7/24/2021 0 Comments Road TripWe just came back from our first legit road trip as a family of 5. Last year we were supposed to go out East but no go (thank you stupid Covid) and this year I didn't want to plan another trip that wouldn't happen because a pandemic hates us. So we decided to do Manitoulin Island and the Georgian Bay area. The kids are finally all toilet trained and no longer require consistent naps. Plus because they are all roughly the same age they can all do the same things. And, much to my embarassment as a Canadian, I haven't actually explored a ton of our country.
And we vowed to try going device free during the drive. For the kids. I maaaaay have used my phone. But that's besides the point. Right?! We were going to go old school and not watch movies, play online games or give our kids a phone during the drive. Now before you roll eyes because you think I'm saying that while riding my high horse, this decision was yes because we don't think kids should be on devices but also because I know that if I started doing that, it would be an easy default for my parenting style. This decision is more because of me than anything else. And don't get me wrong, my kids definitely watch TV. We aren't that crazy. As an alternative each kid got a bucket and some dollar store spending money. They could fill their bucket with whatever they bought and anything they wanted from home but it had to fit in their bucket. Everytime they left the van all their junk needed to be in their bucket and it needed to be on their seat. And guys, it worked!!! Plus Harry Potter audiobooks. They saved us. Big-time. Long enough to keep the kids entertained but something we all enjoyed listening to. Also a van can feel like a jail. Any parents know what I mean. It comes with it's own restraints though, that children are required to wear so that's good. But I think Ford failed when he didn't mandate that there be plexiglass in between children in vehicles. But overall the trip was great. Actually better than I was expecting. Things didn't always go right - it did rain alot But we brought water shoes and raincoats and swam in waterfalls in the rain. We also underestimated the island life and had to drive 45 minutes to find a restaurant that was open. We booked a campsite on a dark sky preserve and it was cloudy that night. We also underestimated the weather and all froze that night camping. I've never packed up a tent so fast (or early) to drive over an hour for a coffee. Also our trusty inflatable kayak Finn (don't confuse it with a dorsal fin or Jackson will get mad) gave us the ability to get our kayak into the water within 10 minutes anywhere. Guys it was a lot of work. Our towels never fully dried and our van smelled like dead fish most of the trip. Sometimes it poured on our hikes and we got lost in the woods but we chose to make the best of it. The Chicheemaun made me so seasick I could barely stand and we drove 45 minutes for terrible french fries. But we also swam in waterfalls, snorkled in Killarney, dissected a sheep's brain at Science North, slept in a tipi, explored pitch black caves and laughed our faces off playing Bean Boozled. It's worth it friends. Go with a flexible plan, make sure coffee is always accessible and let your kids decide what they want to do. Turns out they don't need the big fancy trip but just need Reuben and I to be intentional. And caffeinated.
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7/24/2021 0 Comments fearsWe've finally introduced Harry Potter to our kids. We were waiting until the 'perfect' age (which is obviously birth) but felt like Jackson and Shiloh could finally start to understand it. I know Harry Potter still receives mixed reception but I love watching my kids use their imagination to visualize the book. Obviously they had to read (or listen to the audiobook) before watching any of the movies. Any other way is ridiculous.
In one chapter the students learn to handle a creature that turns into whatever you are most afraid of. So we started talking about what we are most afraid of. Reuben: "Obviously nothing." Amber: "Spiders." Shiloh: "Zombies who would eat me." Harper: "Monsters." Jackson: "Talking to people I don't know or used to know but not anymore." Oh bless your heart my wonderfully introverted child, you take after your momma. |
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