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It’s easy to get plenty of rest when you’re a single individual, but the family dynamic can present some real challenges that might make it more difficult to stick to a preset sleep schedule. Everyone seems to have their own interests, hobbies, and habits that influence what time they wake up and fall asleep. If left unstructured, the sleep schedule can become quite erratic and inconsistent in a household with multiple people. Luckily, with a few simple measures and a bit of discipline, you can get everyone back on a good sleep schedule and prevent the increasingly common problem of family sleep deprivation in your home. With that said, here are seven tips you can use to get into the dynamic of sleep as a family:
1. Address Sleeping Disorders First
First and foremost, if any members of the family have sleeping problems such as apnea, insomnia, or circadian rhythm disorders, it’s imperative that you address those problems before doing anything else. Likewise, if anyone snores or does loud mouth breathing at night, this could be affecting not only their own quality of sleep but also that of their spouse or other family members. Mouth breathing is a common problem for people who use CPAP machines to treat obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP mouth breathing tape is one easy solution that you can use to train yourself away from breathing loudly through your mouth while sleeping.
2. Set a Bed Time and Wake Up Time and Stick to It
Consistency is key when it comes to promoting solid sleeping habits as a family. If you’re letting the kids fall asleep at odd hours and not enforcing any kind of sleeping schedule, it’s going to be difficult to ensure everyone is getting a good 8 hours of sleep per night. As a result, you’ll have people sleeping in late, staying up late, missing breakfast, and feeling drowsy in the day time. All of this can be avoided by simply having a set bed time and wake up time that everyone in the house must adhere to. Generally speaking, this should be no later than 10-11 PM to allow for 8 hours of sleep time before 6-7 AM.
3. Soak Up the Morning Sun
You might be wondering why the aforementioned hours were recommended for sleep and wake times. Well, studies have shown that rising at about the same time as the sun and being exposed to morning sun rays increases the production of serotonin and other sleep-related biochemicals. The sun also has an energizing effect that will help you stay awake throughout the day, which means you’ll be tired enough to fall asleep easily at bed time.
4. Eat Foods That Improve Sleep Quality
Certain foods can enhance the quality of your sleep when eaten within two hours of bedtime. However, try not to overindulge, as eating too many calories before bed can lead to weight gain. Sleep-enhancing foods include kiwis, cherries, fish, turkey, almonds, walnuts, and chamomile tea.
5. Don’t Take Naps Close to Bedtime
Many people find themselves feeling tired during mid-day or in the afternoon. If you feel drowsy early in the day, then take a short nap, but don’t wait until the afternoon or evening . Napping within 6 hours of bedtime will make it much more difficult to fall asleep.
6. No TVs or Devices After Bedtime
As a family rule, you should forbid the use of any electronic devices or toys after the set bedtime. While it might seem like leaving the TV on is an okay exception, a completely silent and dark room (with the exception of a gentle night light) will always be most conducive to sleep, which brings us to our next point.
7. Create an Environment That is Conducive to Sleep
Doing all of the above will set the tone for your family’s sleeping schedule and habits, but you still need to make sure the bedrooms are ideal sleeping environments throughout the night. This includes equipping beds with highly comfortable bedding and maybe having some very gentle music playing throughout the night.
Sleep is One of the Most Important Factors for Health and Growth
As a family, the top priority should be making sure the children are given everything they need to thrive and grow strong. While it can be easy to fall into the mindset of thinking that fancy toys, designer clothes, junk food, and video game systems are what your kid needs to be happy, in reality what they really need is love, food and water, shelter, guidance, protection, and good sleep. Remember that the body grows and heals during sleep, more so than at any other time of the day.
This is a collaborative guest post. The ideas expressed may not be the views or ideas of Mommy Ramblings.
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review. My words and views are 100% my own as always.
Movies like, Yours, Mine and Ours, and shows like, The Brady Bunch showed blended families. The Brady Bunch certainly did not focus much on the blended part of the family. Never did I see an episode with the kids being shuffled to another parent’s house. In fact, we really never learned where Carol’s first husband was. It was assumed both ex-spouses died. That certainly sanitized things for the show right? Well, blended families are becoming more the norm now, and the merging of families is certainly not sanitized as many parents and step-parents know.
If only there was a guide-book. Well, there is, Living in the Family Blender is filled with inspiration and insight. If you are struggling with this, this book can be a valuable resource to help you navigate through what could be a tumultuous journey.
Living in the Family Blender is a great book that tackles the stress and sticky situations blended families face. This book is filled with real-life, personal accounts that make it easy for other to relate with. Finally, find out you are not alone in what you feel and see. Learn strategies and get advice from a wonderful couple who understand the challenges you are facing. You can have harmony, well, at least some of the time.
You can purchase Living in the Family Blender: 10 Principles of a Successful Blended Family at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your favorite major retailer.
Blended Family Insiders:
Seven Things No One Tells You About Blended Family Life
By Clark Rich and Leah Dee Burbidge
Fourteen years in the family blender has brought us a nearly non-stop series of insights, challenges, shocks, joy and the satisfaction of creating something beautiful nearly from scratch. Six of our most valuable, but frequently unspoken, learnings are listed below.
Keep in mind that a lot of the challenges of blended family life will sound familiar. But they play out with different dynamics because blended families and individuals have perspective, experience and insight that gives them a fragile mix of volatility, skepticism and wisdom. Respecting these dynamics dramatically increases the probability of success. Ignoring them nearly always spirals the family into soul crushing train wrecks.
Nobody Talks About It. Our dating and marriage experience revealed shockingly little available blended family ‘How To’ guidance. Pop culture, literature, movies and media produced a wasteland of mostly useless stereotypes. Family and friends seemed uncomfortable discussing the reality we faced. The elephant was in the room, but the conversation always tended to migrate toward the reasons people find themselves suddenly single. Divorce, death and abandonment are uncomfortable topics. We found taking the lead in turning the conversation toward positive aspects allowed more constructive interactions.
First Steps Determine Results. Success in the family blender is most often determined by how a couple structures their personal relationship and their interaction with the children from the beginning. Casual, careless, loosely committed and primarily physically driven relationships almost never have sufficient strength to withstand the blender. Children won’t buy-in if they think it’s going to lead to another let-down. Blended family life requires an undeniably higher standard and level of commitment. Children get this, parent must also.
Blended Families Done Right Save Souls. We have devoted an entire chapter in our book to the statistical benefits for children by being part of a two-parent family (blended or otherwise). There is no question that such children have dramatically better chances of building a healthy foundation enabling them to be successful in life. Lower rates of poverty, drug abuse, problems with the law or in school, unemployment, depression and general acting out behaviors are well researched. That is not to say there aren’t successful single parents, but it pays to play the odds where you can.
Start Where Your Child Is. Parents cannot start with a child where they are supposed to be or where you think they are but ARE NOT. This dooms your efforts to unrealistic expectations, falling short and builds a culture of regular failure and disappointment. Parents must ‘listen to understand’ and patiently respect what they learn. You will come to appreciate where they believe they are in life and in the family. Once you know where they are then every step is automatically a success because it is a re-enforcing step forward.
The Bio-Compass. There is an especially deep and natural relationship that exists between the bio-parent and their child. This is okay. The non-bio parent will, over time, be allowed to earn their way into that space. However, there will be moments when only the bio-parent can address the child’s needs, trauma or struggle. The non-bio parent must patiently step back, but remain in the picture and supportive, and allow their spouse to take the lead. This is why prideful or selfish attitudes struggle with blended parenthood. It absolutely demands selflessness. Respecting this relationship always wins in the long-term.
You Are Not Alone. Because it is not a social topic of conversation does not mean it isn’t common. Research illustrates that a sizable majority of Americans are touched by blended family life in one way or another. They understand you are not broken. This is especially true of single parents. Rest assured there is an individual out there with a healthy, kind outlook who can understand your complex family situation and love you and your children unconditionally. Both single and blended parents can experience happier more fulfilling lives.
It Is Worth It. Blended family life can be rewarding, exciting and fulfilling. Seeing these tender souls, who were once so wounded, blossom with love and kindness in their own increasingly productive lives is worth every struggle, every late night, every heartfelt conversation, every tear and every prayer. Most of all know that you are good enough to be successful.
About the Authors
Clark and Leah live in the high mountain valleys of the Rockies where they enjoy their ever-expanding blended family of ten children and seven grandchildren. They enjoy travel, hiking, road and mountain biking, and serving in their community and church. Clark received a BS in Finance from the University of Utah and an MBA from the University of Southern California and spent 35 years traveling the world as a banker, investment banker and Chief Financial Officer. Leah earned an Associate Degree from Ricks College and what arguably could be considered a doctoral-level real-life education in blended families. Clark and Leah treasure their blended wild ride of 14 years together, firmly believing that any challenge is manageable when you have someone you love to walk beside.
Living in the Family Blender is Clark and Leah’s first book together, but Clark has been writing for years with 9 books in different genres including Middle Reader, Teen and YA fiction, adult non-fiction and a beautiful Christmas/Easter Family read together storybook.
2019 Mom’s Choice Awards Gold Medal Winner
Blended family issues impact the vast majority of Americans. Yet, society often sidesteps the topic, while literature leaves a bleak landscape nearly void of practical advice from those who have lived in the trenches. With over 68 combined years of direct blended family experience, including 14 years with their own family of 10children, authors Clark and Leah Burbidge are uniquely qualified to fill this void. Their combined autobiographical/how-to guidebook weaves a humorous, tender, uplifting, and critically insightful fabric of 10foundational principles upon which any family may confidently build. Every blended family can have happier, more fulfilling lives where disruption, disorientation, and contention are replaced by teamwork, progress, and overcoming-oriented achievement. Living in the Family Blender also provides practical guidance upon which any family may build better relationships and a life filled with joy and purpose. Join them on their personal journey and discover glorious possibilities in your own family.
Whether you’re getting ready to explore the country in your RV or you’re flying out of town for a much-needed getaway, traveling with kids can be great fun, but equally hectic! Getting the whole family packed and ready to go can try the patience of even the most even-keeled parents, sometimes detracting from your enjoyment of the experience.
If you’re already frazzled thinking about navigating the family from Point A to Point B, here are 19 ingenious travel hacks to help make your next family vacation smooth and seamless. Without further ado, let’s dive right in.
#1 – Ship, Don’t Pack
If you’re planning to be away for more than a few days and are feeling stressed about fitting all your daily essentials from snacks to diapers to baby food in your suitcase, there’s another way. Instead, order these items ahead of time and ship them to your final destination, so they are ready and waiting when you arrive.
This will be particularly helpful if you’re renting a house and want to have everything you need at your disposal once you get there without needing to take time away from your vacation to shop.
#2 – Send Souvenirs Ahead
If you’re going away on vacation and know you’ll likely be picking up plenty of souvenirs on your trip, save yourself a headache. Send those bulky items home through a shipping company instead of trying to fit everything in your luggage.
Souvenir stores don’t typically have an issue wrapping up and shipping your items to your home. Some may even put them in the mail for you so your goodies are ready and waiting when you get back from your trip.
#3 – Ziplock Packing
Make wardrobe planning for the kiddos 10 times easier, and use ziplock bags to put all their outfits together ahead of time. Each day, they can simply grab a fresh bag with shorts, a shirt, undies, socks, etc. No need to worry about mismatched socks this time!
#4 – Stockpile Games and Activities
Whether you’ll be going on a short or long trip, always plan ahead by bringing a bunch of games and activities to keep the little ones occupied—at least for a few hours. Check out the dollar store before your trip for things like coloring books, craft supplies, puzzles, card games, and other fun activities you know your kids will love.
#5 – Send Yourself Mail
A special way to commemorate your vacation is to mail postcards or notes to yourself back home as you travel to various destinations. Just throw some envelopes and stamps in your suitcase before you go.
When you visit a museum or other nifty spot, buy a postcard, have everyone sign it, and mail it back home. Those post-vacation blues won’t seem so bad when the kids have mail to return to, postmarked from all the cool places they’ve visited.
#6 – Make Copies of Everything
If you’ll be flying anywhere on your trip, whether domestically or abroad, scan and copy your driver’s license, ID card, passport, itinerary, and so forth. Email yourself a copy of everything and print out one of two paper copies of each (one to store in your luggage and the other to keep with you). That way, if luggage gets lost or someone steals your purse, all your essential documents will be safe.
#7 – Lists Are Your Friend
Don’t stress yourself out trying to remember every little thing you need to bring in your luggage. Instead, make your own ultimate packing list, print it out, and keep it with you to use for this trip and ones in the future. If you do forget something one trip, be sure to add it to your list so you remember it for the next vacation.
#8 – Safety First
If you’re traveling with kids, particularly young ones, one simple safety measure is to write out your name and number on a piece of paper, business card, etc. and put it in their pocket. You can teach your little ones to show that card or paper to a law enforcement officer or another dependable adult.
Staying at a hotel on your trip? Take the hotel’s business card at the reception desk and write your contact information on the back. In the event you and your child get separated, they’ll not only have your name and number but the hotel’s contact details.
#9 – Buy Travel-Size Hygiene Items
Don’t lug big bottles of shampoo and tubes of toothpaste on your next trip. Instead, purchase travel-size hygiene and personal items ahead of time (i.e. mouthwash, body wash, shampoo, toothbrushes), that you can easily throw away when you’re done and ready to go home.
#10 – Use Backseat Organizers for Road Trips
If you’re going on a road trip, whether for a few days or a week, backseat organizers will be your (and your child’s) new best friend. Organizers like this one are a great way to keep everything from snacks and drinks to games and tablets easily accessible and orderly.
#11 – Make Your Own First-Aid Kit
Just in case anyone gets any scrapes along the way, put together your own first aid kit with all the essentials like bandaids, antiseptic wipes, Tylenol, etc., to ensure you’re prepared for any unanticipated boo-boos.
#12 – Listen to Books
Listening to audiobooks is a fantastic way to keep everyone in the car occupied on long road trips. From gripping stories to educational content, books on tape can be a dual-purpose learning and entertainment experience for the kids.
#13 – Movie Time
If you’ve listened to your favorite book for a few hours and the kids need a change of pace, pull out your laptop and play their favorite show or movie. You can set up your laptop on the car console so everyone can enjoy.
#14 – Plan Ahead
Whether you’re catching an early morning flight or hitting the road before the sun comes up, plan to download and pack up your kids’ game and movie entertainment the night ahead. You’ll likely be running about the morning of the trip attending to last minute details.
Make sure your iPad or laptop is finished downloading and ready to go, and you’ll have one less thing to worry about.
#15 – Use a Vacuum Seal Bag
When you’re going on a lengthy getaway, it can be daunting to figure out how to fit all your clothes into your luggage. This is where vacuum-sealed bags can save the day. Put your clothes in the bags, seal them with your vacuum cleaner, and voila! The bag has shrunk down to a minute size, giving you much more room in your carry-on and suitcase.
#16 – Pick Up Some Quirky and Bright Baggage Tags
As fun as it is playing the waiting game standing at the luggage carousel, straining your eyes to pick out your suitcase amongst the sea of other identical baggage, why not simplify things? Before your trip, pick up some bright and colorful tags for your baggage to jot down your contact information on. Not only will you have an easier time spotting your luggage right off the bat, but the kids can compete to see who can find their quirky baggage tag first.
#17 – Pack Empty Water Bottles to Fill Once You Get Through Security
Pack a couple of empty water bottles that you can refill after you get through airport security. Not only will you save a little money, not having to purchase airport bottled water, but you won’t have to worry about thirsty kiddos on the plane after the drink cart rolls off.
#18 – Fix Some Meals In Your Hotel
If you’ll be staying in a hotel, consider booking a room with a kitchenette featuring a few kitchen essentials that you can prepare some easy meals in. Not only can you stretch your budget a little further, but when the kids are hungry or in dire need of a snack, you can easily whip something up.
Check out the grocery store nearest your hotel to pick up a few favorite food items for the whole family. Your hotel room coffee maker can easily do double duty to make some instant oatmeal and ramen for those last minute snacks.
Need to stretch your legs after the long car or plane ride? Check out these 5 tips for family fitness to keep everyone active and help the kids release some of that pent up energy.
#19 – Navigating the Airport With Ease
Okay, so this final hack is really three rolled into one.
First, if you’re trying to get seats with your family on the plane and are unable to when you book the flight, continue to reach out to the airline in the week, 48 hours, and 24 hours preceding your departure. Airlines have been known to reserve seats just for families, then release them a week before the flight. Once you hit the 24 and 48-hour point, elites frequently upgrade, which opens up more seats in economy.
Second, skip lengthy airport security waits by heading to the family lane at TSA. The majority of major airports have family lanes to streamlines the process for travelers with children. Finally, do yourself a favor and pre-book an airport transfer both to and from your accommodation. You’ll save money on airport parking and have one less component to worry about.
This is a guest post, the ideas and views are not necessarily those of Mommy Ramblings.
Rachel Warren is a Research Analyst and Writer for CarInsuranceComparison.com. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from the Liberty University School of Law. Rachel leverages nearly a decade’s prior experience in the legal field and her diverse digital marketing background to create data-rich, informative, engaging content for readers regarding car insurance, legal, finance, career, and lifestyle topics.
Sadly, we’re rarely taught in schools about money. Sure, we learn about Pythagoras Theorem but when was the last time that was useful in real life? Never, right?! Your children face the same dilemma with confusing messages about what money is and how it relates to time. It’s up to you as a parent to fill in the blanks for them, so they get a more well-rounded education. Here are some ideas on how to teach your children the connection between time and money.
Preschoolers and Kindergartners
You might think the little ones don’t notice how you spend money and what you do with it, but they do. In fact, many habits around money are created when only a few years old. As we know, kids model their parents’ behavior, so parents must set a good example.
Use a Mason Jar for Savings
While a piggy bank is more traditional, a mason jar is better because a preschooler or kindergartner can see the money inside. A small amount of savings can go a long way by slowly filling up the jar and having them see how much is in there.
Work = Money
Even a young son or daughter can begin to understand the importance of money. That mommy or daddy go out to work to earn money is something they can begin to understand. Their teacher at school makes money when teaching them too.
Things Cost Money
Showing how different items in the store cost different amounts is helpful. Even connecting which candies are tastier but cost more is a useful concept to share.
Middle School
Middle school students begin to see and touch money more often. However, that doesn’t mean that they understand how time equals money. That’s especially true when parents just hand them an allowance without having to do anything to earn it.
Pay vs Free Allowance
Kids shouldn’t be given a free allowance. This sets the stage for money being something they can just expect for free.
There’s plenty of age-appropriate chores around the house that middle schoolers are perfectly capable of doing, no matter how much they might moan about it. This might include tidying up their room and putting their toys away when they’re younger. Mowing the lawn when older and being supervised for safety reasons is another one. Dealing with the trash also makes clear that not every chore is necessarily pleasant, but rewards come from putting in the time.
Get Them Involved with Finding Bargains
Turn family food shopping into a game. Start with a budget for the week and let them plan out what should be purchased. Depending on their maturity and knowledge about what ingredients are needed for different meals, it might be necessary to create several meal plans with a list of ingredients, so they have a place to start.
They can then be allowed to choose between different meal ideas depending on the deals in the store that day. Offer them a financial incentive when they save money, as long as the meals are nutritious and sufficient for everyone in the household. Then have them save half of the money for a medium-term goal like buying a smartphone or a tablet.
Teenagers
With teenagers, aim for the bigger things to make an impact and let them feel more in control.
Free Samples
Teenagers love to get things for free but often don’t appreciate the time it takes to secure them. It’s true that many free samples require a time investment. And that’s perfectly okay. Most bargain hunting or coupon cutting takes time out of the day too.
Advise Against Student Loans
Teach teenagers to work part-time to make money to save for college. They’ll have an early financial goal to work towards and value the education far more. If they can get a scholarship, great, but don’t let them rely on that. Tell them that taking out student loans isn’t the answer because of all the hours of future work to repay the loans.
As long as children make a clear connection between time spent and money earned, they’ll be in a better position when they become adults. This connection avoids them spending frivolously without realizing the consequences down the line.
This is a collaborative guest post. The thoughts and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.
When talking about home improvements, signage is not something that pops into most people’s heads. People rarely think about how putting up signs around the home as being a way to keep everyone safe, make life easier or improve their décor. But, as you will see when you read on signs can definitely do all of that.
Signs that make life easier for you
Putting up no parking signs is an effective way to stop people from parking in front of your driveway. It is frustrating, to say the least, to arrive home with a car full of shopping only to discover you cannot park next to your house. Trudging backward and forwards carrying bags because you have had to park a street away is frustrating.
No dumping signs can also make your life easier. When people see them they are far less likely to dump their junk at the edge of your property. It only takes one person to do it for others to quickly follow suit. In just a few weeks, you can end up with a big pile of rubbish that you have to get rid of. So a no dumping sign is a good investment.
Signs that help to make your home more secure
Signage can also be used to keep everyone in your home safer. Here are a few examples:
CCTV signs
If you have CCTV advertising that fact using signage is an excellent idea. When interviewed, ex-house breakers said that the number one thing that made them target another property was the presence of CCTV.
Neighborhood watch signage
Also on the list of things that move would be thieves on was neighborhood watch. They tell would be vandals, scammers and would be housebreakers that they are in an area where people are alert and ready to deal with any trouble.
It may also be worth putting up no loitering, beware of the dog and no trespassing signs. Which you use is up to you. But, you only need to put up one or two to have the desired effect.
Check the regulations first
Before putting these types of signs up you need to check what the rules are, in your area. In some states, if someone ignores a no loitering sign you can call the police, in others this is not the case.
Hazard warning signs
If you have a pool putting up a no running sign will greatly reduce the chances of someone slipping and falling. Putting up a mind your head sign above a low doorway will remind everyone to duck when walking through it. In time, family members will duck automatically, but visitors won’t necessarily notice that a doorway is low enough without you pointing it out to them a sign.
Using signs to decorate your home
It is also possible to use street signs to decorate your home. A couple of stop signs are a slightly different way to decorate the wall of a den, garage or entertainment room.
Customized signs
A lot of signage companies will print you a customized sign. It could be something fun and lighthearted. Or, you could design your own hazard or warning sign. For example, “shut the door to keep the dog in”. To do this, you may need a graphics package. There are several free versions available to download.
This is a collaborative guest post, the views and ideas expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.
It’s no surprise that traditional road trips are the most popular type of vacation families take in the United States. According to Travel Agent Central, almost 80 percent of the families who took a vacation in 2016 chose a road trip instead of another type of vacation. Road trips are cost-effective, and they give families the freedom to stop when and where they like, for as long as they like. In this age of rising airline baggage fees, driving also allows families the choice to pack more of what they need and pick up souvenirs along the way.
Traveling together in the car is also a great way for families to bond with one another. This is especially important these days, when many families struggle to maintain a healthy work/life balance and often have a hard time managing to have dinner together more than one or two nights a week. Read on for some helpful ideas you can use to plan your next family vacation on the road.
Think About Renting a Trailer or RV
If you will be traveling for a week or more, you may want to think about renting a trailer or RV if you don’t have one of your own. The benefits of traveling in a trailer or RV are several, particularly if you have small children who get impatient after long hours on the road. Traveling with an RV or trailer will make it possible for you to stay at campgrounds along the way, which can save you money on places to stay. You will also be able to cook your own meals, which is another potential money saver, as eating out can often burn up more than half of a family’s vacation budget. Cooking your own food can also give your family healthier options for meals than what you’ll find in many restaurants, and all RV manufacturers find extremely clever ways to create storage space inside your vehicle to store plenty of vittles for the road.
If you opt to rent an RV or trailer, make sure to rent from a reputable dealer. If you are lucky enough to have your own and don’t need to rent one, make sure you have the proper insurance, roadside assistance coverage and a Good Sam RV warranty in case something goes wrong on the road.
Think About the Places You’ll Stop at Ahead of Time
One of the fun things about a family road trip is planning it. Once you know where you’re going, find out what attractions are along your route. Maybe there’s a hiking spot you’ve always wanted to try, or an amusement park where you can all enjoy a fun afternoon. Don’t forget to look for interesting museums along the way, too.
Knowing what you’d like to see before your trip starts will help give your vacation some organization, as well as give everyone some things they can look forward to seeing. But remember that often the best things about a road trip are the unexpected adventures. Advanced planning doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t make unplanned stops along the way.
Have a Plan For Where You Will Stay
The last thing you want is to arrive at a hotel or campground after a day of driving to discover that there are no accommodations available. Whether you’ll be camping or staying at hotels or in rental homes, it’s smart to make reservations for the places you’ll be staying ahead of time.
Do Some Research Ahead of Time
It is always worth it to find out about the destinations you will be going to before you arrive. Doing this will help you and your family get more out of your road trip. If you will be visiting a wildlife reservation, for instance, you may want to look up what types of animals and plants can be found there or find out about scenic areas your family might want to see. If you will be going to an urban area, find out what the best attractions are and see about purchasing tickets in advance. You might also consider making reservations for tours ahead of time so you will be sure to get the bookings you want.
Know What to Do if Something Goes Wrong
Nobody likes to think about getting hurt or sick on vacation, but it sometimes happens. Pack a first-aid kit that includes things like cold medicine, bandages, and an over the counter pain reliever. If you will be traveling to different country or to another state, be sure to contact your health insurance carrier before your trip to ask if you will be covered. If not, you might want to consider purchasing a travel insurance policy that includes health coverage.
This is a collaborative guest post, the ideas and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.
As a parent, you will always be concerned about your children’s wellbeing and safety. Kids will be kids, and you will spend a good amount of time applying bandages to a variety of injuries like skinned knees and minor scrapes. However, what if something more serious than a skinned knee happens? Will you be prepared to react properly in an emergency situation?
In the time that it can takes for your to call 911 and wait for help to arrive, a life-threatening situation can become deadly. Parents should know what to do when accidents and injuries happen. You may not be able to prevent accidents when they happen, but you should be as prepared as possible to deal with them when they do.
With so many risks, it’s a good idea for at least one parent in the home to be trained in CPR and First Aid. Gain confidence in your ability to calmly handle an emergency situation and provide care if necessary. Take a look at just some of the things that can go wrong in the blink of an eye and consider that with proper training you could save a child’s life.
Heart Failure
There have been more and more deaths in young people due to heart issues. Many active sports players have been known to suddenly collapse on their playing fields due to their hearts stopping. Many schools have now added a portable defibrillator to deal with these kinds of incidents. If you don’t have one in your home, knowing CPR can help you to keep the heart pumping until emergency help can arrive.
Drowning
For any parent that has a pool on their property, there is always the fear of a child getting into trouble in the water and drowning. Over 350 children under the age of 5 accidentally drown each year in the U.S. Teaching your children safe habits and strong swimming skills is vital to keeping your children safe.
Fever/Convulsions
When the numbers rise up on the thermometer when you have a sick child it can be very concerning for every parent. Not only are you dealing with the many symptoms of infection, your child can be at risk of Febrile Convulsions. These kinds of seizures are not generally damaging themselves, but can cause injury from falling or hitting objects around them. With proper First Aid training you can learn what to do to help your child safely through a seizure.
Heat Stroke
Kids don’t feel the heat of the cold the same way that adults do. You probably remember playing outdoors for hours and not even considering the weather for a moment. You kids will be no different. It is up to each parent to closely monitor their child for signs of heat stroke when you are spending time in the sun.
Choking
In any situation where your child has stopped breathing, being able to administer proper CPR and first aid procedures can be vital in saving their life. With training you will learn to deal with blockage choking as well as resuscitation techniques.
This is a collaborative post. The words and views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.
We took a short vacation to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at the end of August. There is so much to do in Harrisburg, it was the perfect place for us to visit, especially since it is only about 4 hours away from our home in New York State. We have been visiting the Harrisburg/Hershey area with our kids for years. Our oldest kids loved going to Hershey Park and other nearby attractions like Lake Tobias Wildlife Park every summer.
We had not visited the area for a few years, and it was high time for a vacation to the sweetest place on Earth and beyond. Working together with the Visit Hershey & Harrisburg Tourism Bureau, they helped us select the attractions that best suited our family’s tastes, and then created a jam-packed itinerary for us. They also helped us find accommodations in the Harrisburg area that had ample parking and easy access to all the attractions.
We stayed at the Hotel Indigo in Harrisburg. Honestly, we were on the go from early morning until late at night and spent very little time in the hotel. We did appreciate that there was a large parking lot, so we did not have to deal with parking garages or pay for parking as we have done in the past with hotels located in downtown Harrisburg. The Hotel Indigo is new, there were a few issues that I chalked up to growing pains. All in all, it was a good experience for what we needed, I will write more about the hotel in a future post.
National Civil War Museum
Our first stop was the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg. The museum is located up a long driveway that leads to a large parking area. The grounds are clean and picturesque. Inside there is a large gift shop where we picked up our tour tickets for a self guided tour.
The museum has 2 levels and we were directed to start upstairs armed with our map. The museum does not allow video or flash photography. This museum is filled with so many exhibits, many hands-on and others that are made up of life size models that add an incredible level of realism.
One of our kids’ favorite exhibits was the medical scene where the army medics were in the middle of performing a leg amputation on a wounded soldier.
The slavery exhibits were very moving, and there were videos, sounds effects and life size displays throughout.
You could easily spend several hours to see everything.At the very least, you should block out about 2 hours. Check out my video slide show of our visit below.
Whitaker Center’s Harsco Science Center
Our second stop was the Whitaker Center’s Harsco Science Center in downtown Harrisburg. The Science Center allows kids to explore and get up close and personal with all kinds of exhibits as well as letting them perform all kinds of experiments. The hurricane simulator was a huge hit with my boys and my husband too! There was so much to do and see. You can easily spend a day there and not run out of things to do.
Unfortunately, we only had a couple of hours to devote to the center, but we made the most of it and packed a tremendous amount of hands-on fun and learning into those hours. The Whitaker Center is located in downtown Harrisburg and we did find metered parking outside. More to come in a later post. Check out more in our video below.
Hershey’s Chocolate World
After the Whitaker Center we set off to Hershey’s Chocolate World which was about 15 minutes away. Once there, we scheduled our Hershey Trolley Works Tour . There are a couple of different trolley tours you can choose from, but we picked the longer ride with more history of Milton Hershey and more candy!
The trolley is delightful and very vintage with wooden bench seats. It is actually a trolley bus, so it rides directly on the road and not a track. We had a very animated conductor and tour guide which made our experience very informative and fun. We had a great group of fellow passengers who made the tour even more fun. We learned so much about the Milton Hershey family, the Hershey School and of course the Hershey’s Chocolate Factory and Hershey Park.
When our tour was over, we went back inside Hershey’s Chocolate World to embark on the Hershey’s Chocolate Tour, which I have loved since the first time I went on it, way back in 1988! It is a fun tour and our family rode together in a moving car that took us along a track, as we learned about how Hershey’s chocolate is made. Before the ride we posed for 2 photos, and at the end we presented with a souvenir photo book that we purchased. The tour itself is free, at the end we were each given a snack size Hershey Bar. Guests can take the tour as many times as they like.
The Chocolate Tasting Experience
After that, we were off to the Chocolate Tasting Experience. There is a fee required to attend the tasting and they are held several times throughout the day and evening. We were ushered into what reminded me of a college lecture hall, only not as large.
There were rows of narrow tables with chairs, a center aisle and a stage area at the front with a video screen. The tables were set so all of the participants had a bottle of water, a small brown paper gift bag, an informative placemat, a small cup of real chocolate nibs and a Hershey’s Kiss. There were table top tablet kiosks that we used to select the flavors we tasted as we sampled the chocolate.
The host explained a bit about different kinds of chocolate and the unsweetened chocolate nibs that were in front of us. He invited us to try the nibs and then the Hershey’s Kiss. After that, it was time to get serious. He explained the water was to rinse our pallet between chocolates. He then showed us a video that explained how to correctly taste chocolate with all of our senses.
After the video, we were instructed to empty our bag which contained 4 different chocolates. We were guided through tasting each chocolate one at a time. Upon tasting each chocolate we paid careful attention to the different flavors, and then entered them on the kiosk. Once everyone in the room had entered their flavors, they were shown on the video screen. At the end, we were given certificates declaring us official Hershey’s Chocolate Tasters along with a full size Hershey bar.
Create Your Own Candy Bar
Now that we had tasted the chocolate, it was time to make the chocolate. We headed off to the Create Your Own Candy Bar Activity. This is another paid attraction that I highly recommend. Create Your Own Candy Bar takes place at certain times throughout the day and evening. As we stood on the line we were given aprons and hair caps. Even infants have to wear the hair caps because of the strict regulations.On the plus side, they make for great photo ops.
Once our aprons and hair caps were in place, we were led into an area with several kiosks where we scanned our tickets and entered our name and email address. Then it was on to the next area of kiosks where we selected the kind of chocolate bar we wanted to make. The fist step was to choose milk chocolate or white chocolate for the actual bar. We then chose up to three toppings like pretzels, crisp rice, Heath toffee pieces, chocolate chips and more. All bars are encased in delicious Hershey’s milk chocolate. We were able to add colored sprinkles to the top for a festive touch if we wanted.
When we were finished customizing our chocolate bars, it was time to head off to the assembly line, where we were able to watch every step of the manufacturing process. This part was really fun, especially for our kids, who were able to see their name and their chocolate bar as it moved along. When finished, our bars were boxed and then placed in a Hershey’s embossed tin box. At a final kiosk we were able to design the special cardboard sleeve that goes over the tin box.
We ended up doing this attraction again a couple of days later, because we wanted to make custom chocolate bars for our older kids who were not able to join us. Everyone was so happy with their chocolate bars, and I have to say, the bars were absolutely decadent and delicious. The chocolate covering made them absolutely delectable!
We browsed the gift store where the kids each choose a Hershey truck and car set, and then we headed off to get a very late dinner. We were all very tired, as it had been a very full day including our drive to Harrisburg.
Hersheypark
The next day, we set off for Hersheypark. The Park has been greatly expanded since my last time here with my older kids. They have added an entire Boardwalk area with tons of water rides, splash areas and more. The addition of this area makes it very hard to do the entire park in 1 or 2 days. You can easily spend an entire day in the Boardwalk area alone.
It was very hot when we were there, and we were so lucky that they weather was nice and sunny because the summer was the rainiest one I remember. In fact, just a few weeks earlier, the area experienced such severe flooding, Hersheypark had to close for at least a day.
Since it was so hot, my kids wanted to spend almost the entire day at the Boardwalk until it closed at 6 pm. After changing, we headed off to check out the rest of the park which closes much later.
The lines for food were the only thing that was unnerving, especially since we had bought the all day dining deal. My husband literally spent 45 minutes online to get food every time. It was not only us, there were dozens of other guests who were very disappointed with the wait times coupled with many restaurants that were listed on the plan being closed.
I have to say, guest services was very receptive and really wanted to make things right. They talked with us at the end of the night and refunded our money because of the fiasco. I do recommend the Souvenir cups apologized to us and refunded our passes because of the issues. This is the only thing I would not recommend even though you might have better luck during the week or at less busy times.
I highly recommend the souvenir cup deal that you buy for one price and are able to have refilled for free with soft drinks or ICEE for 36 hours after purchase and 99 cents after that. Our cups worked for both days for free refills including ICEEs. Free ice water is available throughout the park.
The next day was devoted to Hershey Park as well. It was another hot, sunny day, and our kids wanted to go right to the Boardwalk area. We spent the next several hours there swimming in the wave pool called The Coast, floating on the lazy river called the Intercoastal Waterway, riding the exciting tube slides and water rollercoaster and playing in the immense splash area that is filled with slides, fun structures and of course, two huge buckets that dump water on everyone down below. The Boardwalk has attractions for kids and adults of all ages.
When you enter Hersheypark there is an area where you can measure your children, to see where they fall in height. Everyone’s height correlates to a candy. Every ride has a sign in front that shows which “candies”the ride is suitable for. This makes it easy to see if your child is big enough or too big to ride. There are many rides that adults and kids can go on together, this makes it easy to accompany smaller children.
You can check out a slide show from our Hersheypark trip below. We also have and will be adding more videos and slide shows to our YouTube Channel, so be sure to check it all out to see more.
ZooAmerica
When we were done at The Boardwalk, we headed off to walk thru ZooAmerica, the zoo at Hersheypark that you can access from the park, and is included with your Hersheypark admission. We walked around looking at the animals. They have nice walkways and exhibits. The animals are divided into groups based on where they live and the kind of animal they are. After ZooAmerica, we ate at a venue in the park that was cafeteria style and had a variety of foods. We were able to get everything from Pizza to Burrito Bowl to Cheesesteaks. It was nice, because everyone got what they wanted, and they also filled our souvenir cups for free.
On one of our previous trips to Hersheypark with my older kids, we incredibly won not one, but two of those enormous black bears at a game where you try to ring the neck of a glass bottle with a plastic ring. We were able to get a bucket of rings for $5. When my four-year old was upset because he was too small to ride the Great Bear roller coaster, I suggested we try our hand at the game while waiting for his dad and siblings to get off the ride. I was shocked when my four-year old tossed a ring from the bucket right onto the neck of a bottle winning a huge bear.
Later that day, my 9-year-old wanted to try, so I bought one more bucket. That time, it was me that got the ring on the neck of the bottle winning another huge bear. We were certainly glad we had a 7 passenger van, because we had 2 extra passengers on the way home.
My younger boys love those bears and that story, so when we came upon the same game in the same spot, they had to try their hand at it. A bucket of rings was still only $5 and my husband, myself and our two boys started tossing the rings. Within the first few, our 11-year-old got a ring on a bottle (it happened to be one of the special color bottles).
The special bottle meant he won one of the rare jumbo unicorns. However, they were very pink and he really wanted a bear, so they let him get the bear. He was so proud of himself, and his little brother was too! It must be a family tradition for us, because again we had an extra passenger riding home in the back seat of our minivan.
Indian Echo Caverns
We stayed at the park until it closed at 11 pm and then returned to the hotel. The next morning, we set out to visit Indian Echo Caverns in Hummelstown, which is a few minutes outside of Hershey. First stop was the gift shop to sign up for our tour, and our kids was enthralled with all the crystals. They also each had to have a miners hard hat with a light that they wore on our cavern tour. Needless to say, we dropped about $100 in the gift shop.
It was not long before we were called for our tour. Our tour guide was enthusiastic and informative. He took us through the caverns, and entertained us with stories and history. The caverns are amazing! Lots of great photo ops and stellar views. Be aware there are many stairs to climb to go down to the cavern entrance, there are steps to climb in the caverns and upon exiting you need to climb up the stairs again. You cannot bring strollers in the caverns either.
When we emerged from the caverns, we visited the animals on the grounds. They have goats and a turkey, some alpacas and birds of prey. There is a large playground area and picnic tables, if you want to bring a lunch. We had to move right on because we were off to Lake Tobias Wildlife Park. Check out the video below to see more.
Lake Tobias Wildlife Park
We grabbed some lunch on the road, and drove about 30 minutes to Halifax, Pennsylvania where Lake Tobias is located. We discovered Lake Tobias years ago when our oldest three children were young and it made quite and impression on us. I was absolutely astounded at how much the park has grown.
They have so many animals now! Beyond that, they have the most natural and beautiful habitats for the Lions, Tigers, Bears and more. Everything is so clean including the reptiles and exotics building, where we saw marmosets, a sloth, all kinds of snakes, alligators, lizards, birds and more. Once more, I was impressed with just how pristine this area was and best of all, there were no funky smells.
Lake Tobias has a petting zoo as well as lots of other animals you can pet like zebras and donkeys throughout the park. A few weeks after our visit they added 2 young giraffes to their menagerie.
The safari ride is much like we remembered, they used sawed off school buses as their safari trucks and drive you out onto their many acres where you get up close and personal with bison, emu, Asian water buffalo, antelope and more who roam freely. You can purchase some snacks like carrots and pellets to feed the animals on the safari. The animals come right up to the safari bus and it is quite amazing! Our kids were so excited and had a blast!
There is a picnic area as well if you want to bring a lunch. Of course, our visit was not complete without a visit to the gift shop where our boys found a couple of plush bear friends to join our huge bear in the back seat. They also selected some more crystals and a few other items. We did get a free Lake Tobias tote bag for spending over $50, so yeah!
Here is a video of our time at Lake Tobias:
We loaded into our van and headed back to Hershey’s Chocolate World, to the Create Your Own Candy Bar attraction, so we could make custom bars for our older kids. We ended up doing the Chocolate Tasting Experience again as well, but this time at the end, we received a snack size bar instead of the full size we got the first time. I am not sure what is the standard size candy given out now. If you have been to the Chocolate Tasting Experience, let me know what you got at the end.
Everyone was starving when we finished, so we headed off to eat at Houlihans in downtown Hershey. We had a wonderful dinner with a friendly server, great food and comfortable atmosphere. Another day in the books, and we were ready to load up and make the trek home. I will post more about each specific part of our trip, but wanted to document our entire trip in this comprehensive post.
If you have any questions, please ask in the comments. You can also check out our reviews on TripAdvisor. Have you been to the Hershey Harrisburg area? Let me know in the comments.
Raising children is very expensive, and just because they reach the age of 18, doesn’t mean your responsibility ends. On the contrary, most parents continue to financially support their adult children in some way. Some parents want to ease their children’s financial burdens or to fund a business venture. Even retired parents find ways to assist their adult kids. If you are thinking about how you can best help your kids even if you are retired, we share a few common ways you can help below.
Set up College Funds
First, you could help to pay for college tuition. Going to college is expensive and it isn’t getting any cheaper. On top of that, professional jobs require a college degree, with even more requiring advanced degrees. If you want to help ease the financial burden of student loans, you can help out with their college tuition. This way, they won’t be graduating with a degree and a mountain of debt to repay.
There are several ways you can do this. You can open a separate savings account, then withdraw the money when your children or grandchildren are ready for it. You could also place the money in a trust, which would allow your child to access it when they turn 18. Finally, you could simply have the tuition payments directed to you and pay for the semesters as they come up. Whichever method you choose will depend on your own financial situation and how old your child is.
Help Then Become Homeowners
The other large payment many people have to deal with is their mortgage. Mortgage payments are large and last a very long time. If you want to help your children with a larger down payment for their new home, it will decrease the amount of the mortgage they need. If you son or daughter already has a home, helping them to pay off their mortgage sooner is very beneficial. While every dollar helps, you need to remember to keep your own future in mind. Talk to your kids about how much help they may need, then see if you can make it work.
Funding a New Business
If your child wants to start their own business, they may need additional funds to get it going. Starting a new business is expensive, if they don’t have enough money, they may not be able to do all the things they need to which could spell failure. If you believe in your child and their business plan, you should consider assisting them financially to get started.
Before you do, make sure the business plan is a solid one. While you want to help your kids, you don’t want to throw your money away on a bad idea. If you can, have an outside financial advisor review their business plan and give your their opinion if it is a wise investment. If not, consider other ways that you can help your child, or recommend ways they can improve their business model, so that you can help with funding.
Babysitting
Lastly, if you have grandchildren, you can always help with child care. Sending a child to daycare is expensive, and if your kids can skip it even once or twice a week by sending their kids to you, that will really add up in the long run. Not only do you get to help ease the financial burden of child care, but you get to spend time with your grandchildren as well.
Before you embark on this, make sure your home is safe and baby proofed. Have some fun things for the kids to do, as well as a safe play area with their favorite toys. You don’t have to turn your home into a daycare, but some preparation is a good idea.
How to Find Additional Funds
Now, maybe you want to help your children, but you aren’t sure you can afford it. If so, there are some ways that you can earn some additional funds during retirement. For starters, you could get a part-time job. Another option is downsizing your home which would lower your housing costs, especially your taxes. You could also talk to reverse mortgage lenders. You can use this reverse mortgage lender locater to get started. There are many options, you just need to consider what’s right for you.
Helping Them Succeed
Being able to help your adult kids out is a great feeling. Even though they’ve left the nest (or are about to), it still feels good when you can help make their lives a little easier. Hopefully, the tips above provided you with some good ideas about how best to help your kids out even during your retirement.
In today’s day and age, a two income family is not just a choice, but a necessity in many cases. With so many women in the corporate workforce full-time, we must address the issue of trying to balance work and family life. Some days we can find ourselves questioning if we truly can achieve a healthy balance. If you are stressed out and looking for help, the tips below may help restore some sanity to your hectic life.
Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate
Managing your home includes many different tasks. Keeping your home clean and organized should not fall solely on your shoulders. Every member of the household should be sharing in that responsibility. If you have divided up the household chores, but still feel like you are having to hound others to stay on task, it can really make things stressful.
You might want to make use of professional home cleaning services or hiring a housekeeper on a weekly basis. Another helpful option is to consider renting a storage vault if you need a place to store your off-season decorations and other things you don’t currently need at home. The less stuff you have around, the easier it will be to organize what’s left. You will be amazed at how much more efficiently things will run with all that extra space.
Delegating responsibilities to others will give you more time to do the things that matter, like spending quality time with your family and friends.
Make Preparations
If you don’t want to be rushing to work in the morning, get in the habit of making sure everyone lays out their clothing the night before. Prepare lunches at night too, and plan your meals for the week so, you can shop more effectively. Electric pressure cookers let you cook delicious meals that used to take hours in about 30 minutes. Create a family message center so that everyone is aware of upcoming events, school meetings and activities.
Create A Family Message Center
Create a family message center with a calendar, cork board and white erase board or chalkboard. This will help keep important dates of events, appointments, school meetings and activities where everyone can see them. Enter dates in your smart phone or planner. Knowing what is coming up will help you from being caught off guard and missing important events or appointments. Don’t forget to schedule in some family fun time!
Celebrate Your Child
Sometimes it simply isn’t possible for us to be physically present at our child’s special event. While it is upsetting to have to miss your child’s concert or soccer game, sometimes there is no other choice. If you do have to miss an important event, show your child you love them and wish you could be there with a special note or little gift. While it is not a substitute for you being there, it will let them know how much you love them and how you wish you were there. You might be surprised at how much emotional support your child can gain from a small note.
Make Use of Technology
If you have to be away on business or are working late, you can record a video of yourself singing or reading a favorite bedtime story for your kids to watch. A phone call to catch up or even a Facetime video can really help you stay connected. Make use of the technology at your fingertips. Something as simple as hearing your voice can be so comforting to your child.
This is a collaborative guest post, the views expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.
Hello, I’m Carolyn! I am a PR Savvy, WAH Mom to 5! I love Photography, Baking, DIY Projects, Crafts, Cooking and making memories with my family. I love sharing reviews and giveaways too!
When you visit a museum or other nifty spot, buy a postcard, have everyone sign it, and mail it back home. Those post-vacation blues won’t seem so bad when the kids have mail to return to, postmarked from all the cool places they’ve visited. 
