Planning a Trip With Kids

Planning a trip with kids is much like herding a bunch of crazy cats for a bath. Or at least trying to get kids ready for church. Oh you know what it is like, Monday through Friday everyone seems to get up fine you have your routine down, get dressed, eat breakfast, get your shoes on, brush your teeth and make sure you have any outstanding homework in your bags. Then all pile into the car to head off to school and me to my job (I work only when they are at school). I have coffee cup in hand, and everything goes relatively smoothly. Then Sunday arrives. Kids can not seem to get up, even after said parent first nicely comes into room saying “time to get up sleepy head”. Five minutes later, “come on you better get up or we will be late”. 10 minutes later said parent comes in and says, “if you don’t move your butt right now, said hand will be on your butt!!”. Oh starting Sunday off in the right tone.

The day before I could have just spent one child’s college fund going grocery shopping to feed this heard. But when Sunday arrives, “there is nothing to eat”. I list off at least 10 things they can make themselves (remember I have “almost teenagers”). But none of it is good enough for Sunday.

One child can not find a shoe; one child is caught playing a game instead of getting ready, and one child if playing with the dog. There are remarks made, and kids half dressed complaining, all pile into car off to Sunday school. While parents are trying not to pull all of their hair out, and trying to remain somewhat reasonable.

Now try to get those same three “soon to be teenagers” packed for a trip. “Mom I only have two pairs of jeans for the whole week.”, “Mom can I bring my power rangers outfit for Grandma and Grandpa?” “Look Mom the cat actually does fit in my suitcase, can he come?” And then I get all the clothes cleaned (secretly wishing they could run naked for a week because I know I will be up Friday night washing all the clothes once again). And for some reason one kid will want to wear EVERY outfit they own this particular week.

Five people, five suitcases. Three “soon to be teenagers”, three little carry on bags. One mother to pack it all!! Somewhere the math went very wrong here. I know all this week I will be having nightmares of me trying to explain to some TSA agent what was found in one child’s pocket. “No sir, I did not know he was actually carrying nail clippers”, “yes I understand they are not allowed”, “the funny thing is, I could never get the child to use them while at home, do you think I could get him to clip his nails right now before we go through security it might be my only chance”.

So just like when we arrive at church and sink into the pews trying to put on our happy face. I will be collapsing into my plane seat on Saturday, hoping they got all five suitcases, or at least mine. And trying to put on a happy face. But when I arrive, I know there will be very happy, refreshed pair of grandparents on the other side. Thank God for Grandparents!!!

PS- any burglars reading this blog, just know I have an attack cat on duty. Along with a 250lb biker dude watching the house. Just in case….

Originally posted November 2006