Roadtrip Prep

Optimal travel conditions for small children.

 As our Christmas Road Trip appears on the horizon, I need to set aside some time for logistical planning. I have to kind of think about what works vs. what's more trouble than it's worth.  So let me think "out loud" for a while.

 1.  I am not sure how many road trips we've taken in the last 10 years, but I am sure of this one thing - priority #1 is trash management.  Last year I kept this item on my radar at all meal and snack times and it helped a lot.  Note to self:  Bring several (and then some) plastic grocery sacks to collect garbage.

If I have one more layer, my jacket will pop!

 2.  Pack Light - 3 outfits per person, no exceptions.  Well, except for 1 dressy outfit and 1 outfit for unexpectedly mild weather.  Wow - now that's 5.  I cannot do that.  It will have to be 2 regular with layers, plus one complete outfit with no stains that could possibly go either way as to being dressy or casual.

 3.  Distractions - I've found toys are not the best distractions.  They take up a lot of room and end up on the floor.  Books are good, but not too many.  Coloring books are good, and drawing paper is good too.  Again - trash management is essential.  A personal pouch with crayons and pencil for each child and lap desks.  (We have two.)  En route crafts are fun, but take planning time, something I may not have a lot of.

 4.  Food - eat in the car, stop to pee 30 minutes later.  A meal plan and picnicking keeps the costs down.  It also helps to have some surprises.  M&M doled out individually can make some of the time more tolerable.  We usually eat at a restaurant for supper and picnic everything else.

5.  Little potty is not coming along.  We just do the "side of the road" thing.  It's not like that sort of thing only happens on a road trip.  Of course rest stops - everyone goes even if they don't "need" to.  And we stop as soon as we are able when a kid needs to go in between -  holding a kid a foot above knee high scratchy grass is still better than driving 500 miles with the van smelling like pee.

Is getting there half the fun?  Hmmm, I'm not convinced of that.  But I think being bored is ok for kids, so I'm not going to wear myself out trying to entertain them for 1000 miles.  It's called a window - look out of it!  I want to decorate the van a little.  I have something of an idea, but it's not fully developed yet.  I don't want to look like everyone else on the road!  (We are not dressing our car like Rudolph!)