My kids and I are out and about a lot, whether on road trips, day trips, or just trips to the beach. Since there are five of them and only one of me and–especially during the summer–we’re often all out together, I often get questions from people who want to know just how we manage to get out the door in the first place, let alone actually make it through a trip without falling apart.
I won’t lie–sometimes it does all fall apart, and I wind up abandoning that day at the zoo for something easier, like an afternoon in the backyard, where it doesn’t matter if one of the kids can’t find his shoes…or his pants.
But most of the time we make it work. How? I have a few strategies that keep us on the move with relatively little fuss.
Be prepared…but not too prepared. When you’re packing a bag for five kids, efficiency matters a lot. Sure, the baby needs diapers, and we’ll probably need snacks and drinks if we’re going to be away from home for a while. But I don’t necessarily need a change of clothes for each child, ten water bottles (heavy!), a bag full of toys, and a full meal complete with protein, starch and vegetable unless we’ll be gone a really long time.
My kids long ago learned the fine art of entertaining themselves with a stick or their fingers because there’s no room in that bag for their Matchbox car collection. When they’re old enough to care about bringing a toy with them, they’re old enough to carry that toy themselves…and they usually make sure it’s something that can fit in a pocket.When it comes to snacks, I think small, portable, and minimal clean-up required, like a piece of fruit or Mott’s no-sugar-added applesauce cup. The less there is to unpack when we get home, the more fun our adventures are for everyone involved…Mom included.
Be proactive. We learned the hard way (“Where are your shoes? What do you mean, you don’t know?!”) that certain house rules make being a family on the go a lot easier. First of all, shoes are always to come off by the front door–no exceptions. It’s easier on the carpet and easier on my sanity, since they don’t mysteriously get lost. Same thing goes for hoodies and coats and mittens and hats. Each has its own special place by the front door and we all take the time to put those things were they go when we arrive home. And since I’ve got a forgetful streak of my own, I found a place by the front door for my keys and purse, too.
Get ready in stages. First, I gather everyone by the front door. Then, I have everyone put on their shoes. Next, (in the winter) it’s coats and hats. Once kids are totally ready, they’re to sit on the sofa and wait for everyone, and we all walk out the door when we’re ready. This keeps the ‘getting out the door’ part from feeling too chaotic and ensures that kids don’t wander off and get absorbed in some project right when I’m trying to get them to jump into getting ready.
Walk whenever possible. Sure it takes longer to walk than to drive, but the absolute worst part about taking a bunch of kids out is getting them all strapped into their car seats, double-checking to make sure nobody is standing behind the minivan before I back out (I’m paranoid like that), finding a parking place, trying to keep some of them from bolting into the parking lot while I’m getting the rest out of their seats, trying to transfer sleeping kids from car seats to strollers…I’m stressed out just thinking about it! Walking isn’t only good for you and a great way to get in some bonding time–it also makes outings a whole lot more hassle-free.
What are your secrets for taking the stress out of family adventures? Share in the comments below!
