Traveling With Children

It should come as no surprise being a mother of a large basketball team (or small baseball team), I have had to learn a few things regarding traveling with children. Small children, teen children and yes, even adult children. As I am about to go on an airplane back home with my now 14 year old and 9 year old, I thought this morning's journal entry should have something to do with what I have learned over the years.

TIME

Yes, this is probably the number one thing I can encourage. Give yourself plenty of time to do EVERYTHING. Bathroom breaks, meal breaks, even just getting out of the door. Not only because kids aren't as fast as you - YOU need to be able to breathe in the process. I make sure I have everything packed and by the door the night before any trip, because let's face it sometimes even just waking up takes us 20 minutes longer than it should (and we all don't want to leave Kevin Home Alone!)

FED

Don't forget to eat, pack snacks for eating, or money to buy the snacks you will be eating. Honestly, I would rather leave the suitcases at home and travel with food than have no food or food money. You can always get a souvenir t-shirt, shorts and sandals where you are going. Haha! Keeping your little ones from traveling hangry is vitally important.

RESTED

There is nothing like a good nap, a great night sleep, and a place to take a time-out. Remember, traveling is exhausting. My two little ones slept the entire night and needed naps after their first plane ride last Monday. They couldn't believe how tired they were! We did not have any activities planned the day of travel, they simply loafed around Grandma's house until they felt more like themselves the next day. I see lots of parents trying to RUSH their kids and this causes much heartache for the nearby passengers and the parents. RELAX you will get where you are going - I promise.

FUN

Lastly, traveling with kids is FUN. My children always draw my attention to things I take for granted or haven't seen before. On our way here to Idaho, our children kept commenting on how the airports looked like "malls" and were so beautiful. They would say, "Oh look! A bookstore - can we go there?!" or "WOW mom, look at that! Look over there!" Watching the children experiencing the airport for the first time and myself not being in a position where I was yelling at them to "keep up!" or "Don't touch that!" was in direct reflection of the reality I created by way of; giving ourselves enough time to get where we were going, making sure everyone was rested, and thinking to myself how grateful I was to be able to experience travel with them and how much FUN our trip was going to be!

As a result? Teddy wants to now travel the globe and can't wait to fly again, and Nessy even talked of one day becoming a Co-Pilot (because Piloting seemed like a lot of responsibility - but being a Co-Pilot would be 'ok' :).

Holy Spirit-

Thank you for this opportunity we have today to travel, Thank you for blessing Grandma and Grandpa financially to be able to send us to see them and have this wonderful experience. Thank you Lord for our safe travels today - for blessing the Pilots and the aircraft team of engineers, attendants, and crew. Anoint them with special favor today as they go about their day. Thank you for showing the Wright Brothers and many others what it took for us to fly! It's fun to travel! Thank YOU for making it fun!

In your Son Jesus' name and by His blood-

Love always

-Jessicah

On the agenda:

• Get to the airport, fly home and HAVE fun!

About the Author: Jessica Heilman is Co-Founder, Designer and Writer for 15Evergreen.com. You can learn more about her as well as her daughter Madeline, their ministry work and their company by clicking this link: ABOUT US