One year after the reality of the pandemic set in, many families are thinking about travel again. Whether it’s a road trip to see fully-vaccinated grandparents, a rescheduled family wedding, or a long-awaited trip to the beach, parents are beginning to make plans for 2021 travel and beyond. And with the anticipation of making family memories also comes a whole load of practical questions and logistical challenges–many of which are totally different from what moms faced the last time they took their families on the road.
In this three-part series, created by The Mom Hour in partnership with Regalo Baby, seasoned moms of many Meagan and Sarah share stories from our own family travel adventures (the picture-perfect days AND the total disasters) as a way to remind moms that no matter how well you plan, sometimes expecting the unexpected is the real key to making meaningful family travel memories.
Part 1: Creating A Home Away From Home When You’re Traveling With Kids
Taking small kids on a trip is daunting: Where and how will everyone sleep? Can a rental cottage be baby-proofed? How will little ones used to a schedule and the structure of home deal with time zone changes and grandparents whose house rules differ from what they’re used to? In Part One of our three-part series on family travel, Sarah looks back on her extensive experience traveling with babies, toddlers, and kids–especially trips to the grandparents’ and in-laws’–and shares what worked, what didn’t, and what she’d do differently.
Part 2: Life On The Road…With A TODDLER? (What All Families Can Learn From Full-Time RV Living)
Have you ever dreamed of taking your family on the road? It’s tempting–especially with the changes to work and school many families have experienced this past year. Chelsey Christiansen is a full-time working mom, and she and her husband and toddler son currently work and travel full-time out of their fifth-wheel camper. In today’s episode, Part Two in our three-part series on family travel, Meagan and Sarah chat with Chelsey to find out what road-living is like with a toddler, what they’ve learned about sharing a small space with a growing family, and how learning to roll with the punches of family travel have helped her become a more confident mom in general.
Part 3: Nurturing A Spirit Of Travel Adventure–Even On A Smaller Budget
Desiring a family culture of travel and adventure is one thing; pulling it off–and paying for it–is another thing altogether. But just because you’re not jetting off to international destinations doesn’t mean you and your family can’t cultivate that adventure spirit in meaningful ways. In today’s episode, Part Three in our series on family travel, Meagan looks back at many years of family adventures and meaningful memory-making. She offers validation for moms whose travel dreams don’t match up with their current reality, and makes a case for letting your kids see you handle travel’s ups, downs, and hassles with flexibility and a sense of humor. This is the pep talk we all need before hitting the road in 2021!
About Our Sponsor
Regalo is a family-owned company that makes affordable and super-practical products for busy families–like the My Portable Play Yard we talked about in today’s episode. Regalo’s products are durable, and are all about simplicity and functionality.
Whether you’re hitting the open road for a weekend or a year, Regalo Baby has products to fit your travel and safety needs this spring and summer.
Check out regalobaby.com/themomhour to browse their safety and travel products, and receive 25% off your purchase with code THEMOMHOUR.
