Traveling Light

Like many families, we are traveling for the Thanksgiving Holiday. My brother lives in Texas and we are going to visit him and his family for the week, which is very exciting.

The kids love the chance to visit with their cousin, and we love the chance to hang out with my brother and his lovely wife.

I realized today that, because my brother has an extra booster seat for Tater to ride in, we don’t have to take ANY child-specific equipment on this trip.

For the first time in TEN years, we are going on a trip with no special eating utensils, seats, beds, restraining devices…nothing!

This, of course, makes me think back on the first trip we took with wee Sprout, when she was about 6 months old. I had packed all of the baby food, spoons, bowls, cups, bottles, bouncy seat, exersaucer, eating seat, pack-and-play, toys, etc. Mike loaded everything into the car and we went on our merry way to Connecticut.

We were just about to the end of the New Jersey Turnpike when I turned to Mike and asked, “Where did you put the bag with the clothes and diapers?”

To which he replied, “What bag?”

Turns out that, although the car was chock full of Sprout-care paraphernalia, we had forgotten to bring any clothes for her.

None. Not even a spare diaper.

Oops.

Luckily we passed by the Palisades Park Mall, which had a brand-spanking new Target. At which we purchased diapers, wipes, clothes, socks, baby bath, etc. Thank goodness for Target, right?

So, as we prepare for our trip this year, I am thankful for our newfound level of travel simplicity.

However, lest you think we are actually traveling light, let me tell you what my children DO feel that they need to bring: iPods, DSs, several books each, stuffed animals, DVD Player, many movie options, snacks for the plane…

At least the carry it themselves now. And if anything important is forgotten, it’s on them.

I packed the clothes. As long as those get in the car, I am way ahead of where we started!

Kristen is a new contributor at Chester County Moms. She lives in Chester Springs with her husband, daughter, Sprout (10); son, Tater (7); and two dogs. Be sure to read more about Kristen’s exploits as she attempts to keep her kids busy and entertained at http://www.thefunmommies.com/.

Expiration Date…

Join us in welcoming our new Chesco mom contributor Kristen…

My daughter just turned 10. This is alarming to me in many ways.

1) My daughter is 10. (I know, I already said that).
2) I have been a parent for 10 years.
3) My daughter is approaching teenagerhood at an alarming rate.

Number 3 is the most frightening part, because I fear that the onset of her tween-hood means that I am rapidly approaching the expiration date on my child thinking I am even the tiniest bit cool.

Not that I am that cool anyway, but the key is that right now she THINKS I am cool. And soon she won’t.

I wonder what it will be about me that horrifies the teenaged her.

Will my hair be wrong?
Are the waists on my jeans to high? Too low?
Are my shoes too sensible?
Do I say “groovy” too much? (I don’t say groovy at all…but maybe I’ll start…)

Will it be my insistence on tooth brushing? Vegetables? Sleep?

I guess there is no way of knowing what I will do that will show her in an irrevocable way that her mom isn’t the paragon of fabulousness that she thought I was. There are so many ways I could go wrong.

I was utterly uncool as a teenager. Braces (with headgear), glasses, no fashion sense whatsoever. An annoying tendency to correct my teachers. No social skills. Weird hair.

I am better now (although I am sure there are those who would dispute that). And of course, my kids think I am an all-knowing goddess. They willingly accept the clothing I pick for them. They talk to me. They share their music with me. They think I am funny.

They tell me I am the best mommy ever. I like that part a lot.

But these days are numbered. I just know it. One day soon, she will look at me and see someone different. Someone more fallible. Someone more human. Someone wearing the wrong kind of jeans. With weird hair.

Something more like what I really am. Which on some level is good.

She needs to see that. It’s part of my job.

But there are parts of my job that aren’t all that fun.

Like the parts where you need to help the kids see beyond the illusions of their childhood and open their eyes to the harsh realities of the world.

Like trans fats, cleaning toilets, and the fact that their mom isn’t all that cool.