“My cousin’s child cried during the entire 11 hour flight to Japan,” said Marybeth, when asked about how she conquered the fear of traveling with her baby. “I thought if my cousin can get through that, so can I.”
Marybeth’s comment mirrored my own fears about airplane travel with my kids. What if they meltdown on the airplane? Or what if we bother other passengers? What would I do?
I hate back to school time. It’s touted as many parents favorite time of year. So why do I dislike it?
“It’s nice to meet you! You’re going to homeschool, right?” She said. “You shouldn’t homeschool. You should send your kids to school here in Mexico.”
I was taken aback. However, it ended up being the norm here. I would meet an expat and they would immediately tell me to not homeschool my children in Mexico. The two biggest (and only) reasons given?
As usual, I wasn’t prepared for the trip. This time our destination was the Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky (it’s actually in Kentucky and not Ohio). I packed twice the night before and once again in the morning. Every time I turned around, my two little humans were unpacking the suitcase and using it for a doll bed. I was worried I’d forget an essential item. I also wondered would my kids enjoy the aquarium. Would I forget something? Did the kids have fun on our aquarium adventure? Did we go across the Newport Aquarium Shark Bridge?
You’re stuck on a long flight with a crying baby or toddler, and a stressed out mom (or dad). It’s so loud. It’s so obnoxious. What can the childless person do to have a better flight?
I’m a mom, so I’m here to plead the case FOR traveling families, while also asking for compassion from the childless stranger. I can also assure you that the mom, dad, and screaming child are having a far worse day than you are. Yes, really.
You want to travel and you want to take the kids. But just how do you get a US passport for kids?
Getting a passport was something I avoided for a long time, because I am a procrastinator. Also, before the late 2000s, Americans didn’t need to them to visit Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean. I visited Grand Cayman without a passport in 2004. Passports are required to go outside the US nowadays. So, if you and your kids don’t have one, today is a great day to get yours!
Here are step-by-step instructions for Americans to apply for a passport for your child or children.
I want my children to speak at least one additional language than our native one. I want to immerse them in another language, but I am not ready to sell everything to travel the world or settle somewhere else long term. How am I going to encourage language learning while staying true to my unschooling philosophy? Just how do I make the world my classroom?