THE kids were toddlers, the wedding was in Toronto and we lived in Vancouver. Our oldest, Chelsea, was just barely toilet-trained and her brother was in diapers.
We decided a road trip was in order. It was the first of many and we learned many lessons and tricks along the way.
The first thing we did was decide that we would drive to Calgary and assess the situation. If we knew that going all the way to Toronto just wasn't in the cards, we would turn around and make it a successful Calgary trip.
While in Calgary we stayed with my high school friend's parents. That was a great idea. They had raised eight children and loved having little ones in the house.
More than that, they gave us advice. For starters, they were optimistic (unlike our childless friend who all thought we were crazy for heading off with two toddlers). They told us it would be fun and we would have lots of good memories. They were right.
They also reminded us that kids need lots of breaks. Driving for eight hours straight is not going to work. So we developed a plan. Get up in the morning, dress, pack, have a bit of juice and immediately hit the road. Then an hour or two later when the kids were fully awake it was time to stop for breakfast. We found they would eat well at this meal. Another habit we developed was that whenever we had a restaurant meal one of us would have a relaxing after meal coffee while the other took the kids out for a walk or a run. So on alternate meals, each adult got a glorious quiet 15 minutes of alone time.
We'd pick up some picnic supplies and off we went. Lunch was a picnic so the kids could stretch their legs, run around and enjoy fresh air and exercise before getting back in the car. After lunch they napped.
Then it was mid-afternoon break with exercise time and a snack.
We stopped early in the evening and always looked for a playground. We learned that playgrounds could often be a challenge to find but that every elementary school has some sort of play space.
Throughout the trip we discovered that with these young kids it was important to maintain the basic schedule. Naptimes, meal times and bedtimes stayed pretty much constant throughout and as a result we found they were open to the new experiences and people along the way.
Because Chelsea was newly toilet trained we brought a potty chair so when nature called we could respond quickly.
Each year we added to our experiences. We learned that it's a good idea to have a number of toys that lend themselves to seated play. We also learned to surprise the kids with new toys. I would pick up some small toys and dole them out from time to time.
We developed not only the usual car games but also adjustments on the family favourites, particularly Trivial Pursuit.
When older kids are involved in the planning, they are much happier. So let them handle some of the logistics. Whether you have a print travel book or electronic, they love to research what towns with decent motels are nearby. Our kids became expert at reading between the description lines and finding places to stay that easily met our needs. And doing the research kept them occupied for the toughest time of the day, the late afternoon.
And speaking of that, we also had a secret I will share with you. We had a hilarious Bill Cosby tape (OK this was before CDs) that we all loved. In the last half hour of the day, every day, we would play the tape and laugh. To this day, all four of us can quote lines from the tape and crack up. So find some silly, fun way to pass that final leg of the trip.
Travelling with kids is all about planning, knowing what they will need and what they can handle. It's also about attitude.
So pack up the car and have a great trip.
Kathy Lynn is a professional speaker and author of Who's In Charge Anyway? and But Nobody Told Me I'd Ever Have to Leave Home. To read more, sign up for her informational newsletter at parentingtoday.ca.
