There are two words that simultaneously instill feelings of excitement and dread in parents across Toronto - family vacation.
Whether it is a road trip, a beach vacation, an overseas adventure or bonding while camping in the great outdoors, family vacations bring out the best and the worst in everyone.I speak from experience. I have been on a six-week sailing odyssey around Vancouver Island with my husband and baby. I have been to all-inclusive resorts in Cuba and Mexico, I have taken a car trip to visit family around Ontario and I have camped with my two young children and a port-a-potty. My family has travelled with friends, cousins and grandparents and just as our little foursome (five if you include our dog).Travel plays a big part in our life. We spend a lot of our time (and money) exploring new places. Our first adventures began when our first child was a baby. At that time, we lived in Vancouver on our 48-foot sailboat. When Lucas turned one month, we untied the dock lines and headed out to a local anchorage to ring in the New Year with some other boating friends. While many thought we were crazy, we knew we were doing the right thing. And that was only the beginning. Plane trips were frequent (especially as grandparents lived across the country) and boating was an integral part of our life. So along the way, I have come up with a few tricks to make life easier for me, my husband and our children.1. Always pack food and water.This is my first rule for travel. A hungry child is a miserable child. And a miserable child makes for miserable parents (and other travellers, especially if you're in a plane). I always have a bag of food with me. I carry granola bars, Goldfish crackers, pretzels and other items that do not have a short expiry date. I also try to add in healthy foods - like fruits and vegetables and cheese (as long as I am not crossing any borders). These are all great snacks in a pinch and are great to share if you see parents near you struggling. 2. Carry a goodie bag of toys. In the weeks leading up to a trip, I try to hide a few toys that are easy to pack and I know my kids will like. I then begin to create a goodie bag that gets pulled out during times of "Mom, I am bored". Slowly, I dish out a favourite toy or treasured book. I even make last-minute trips to the dollar store and buy new items I know they will enjoy. I typically take Playdough, art supplies, books, dolls, actions figures and so on.3. Run them ragged.If I am about to take an extended plane or car trip, I make sure my kids have exercise before they're confined. If you have ever been to an airport and seen a mom doing jumping jacks with her kids prior to boarding, then you have seen me in action. I encourage them to move before they sit.4. Carry a change of clothes Always have an extra set of clothes on hand. From spilled juice to active bladders, accidents happen. Be prepared.5. Relax.Remember, this is family time. The kids are excited, there are new environments to be negotiated and rules are meant to be broken. Relax and have fun. These are the things that memories are made of.
Heather Lochner lives with her husband, two young children and dog in Toronto. The words 'Family vacation' don't frighten her. Prior to moving back to the city, Lochner, her husband and her first child lived on a 48-foot sailboat in Vancouver.