Cousins’ First Sleepover

We spent a week at the beach with 6 adults and 3 kids (under the age of 5); it was fun but really just parenting in a different location. Parenting is exhausting as many of you know and parenting while not at your normal home base can be a bit challenging. We all look forward to a vacation because it is a change of scenery, change of pace, change of routine and just a break from the normal grind of life. The anticipation was most certainly dreamer than the actual reality of it all. Add kids into the mix and you no longer have a vacation…but a trip!

Actually, we took a family trip to the beach for a whole week. It was the cousins’ first sleepover and I’d say they all had fun; not sure how much they will all remember because they are currently 4 years old, 14 months and 8 months but thank goodness for smartphones with cameras (and lots and lots of pictures were taken). But the adults, the adults will definitely remember. Of course there were hiccups along the way but there were memories made and it for sure will not be the last family trip taken. 

This was my first time traveling with both kids, the last time we went on a family trip my oldest was the only child across the board. This time around, there were two new additions- my youngest and my niece, so there were many, many firsts to go around! From this experience came lessons learned and advice to my future self and others who have yet to embark on a family trip with kids. I want to think that I will do things differently the next time around but I am not sure because all things are a blur and so vivid at the same time; I cannot quite decipher which is which. But there are a few things that I know for sure I will continue to do as the family trips are added to our memory pile. I have done my best with sharing below (as my memory allows).

For the car:

• Snacks and more snacks
• Kid Beverages
• Games
• Toys
• Fully charged electronic devices (for kids and adults)
• Car/portable chargers
• Earphones/headphones (optional)
• Appropriate bathroom/potty attire depending on kids’ ages (diapers, wipes, pull ups, etc.)
• Extra bag of sanity and patience

On location:

• Planned activities or specified days of nothing planned
• Planned days for the moms/adults to do activities without the kids (yes, even on trips, a break is needed)
• Planned menu or rough idea of takeout options
• More snacks 
• More games
• More toys
• As many things from home as possible to help ease being away for the kids and adults (pillows, sheets, blankets, soap, etc.)
• All items from the car
• Clothes
• Extra clothes
• Pjs
• Extra pjs

Bonus list – for babies:

• Pack n play or portable bassinet
• Extra clothes (we packed an extra outfit per day because you just never know)
• Extra sleepwear and sheets (because, see above)
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Water cup
• Bath time supplies (bonus points if it’s body wash and/or lotion for sleep so everyone can get some rest)
• Bibs
• Burp cloths
• Bowls
• Spoons

That’s the list that my memory has allowed me to recall (and my sister’s, as this was her first time traveling with her baby – my niece).

I hope this helps and if nothing else, I hope this made you laugh…just a little and reminded you that even when you feel alone in motherhood, you’re not.