quick Hello

We've made it to Tunisia! I dont have much time to write because we are about to go out to see the medina in Sfax but I'll quickly say it's beautiful and wonderful here so far! We actually haven't even done very much because most of yesterday was spent on a train from Tunis to Sfax and then when we got here pretty much everything was closed :(. All is well though. We're heading out for a big day today. I'll write more later!

Countdown to Camels!

Yes folks, the countdown has begun. If it weren't for Christmas distracting me, I'd already be in a tizzy about going on a trip in just 4 days! We've got our day trip in Germany planned out to deal with our 10 hour layover in Frankfurt. Yes, that's right. 10 HOURS. Oh well, we'll load up on schnitzel, gluvein, and maybe even some good German strudel before we head back to the airport to finish our trek to Tunisia.

I'm getting soooo incredibly excited about Tunisia. I really think it's going to be awesome. Everyone I've talked to so far says that it's great and is an absolute must see. And who could deny that with places like this!

Tunis

Dougga

Photos courtesy The Tunisia National Tourism Office

Absolutely amazing. Maya said she thinks she'll get to ride on a camel named Alice. My cousin's husband is thoroughly jealous that we might get to go to where they filmed some of the Star Wars stuff as he's a big Star Wars buff. I'm sure it will be one giant tourist trap but hey, anything for Star Wars!

Now I have to go wrap about 8,000 presents. OY!

Making your life easier at the airport

Ive been seeing so many articles in the news lately about mothers being booted off planes or generally given a hard time while going through the security process. It's definitely maddening to hear these stories but someone made a comment on one of the articles I read that made a lot of sense. It was something to the effect of you can't control people being unwilling to help, but you can control how prepared you are for people to not help you. I hope that makes sense. Basically, you have to be prepared to go it alone and there are a few things you can do to help yourself.

For the baby bag
Rather than putting your baby bag together the way you usually do, it's helpful to separate out all the things you will have to remove while in security before hand. Remember my article about plane packs? You want to do something like that here. Anything that is a liquid, gel, paste, powder, etc. is going to have to be taken out and put through separately. Taking baby food? Put all of your baby food containers in a separate see through baggy and put them at the top of your diaper bag so you can get them out quickly. Same goes for formula packets, filled baby bottles, breast milk, and diaper changing sundries. Separate them all out into bags that you put at the top, that way when you get to the security table all you have to do is pull them out and put them in a bin with no digging required.

You can't take anything that can hold more than 3 oz. so all of your stuff has to be in containers that hold that much or less. Even if it's a half empty 5 oz. tube of rash cream it will get confiscated because it could hold 5 oz. This is one area where I see people have the most trouble because the rules can sometimes be ambiguous. My rule of thumb is that if it isn't something that can break or crumble (like cheerios) it's a liquid and thus subject to the rule.

Having a diaper bag specifically for travel is a great idea. This way you can keep it fully stocked and ready to go at all times with everything separated out.

Take only what you need for the flight and 8 hours after. I've mentioned this before but this is where it can be important. The TSA allows liquids for children in "reasonable" amounts. Reasonable would be what you would reasonably need for a flight so if your baby eats every two hours, you reasonably need enough food for that time plus extra. If your connecting and have a lot of travel time ahead of you, you can explain that to the security officer. Remember, as annoying as you may think they are, these people have kids too and a lot of them know what it's like to travel with kids in tow.

For the kids

Make a game out of getting their shoes off and practice it at home before you head to the airport. Maya nowadays just plops herself on the floor and whips her shoes off. In fact, she gets mad if I do it for her. If you can find a way to get them involved and interested in the process, you'll make it go faster and it will be more enjoyable (if that's possible) because it will be like a competition. I'm trying to find out if they would make you take off slipper socks like these. If they don't that would be an excellent answer to keeping your kids from having to remove their shoes.

Got a runner? The security line is definitely not the place to let kids mess around. If your little one loves nothing more than to run off and look at the ultra cool bomb detector booth, I highly recommend getting yourself a "kid leash" better known as a harness. I'm not talking about one of those wrist things either. I'm talking about one of these bad boys

Sure, it looks like you treat your kid like a pet but you know what, it will save you a lot of worry if you KNOW they cant go anywhere. I had a friend who even put one of these on her kid backwards so he couldn't unclasp it.

For the mom

If you travel once in a blue moon this may not apply, but if you're like me and travel often consider not taking a stroller with you through the airport and also consider investing in a safety vest rather than lugging your car seat with you. Both of those things will cause you more heartache than it's worth. I know it sounds ridiculous but there's better ways. If you have a baby, consider "wearing" them. I have many friends who swear by wearing their baby all the time and I agree that it's a great way to get around and even better for travel. For the slightly older child you can also travel with a backpack and carry them in that. For kids Maya's age Trunkis are definitely a great way to get around the airport.

As for on the plane, the FAA recommends but does not require children to travel in a child restraint system (AKA car seat). For $75 you can get the CARES travel vest for children between 22 and 40 lbs. It's the only FAA certified alternative CRS. If you don't travel often, it's probably not worth it. But, again, if you do it's probably worth the investment just to not have to lug a car seat. Your other option is to just not take anything. Even without a car seat, your child is statistically safer on a plane than in a car, so as long as they are at least buckled in they're fine. Maya's made it through probably over 100 flights and never had a problem so I think I can vouch for that.

Pack your bags smart. Travel light, take only what you need, and familiarize yourself with the TSA security regulations BEFORE you go to the airport. Also, give yourself time to get to the airport, through security, and to the gate. If it's a holiday, add even more time. There's nothing worse than cutting it close when you've got two kids and a ton of bags. All you'll do is guarantee a stressful time and increase the chances that you're kid is going to have a major freak out followed by you having a major freak out. Believe me...I've been there.

Hope this helps!

Epcot - More Food and Fun Than You Can Shake A Stick At

I think it probably goes without saying that the World Showcase at Disney's EPCOT Center is my most favorite part of the Disney experience. With places like Mexico, China, Morocco, and even Canada there's so much to do and see there that it really deserves a two day stint. One day for the World Showcase and another day for Futureworld located at the front of the park.

According to Josh's research, Walt Disney's father was a construction worker for the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 and so that was Disney's inspiration for this park. In fact, Disney wanted EPCOT (which is actually an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) to be the main point of entry for Disney World as a whole. It was the board of directors who decided that Magic Kingdom should hold that title. In the end though, Disney's dream of a perfect "city" came true and 18 years after debuting four pavillions at the New York World's Fair in 1964, EPCOT opened to the public. Even though the EPCOT that opened was a slightly revised one of Walt's original plan, the basic premise of a World's Fair is still there and, boy, does it show! There is everything imaginable here.

Futureworld has a couple of great rides like Test Track and Soarin. For the kids there is Under the Sea with Nemo and Friends, Turtle Talk with Crush, and the 3-D movie Honey, I Shrank the Audience. You can also tool around the Innoventions, Imagination!, and Imageworks Pavillions for some hands on fun and glimpses into the future.

Even though the World Pavillion is a bit of an exercise in stereotypes it gets the point across and I was actually quite amazed at the authenticity of the architecture of each country. The replica of China's Temple of Heaven was actually really good. Even the restaurant in the Mexico showcase had real deal Mexican food complete with mole (pronounced mol-ay) sauce. I dont think there was one taco to be found on the menu! My favorite showcase is France and I especially loved the 360* movie Portraits of France (though admittedly because of the GORGEOUS music they used for it).

All in all, there is a good time to be had by all at EPCOT. As I said before, a good two full days is needed to enjoy everything so be sure to plan your time wisely. Oh, and be sure to plan ahead to eat at one of the world showcase restaurants so you can enjoy all the glorious yummy ethnic food. MMMMMM so good.

Get Your Grrrr at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is Disney's youngest park but is also arguably the best. With a wide variety of rides, shows, food, and, yes, animals, there's something for everyone to enjoy. I was particularly impressed with their very important message of conservation and sustainability as well. Of course, the highlight of a trip to Animal Kingdom is their safari ride through the reserve where you get to "wander" amongst the animals while riding in a safari truck. I was amazed at how close you came to the animals and how they all seemed to think nothing of it. In addition to the safari, there are several walking trails where you can see many different animals from different regions of the world. Maya's favorite by far was the bat room along the asian animal trail where she got to see Flying Foxes dangling from branches above.

Overall the park is well designed though the addition of Dinoland seemed a bit odd. I guess they needed something to anchor the ride Dinosaur, which, by the way, is NOT for little ones. One ride that is great, though, is the Kali River Rapids. You can never go wrong with a wild rapid ride where everyone gets wet. We rode it three times in a row at Maya's insistence and also because it was a bit on the cold side that day so no one was waiting to get on. We just stayed in our boat and kept on going. Maya loved it!

For those of you who are trying to teach your kids about being green, be sure to check out Rafiki's Conservation Station. It's a great place to visit and get them some hands on learning about how to keep our Earth bright and beautiful for future generations.

Disney is for Fairies!!!

Well the Young family has finally descended upon the greater Orlando area. Watch out for fairies!!! We went to the Magic Kingdom yesterday and Maya spent the whole day dressed up like Tinkerbell which was a big hit. Sure, there were lots of little girls dressed up as princesses but not one was dressed up as Tinkerbell complete with wings! It was kind of funny sometimes. Id have to help her adjust her wings every now and then so she could fit on a ride. Overall, she loved it and, despite my disdain for the mouse, I had a good time too. And we made it out only spending $25! Wow!

Today is the part of the trip I've been desperately waiting for. The Kennedy Space Center! I.cannot.wait!!!! I need mroe exclamation points! I have loved space since I was a kid. When I started at my current job I assisted someone who worked on NASA issues and ate it up like Thanksgiving dinner. I love NASA. The history, the technology, the science. I love it all. This, for me, is seriously a dream come true. I have always, ALWAYS, wanted to go to Cape Canaveral and now Im going! SQUEEEEEE!

Me and Mr. Mouse

Well the countdown has begun to our big vacation in Orlando. If you've been reading this blog for a while you may know of my disdain for the mouse. I know, I know, my daughter loves it so that should be enough. I just can't get past the $25 mouse ears and $10 hot dogs. OK, maybe the hot dogs aren't that much but the mouse ears are!

I have to admit, though, Epcot looks pretty cool. I mean really who doesn't love seeing a mariachi band and then walking a few minutes to chomp down on Chinese food. It looks like they've also got a lot of cool stuff about energy and natural resources conservation which we're trying to teach Maya about. She already gets onto me when I leave the faucet on because I once told her about how there are people in other countries that don't have access to clean water. "Mommy, your wasting water for the people in Egypt!" Oh dear!

I'm definitely looking forward to dorking out at the Kennedy Space Center. There's a tour you can take there that lets you go out to the Saturn launch pads. I gets the shakes just thinking about it! Oh yes and the lunch with an astronaut, and seeing the Titan missles, ooh and maybe we can catch a glimpse of Atlantis! OK I'm way too excited now.

Oh yes and there's always the being lazy at the resort. MMM lazy. I so rarely get to be lazy just like all the other moms out there. There is no lazy time when you're a mom. Something ALWAYS needs to be done. Hmmmm I feel a spa treatment coming on. I'll get the cucumber slices.

Baggage Claim

So one of my guilty pleasures is luggage stores. Yes...I'm that lame. I don't know if you've ever been to a luggage store or not, but I feel sorry for the weary traveler who walks into one. There's usually easily over 100 different options and not all luggage is made alike in quality or purpose. Then there's all the various things that go in the luggage. Oh and don't forget the 200 different kinds of carry-on bags.

Josh and I put quite a bit of thought into our last luggage purchase. We got the Heys 4 wheel 360 Spinner set made of lightweight carbon-fiber laced plastic. WHEW! Honestly, if Trunki made a grown up version of Trixie, I would have bought that. Sadly, I had to settle for adult luggage. But the Trunki is a good example of buying luggage that serves many purposes. It's hard-sided making it a good option for kids as they really could care less about how much wear and tear their luggage gets. It's relatively light weight and Towgo has more than one way of holding the bag. The inside is somewhat compartmentalized allowing you to open it without stuff getting everywhere. Finally, there is, of course, the fact that kids can ride on it which makes it fun for them and gives them something to do.

With the exception of riding on your luggage, these are all the kinds of things you should look for in your own luggage. Hard sided vs. soft sided is a bit of personal preference but if you travel a lot, I'd recommend a flexible hard-sided bag. They're like a Timex. They take a licking and keep on ticking. You'll also want to have more than one way to carry your bag. Our Heys luggage has 3 handles and I use all of them. And, again for our frequent flyers, lightweight luggage is a must especially now that they are cracking down on bag weights and increasing fees. The biggest mistake you can make is assuming that any old suitcase will meet your needs. That's the surest way to drop a wad of money on something you'll end up hating. Take some time to think about how you'll use it, where you're going to take it, what you're going to put in it, and how long you want it to last. If you do that, you're sure to find luggage that will last you a while.

Think Before You Pack

This week's theme is Packing! Since I didnt get a chance to make my video last week about packing your carry on I thought I would dedicated this week's posts to packing bags of all sizes! I may not be able to get a video done and I'm without a regular camera this week because Josh is in Peru but I'll try to paint pictures with my words :D.

Today we're going to talk a bit about packing and how to plan for packing. Yes, I said plan for packing. There's a lot to consider when you're going on a trip, especially if you're taking small ones along. It's easy enough for you to make it without your favorite shirt, but that might be a devastating blow to a child. OK maybe not devastating, but enough to make the little ones unhappy and no one wants that.

When you're thinking of wardrobe choices keep in mind that taking coordinating separates with maybe one or two pairs of shoes (and this applies to children as well) really is the essential thing. So for a 10 day trip you can take say 4 shirts in the same color range and 3 pairs of pants, also in that color range. Then take two pairs of shoes that will look good with all of those items and that's all you really need. Unless you're going someplace where you're going to sweat more than Elvis giving a concert in the 70s all of your items can be worn more than once. The caveat to this kind of planning is that kids get their clothing dirty much faster than adults do. Maya, as with many other kids, loves to wear her meals. In this case, you may want to take a few extra outfits just to cover your bases.

Other things to consider when you are planning your clothing choices is not only the temperature but also the elevation of your destination and whether or not you'll be someplace windy. I dont know how many times Ive been caught freezing my behind off because I didnt bring a sweater with me on a day when we ended up going up in the mountains or on a cruise with the wind whipping around me. When you pack your day pack you may want to take a quick glance at the things you know you will be doing or the things you are considering doing so you can be sure to get everything in.

Going Down in Flames

So I just thought I would write a note about my fine country's current economy...or lack of one. It's pretty doom and gloom here in the States. I was talking to Josh, who is currently in Peru, and was saying that Im currently trying to calculate how long it will be until we dive into a depression, arms flailing. I was only halfway kidding. It's looking pretty bad here. The stock markets plunged again with the word of another failed bailout. Everyone is pointing the finger at the other side and no one is solving anything. I think Josh and I will weather this fine but there are so many others out there who can't.

So what does all this mean? I think a lot of our Trunki traveler friends here in America are going to go on travel lock-down, which is a shame. I hate it that the greed of some people is taking the opportunity to experience the world from the rest of us. Hopefully, we can find a way to fix this but it will be a long time before we can claw our way totally out.

In the mean time, I will still stress the importance of trying to find ways of spending time away from the trials of daily life with your family. Even if it's just for a night. Pack up that Trunki like you're going to go on a trip and camp out in your backyard. Pretend, for one night, that your house is a hotel. Have your kids pack up their bags and "arrive" at your front door while you pretend to be the doorman. Check them in and take them to their "room." Maybe even post pictures of foreign lands in the windows so you can pretend you are in Paris or Rome. These are definitely scary times for Americans but we can't lose sight of the importance of family and finding ways to spend some special time together. Even if we can't afford to pack up the car and head out or take a plane trip to someplace, we can always travel to the furthest reaches of the world in our imaginations. So put some clothes, a few books, and your favorite teddy in your Trunki and go on a "trip" to someplace amazing.

When things go sour

Sour stomach that is! Yes my friends, I'm talking about air sickness. Even worse is air sickness in kids because kids love nothing more than to say "I feel sick" which is always instantly followed by proof that they do, in fact, feel sick. One of the worst culprits of air sickness is getting over heated. In planes where there's lots of people and even less air circulating, it's easy to get overheated. For children, whose bodies haven't fully developed the ability to regulate their temperature well, getting overheated is an easy task. Here are some tips for keeping that queasy feeling at bay:

• Keep a t-shirt in easy reach if they aren't wearing one already for a quick change if your child starts to get too hot.



• If they start getting that special feeling, put a cold, damp paper towel or wash cloth on the back of their neck.



• Look for warning signs of dehydration which can lead to nausea and overheating. Flush cheeks, sweating, and dry lips are all signs that your child needs more fluids.



• Keep some mint or ginger flavored items with you, both of which have been shown to help with nausea.

If the worst happens and your child gets sick, try not to despair. It happens to the best of us. Try to calm them down, take them to the bathroom if you can and try to cool them off. Check with your child's doctor beforehand to see if you can give them any over-the-counter medications in the event your child is suffering from food poisoning. If you can give them medication be sure to pack it in your carry-on so it's available. If food poisoning is the culprit, it is essential to give your child as many fluids as they can take as they can very quickly get dehydrated.

You don't need the kitchen sink...really

I was recently talking to a friend of mine who was stressing out a bit about taking his young son on a long international flight. One thing I told him about was my 8 hour rule. Take what you will need for the length of the flight plus eight hours and THAT'S IT. I'm also a big proponent of not taking too many toys and things. If it's your child's first flight they will probably be more interested in exploring their surroundings than playing with a bag filled to the brim with their toys. Toys are old, planes are new and everyone knows that new always trumps old with kids. Even if it's their second or third flight, they are probably still going to be more interested in the novelty of flying than in anything you take.

When Maya was a baby my carry on looked a lot like this

• One diaper for each hour of the flight plus 5 more (hey this is one area where less is NOT more)


• Two changes of clothes


• Three or four small soft toys (soft because they can be squished into small spaces)


• Toiletries for me (in case my bags got lost)


• A baby first aid kit (baby Tylenol, teething gel, band aids, itch cream, alcohol wipes, q-tips, Neosporin, etc.)


• A few bibs


• Pre-measured formula packets (each packet made 2 ounces of formula); enough for the flight plus 8 hours


• Unopened jarred baby food


• One feeding bottle with disposable bags, two nipples

This was pretty much it. Surprised the list isn't longer? That's because the thing to remember is that anything you need for your trip can be procured when you get to your destination and there's no reason to take everything on the plane with you. If you want to take more toys than this for your trip, pack the rest with your checked luggage or, if you all your bags are carry on, put them in the bag you don't plan to get into. You just don't need a lot of stuff because all it does is weigh you down and make everyone, including your child, miserable.

It's Survive a Plane Ride Week!

First, wow I have fans! Sometimes I thought I was writing into the great ether, but Im so glad to hear that at least some of what I've written has helped! Sorry it's taken me a bit to get back but things have been a changin here in the Young household. Soon after my last post we packed up and went to a wedding in Seattle, then Maya started kindergarten and my brain went to mush adjusting to having to actually think about fixing food for someone a day before they're going to eat it and making sure she hasn't squirreled anything away in her backpack. Darn you mommy brain!

In an effort to make the blog a bit more coherent Im trying out a new idea which is theme weeks. This week is Survive a Plane Ride Week because it is indeed something you have to survive through to get to where you're going, sometimes barely surviving. I've heard and experienced all kinds of horror stories about traveling so hopefully this week I can help you survive a few of those horrors.

My first tip of the week is a little something I like to call a "plane pack." One of the tips I always give to other parents is to put together a pack of toys, games, etc. into a small, mesh bag or other kind of bag you can quickly take out of your carry on and put underneath the seat in front of you. This keeps you from having to get into the overhead constantly which is both annoying and a safety risk. The size of your plane pack will depend on the length of your flight. Something like the one pictured below would be good for a flight of several hours...well for Maya at least lol.

This is Maya's plane pack closed up. I prefer to use mesh zipper packs so I can see exactly what I'm looking for. This is a small version. Maya has a slightly larger one that she takes on international flights that holds more but this will give you an idea of what Im talking about. This pack is about the size of a 5x10 photo so it's small but it has a lot in it.

As you can see, these plane packs can pack quite a bit. I can fit Maya's dolls (and yes, I have great personal shame for the brand of dolls *sigh*), a zippered bag of markers and crayons, a mini watercolor set, and a small pad of construction/scribble paper. It's enough to give her several different things to do while not taking up a lot of space.

Obviously, now that she's 5, Maya's needs are different than a smaller child but you can easily fill a plane pack with toys appropriate for any age. The key is having them in one pack that you can quickly take out of your carry-on. Believe me life is much easier when you dont have to have stuff all over the floor at your feet or up in the overhead where you have to scoot in front of the guy snoring away in his seat.

Later this week I'll have a video on packing your carry on and some more tips and tricks to get you through so keep reading!

A Tale of Two Humps

So our trip to Tunisia is starting to take some shape. I dont know why but I always think of North African countries as this weird entity in and of themselves. Everytime I stop and think about the fact that they are in Africa I say "Wow, Im going to AFRICA!" So it looks like we'll spend some time in Tunis, then take a train to Gabes to dork out on Star Wars stuff, then head up to Sousse and back to Tunis.

Maya is very excited about the prospect of riding a camel. She seems to be not at all phased by my warnings that they are, in fact, gross animals. She just wants to ride one. We watch a lot of Discovery channel so she's constantly seeing camels on TV and is completely enamored by them. We'll see how she feels about the reality lol.

Hopefully, Tunisia with Maya will be better than China. China was just too much for her I think. Too much of everything. Today she told us that she didn't like it because we talked about it too much. I've been pretty mum about Tunisia (mostly because I want to avoid the horrified looks of others who can't believe we'd go there) so hopefully she won't be tired of it when we go there. I think it's good for kids to experience things that are far outside of the realm of their known world but, as everyone knows, sometimes too much of a good thing can be bad.