*This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. This post may seem outside of the typical TickingTimeMom wheelhouse….but it was a suggestion from my husband. And I kinda … Continue reading
Traveling with small children is not for the faint of heart. Carrie Underwood would’ve asked Jesus to take the wheel MUCH sooner if she’d been driving four small kids across six states.
However, sometimes the sheer need to get away overrules the small voice in your head that is screaming, “DON’T do it. Stay put. Remember what it’s like to be in a confined space with your immediate family? Remember? If not, you can be refreshed by reading the multiple blog posts you wrote from last summer’s vacation. Here and here, Emily. Read these and remember.”
Life’s too short so I squelched the logical voice and began packing. My sister had thrown out what I’m sure was a sarcastic offer for us to come visit her on the east coast. She should’ve known better than to offer…..
Minute 1: The van is loaded down with every bit of loot available for children ages one through nine. Snacks, electronic devices, clothing, swimsuits, various size strollers, cooler, etc.
Minute 2: Realization that we had forgotten three things.
Minute 10: The very first “How much longer do we have?” rings from the backseat.
Hour 2: Potty break and lunch after cries of “We’re staaaaarrrrrving!” It is two hours after breakfast. Two.
Hour 3: Back in the car for 30 minutes when three of the four beg to stop because they have to potty.
Hour 3.5: Everyone is back in the van, bathroom needs have been taken care of and drinks are all refilled so we can be sure to stop at every rest stop from here to North Carolina.
Hour 4: These kids assure me they are not tired. No naps needed. They are too old for naps.
Hour 4.25:
Hour 6: I realize I failed to pack any shoes for my child. With exception of his water shoes for the beach, he will remain barefoot for the trip.
Those of you laughing at my oversight, the joke is on you. This one, small error is a major success given the fact that two years ago we got all the way to North Carolina before I realized I left two suitcases (fully packed) on the beds at home. I remembered the children. I did not remember the children’s clothing.
My sister did NOT live in what I would call a metropolitan area. However, there was a general store at the one stoplight in town so I was able to purchase some interesting clothes for the week. Nothing matched and the sizes were a tad bit off…but we spent 90% of the time in swimwear so it all worked out.
On the positive side of things, I will gently pat myself on the back for a traveling success. I take pride in what will forever be known in our home as the ‘vacation mulligan.’ When leaving our hometown and dealing with lots of opinions, I told the kids there was a surprise during the trip. Each child would be granted a “vacation mulligan/wildcard.” This would allow them each one chance during the trip to get the final vote or a do-over. They knew this would come into play if they wanted to have the final say in what movie we selected or if they were on their way to losing a privilege for less than stellar behavior. It was quite telling to see which kids were interested in the do-over versus the wild card.
The rest of the trip was rather uneventful minus the pulsing screaming our youngest shared with us from 10:45 -11:45 PM. He gets increasingly wild when tired. Rather than succumbing to sleep he fights it like a rabid dog. Cue Carrie Underwood.
The rest of the kids spent their 15 hours pondering when and how to use their mulligan. They were so engrossed in the gift of this do-over that none of them actually used it. Score!
We finally arrived in North Carolina and had a wonderful four days with my sister and her family. The sand and surf soothed the grievances from the 15 hour drive. Fortunately, the four days passed faster than the drive out to North Carolina. Too soon we were packing up to head home.
We are now enduring the drive back. Mulligans have been thrown out the window and candy has been thrown out parade style just to quiet the unruly passengers. Attitudes are bad because no one wanted to leave. People are fussy and crying. Even the kids.
Soul II Soul said it best… back to life, back to reality.
E
*Have you signed up for TickingTimeMom emails yet? You should! I promise to pass along all my super travel tips directly to you. Tip #1: Don’t forget your suitcases. See, I’m already helping!*
It’s the last day of school. Thank you to everyone who helped our family achieve this glorious moment. Each of you played a significant role in getting us to where we are today.
Today is the last day of school, a day I wasn’t convinced I would live to see. January and February are sooooooo long and monotonous that it can be easy to believe the school year will never, ever, ever EVER end. Alas, it is here. In all of its overscheduled, overhyped, jam packed, emotional joy.
I would like to thank those of you who helped in allowing me to witness the end of another school year and the start of summer…which will undoubtedly elicit prayers. So many prayers. Mainly for sanity and peace and chocolate. Oh, and a great sangria recipe. Continue reading
Tea Collection, a personal favorite in our house, is having a big Memorial Day sale! My children have each had multiple outfits from their collections over the years. Tea Collection’s adorable clothing, ranging from tiny, precious layettes to bigger kid size 12, is made from super soft cotton and classic in style. It washes incredibly well so our pieces have been worn and loved MANY times over in our home. The wrap neck dresses have been popular with both my girls, eliciting minimal fighting which is important in the early years of dressing children. Who knew putting clothing on small children could be an Olympic sport?
We inherited one of our first Tea Collection dresses from a friend. My oldest daughter wore it frequently and passed it down to our younger daughter. It became one of her favorites, as well, but has now been passed on to our niece. I bore you with this dress genealogy to make the simple point that the dress still looks great! Years of wear through many kids and it has held up….prompting me to purchase several other styles over the last six years.
The simple styles and vibrant prints make their pieces rather timeless. Tea Collection designers travel the world twice a year to bring home adorable patterns. Since I will likely not be doing much globe trotting for the next….oh…say, 18 years, it’s nice to have a little worldly culture to enjoy in the meantime. I will just have to live vicariously through my daughters’ dresses. Wow, that looks even sadder on my computer screen than it did in my head……
In addition to quality clothing, Tea Collection takes pride in sourcing their materials responsibly so you can feel good about your purchase. As a company, they give back to the Global Fund for Children. One more reason I can justify buying MORE kids clothes. Shhhh….don’t tell my husband.
You can enjoy 20% off your purchases and free shipping at checkout. Valid now through Memorial Day- Monday, May 30th with code SUNNYSEASON.
Happy Shopping!
(This page contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for details. Thank you!)
Raising children can be a challenge. Raising children to have a heart for helping others, a ‘servant’s heart’ if you will, is altogether more difficult. They are much more interested in being served than serving. Honestly, if I had to guess I’d say most of us are wired the same way. (I’m looking in the mirror here, folks!) Over time I’ve become increasingly concerned and focused on insuring Matt and I are raising kids who are grateful, appreciative, kind and benevolent. Anything contrary to the entitled creatures everyone believes the generation following their own to be.
I have the benefit of working in a career field that allows me daily access to psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists. I am not too ashamed to admit I have used this accessibility for my personal benefit since I became a mother. I’ve voiced my concern to these friends more than once, as well as to my husband, parents and anyone else who will listen. I also apparently felt it necessary to subject you to the topic via my blog….in the hopes that my incessant pestering of my educated friends might help a few of us along the way! Continue reading
Kids,
In all the guiding and correcting and parenting I do with you, I’ve often thought of what I’d say to a younger version of myself, given the chance. I’ve been gifted and earned and gained and fought and prayed for whatever wisdom I possess. Much of it appearing only with age and life experience. Knowing myself as I do, a younger me likely wouldn’t have listened to an older version of me anyway……so, I guess I shouldn’t be too irritated when you don’t listen to me. Given all this new found thinkin’, my thoughts have shifted to your dad…..and what I’d say to a younger version of him.
Kiddos, your dad and I are sitting at the top of year #11 in our marriage and peering closely at #12. Which starts today around 5 PM. Twelve years. I could wax poetic about the passing of time, say something disgustingly sappy about the magic of our love and soulmate status. But I don’t want to make you guys nauseous. You can barely stomach seeing us hold hands. I’ll simply let you know what I’d say to that young man if I had the chance to revisit him just after our rehearsal dinner. A fresh faced, pale yellow button-down shirt wearing 20-something.
It has been said that a woman can’t truly understand and appreciate her own mother until she becomes a mother herself. I find so much truth in this saying. However, my own mother continues to reveal surprising little tidbits nearly nine years after I became a mom……reminding me there are still so many surprises to be discovered. One notable revelation occurred this past Christmas. Let me give you a bit of background that led up to the Mom Shock of 2015……
Matt and I had the incredible opportunity to visit Italy nine years ago, just months before having our first child. It was something that had been on our to-do list for several years. In a moment of sheer panic in early 2007, I told him we needed to take this trip before the baby arrived. In my mind, despite the joy and excitement I knew was imminent, I assumed life as we knew it was over. I feared that if I didn’t see Italy as a waddling, round-bellied lady, I’d be unable to see it until I had my AARP card. After much consideration, planning and budgeting, we booked the trip.
Half-smiling, likely due to a delay in my ‘every-half-hour’ feeding schedule, for a photo in Burano. Continue reading
I have been blessed with friends who see me through life’s highs and lows. A circle of support to hold me up when I want to collapse. Loved ones who laugh with me when times are easy and offer me a shoulder when it’s time to cry. Today I hope you will read this post in it’s entirety and consider this a personal request to participate in this special Phoebe Edition of Good Will Wednesday because one of my oldest, dearest and bests has a sweet little daughter who could use our good will today.
Sarah and I have been friends for decades, enduring junior high crushes and high school heartbreaks, spring breaks and a French Club trip to Europe. We’ve been bridesmaids together and for one another, we’ve laughed and cried and seen the best and worst we each have to offer. She has been part of my circle for too long to count and I want to make sure she feels her circle in coming days.
Sarah’s daughter, who happens to be the sweetest, most precious three-year-old you could ever meet, has been diagnosed with DIPG, a rare, terminal tumor. Unfortunately, my offerings as a friend are limited. This is where you come in.
Phoebe loves animals. She’s pictured in this photo with her pup Maggie, but don’t be fooled….she doesn’t just love dogs. Phoebe loves animals of all kind! Her uncle has started a Facebook page called Phoebe’s Friends where people can upload photos of their pets. The request states:
We are asking anyone and everyone with pets of any kind to send a letter FROM THEIR ANIMAL along with a picture to her. Talk about what they do for fun, work, what they like to eat, etc. Flex your creative writing muscles. Please don’t mention anything about being sick. Just keep it light, fun, and make believe. Hoping she has something in the mailbox every single day.
You can email her at: phoebelouisedooley@gmail.com or send to:
Miss Phoebe Louise Dooley
14260 W. Newberry Road, #196
Newberry, Florida, 32669-2765
Thanks for your support and please spread the love.
Dear Momma who is further down the parenting path….
I’d like to think I’ve gotten pretty good at laughing off most of the parenting chaos. I can chuckle when the baby empties the dog water dish onto the floor for the second time. Or when the four year old knocks on my bedroom door after being put to bed. Again. Or when the second grader decides he does indeed want me to make his lunch. Five minutes before the bus arrives.
But the are times the laughter won’t come.
There is the third time the dog dish is overturned and I want to send it sailing across the room and watch it explode into a million tiny pieces against the wall. There is the unrelenting arguing from a child who I know, I know, has been blessed with a God-given talent for litigation. There are the eye rolls and sassy remarks and sibling rivalry and mess and bickering and chaos and LOUD EVERYTHING. Continue reading
The bedroom is supposed to be a peaceful place. A sanctuary. Space for quiet, respite and relaxation. I’m happy to say our bedroom is exactly as I just described. Except for the peaceful, quiet and relaxing part. It’s more like … Continue reading