Road trip with kids

We are on day 5 of a big cross-country road trip! So far, things are going really well. We are all a little tired, but the benefit of that is the kids are resting pretty quietly. I spent a lot of time worrying, planning, and organizing for this trip, so I'll share some of my tips with you.

What is working well :

- Audiobooks. We downloaded Redwall, by Brian Jacques, and that has kept all of us entertained for several hours each day. I have the Magic Tree house books too, which the kids enjoy.

- Dollar store cache of prizes. I picked up a bunch of little toys and sticker books, and the kids know that resting quietly in the morning will earn them a new surprise in the afternoon when we reach the next state. Having a new activity gets them through the fussy, fidgeting part of the afternoon.

- Celebrating each state and border crossing. The kids don't know much about geography,  but they like hearing about each state and knowing when we get to the next one.

- Pre-packaged snacks. I saved a lot of space and hassle by making little baggies of favorite snacks like pretzels, crackers, baby carrots, trail mix, yogurt raisins, etc. I also pre-filled the baby's snack containers with Cheerios and goldfish. So when the kids are hungry, I can literally throw food at them.

- Stay on schedule. Not just your travel plans, but their eating schedule too. Be prepared for them to be hungry for morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner at predictable times. Remember to adjust as you cross time zones.

- Use a 'No throw' strap for the baby's toys or cup, so things don't end up all over the car where no one can reach them. Also, buckle baby's sleeping blanket in the seat.

- Refillable water bottles for each kid. These can be refilled for free at most rest stops, or even in a bathroom if needed. Keep everyone hydrated!

- Keep essentials handy. I have a place for everything,  so from my passanger seat I can reach the snacks, the cooler, the surprise toys, my purse, our trip receipt bag, the DVDs, a book, baby wipes, our little trash bag, and the baby's carseat. I spend a lot of time turning around,  so having things comfortably in reach is important. I also have easy access to the diaper bag to make changes at rest stops.

-  Backpack of activities for each child. They all have a different selection of books, toys, drawing activities, travel games, and stuffed animals. So far, they have done well sharing and entertaining themselves without many car games.

- Blankets and pillows for all the kids to get comfortable. If they no longer have a back to their car seat, consider a travel pillow that wraps around the neck so they have something to lean on.

- DVD. Our new car has a DVD player, which is awesome to give 1-2 hours of relative quiet each day. Our kids don't sleep when a movie is on, so we don't play one until after nap time.

- Car-friendly food. I had to choose snacks and sandwiches that wouldn't create a lot of crumbs, smears, or stains. So, no Oreos, cheese puffs, or peanut butter.

- Sleeping in different locations. If we have a long day of driving (9 hours), we stay at a hotel or a friend's house. This is a god chance to do laundry, take showers, and restock food. But then we follow the hotel stay with a shorter drive (6 hours), and camping at a campground. At the end of the day, if the kids can run around for an hour at a playground or swim in a pool, then they sleep pretty well.

- Packing a lunch. Some stretches of road are fairly empty, and rest stops can be unpredictable. Just having bread and fruit in the car, and lunch meat and cheese in the cooler can make for a cheap and convenient lunch.

What isn't working :

- Getting enough sleep. Camping is tiring for the parents, so being patient and  almost during long drives is becoming more challenging. But at least husband and I can take shifts to break up the long stretches.

- Crying baby. The poor baby needs more attention and time out of her car seat. I give her lots of snacks and toys, and sometimes just rub her cheek, but she still spends HOURS a day whining.

Camping with kids

Locations : Not all campgrounds are the same! A private campground, or one from a chain like KOA, will have amenities like hot showers, laundry, playground, swimming pool, and a camp store. They may even serve breakfast! These are like camping for beginners. National Parks, on the other hand, will only have restrooms and water stations. These require a little more preparation. Then there are primitive campgrounds that don't even have running water or trash disposal. Choose the type of campground that works for you.

Tips:
- For families, pack a separate bag with each day's clothing, instead of 1 bag per person. This consolidates baggage to make packing and dressing easier.

- Pack 1 bag with all hygiene products, so when you walk to the bathrooms all toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and shower supplies are together. Moms, pack your stuff on the bottom. You know you will help everyone else first!

- Do trial runs first! Set up the tent in the backyard first, to get kids used to the feel and the night noises. Then try 1 night close to home, so you won't have far to drive if you don't get a good night's sleep. Make notes of what else you would bring,  or anything that doesn't work well.

- Try all equipment first. Set up the tent at home, so you won't be reading instructions in the dark or rain. Take any new equipment out of the box to make sure everything is working and included. We had to return our new camp stove to the store twice before we got one that worked properly.

- Bring lots of water. On our trial run, we had 2 gallons of water for 1 night (6 people ) and that was not enough. Not all campsites have a camp store or potable water.

- Plan your meals. Either cook at home and store in a cooler until you reheat at a campsite, or buy simple supplies like canned and frozen goods, and do your cooking on site. You can use a camp stove, a Dutch oven, or just foil packets of food cooked right in the fire coals.

- Keep the children entertained. Think about activities available at the camp grounds, like a playground or swimming pool. Will you do hiking or sightseeing during the day? National parks have Junior Ranger programs with activity booklets and ranger-led presentations. At your campsite, have simple activities the kids can do alone while you cook. Ours have backpacks with coloring books, toys, card games, and a nature scavenger hunt. If you have room,  you can also pack a soccer ball, frisbee, or other large toys.

- Check ahead for weather conditions to plan for cold nights, rain, or fire restrictions.

- Make sure everything in the cooler is packed in waterproof (Ziploc) bags, including the ice! Then you won't get soggy food.

- Consider going with friends.  Having other kids around will help entertain yours. And having other adults to share meals can relieve the cleaning and cooking burdens. Plus camping is s great way to spend time together!

Supplies:
Lots of convenient ideas are on Pinterest. In Spain , you can get many supplies at Decathlon or online from sites like REI, Bass Pro Shops, etc. You can also check with the Outdoor Recreation office on base to rent tents and outdoor supplies. We bought some things and borrowed others.
Here's what we have:
-Tent, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, pillows, blankets.
- Camp stove, cooking kit with pans and utensils, cutting board, small canisters for salt and pepper.
- Paper products, plastic ware, paper towels, plastic tablecloth with fasteners, trash bags, and aluminum foil. If you want to use real dishes, make sure to have enough for everyone.
- Firestarter and Lighter (can be wrapped with small amount of tape and used as a dispenser ). Some campsites don't let you bring in your own firewood. Others won't let you gather wood on site.
- Lighting should include small flashlight or headlamps for each person, plus a large lantern for the site. Be sure to bring enough batteries.
- Cleaning supplies like dish soap, small sponge or scour pad, dish towels, paper towels, and baby wipes!
- Ax, large knife, and pocketknife. You will use these for more things than you expect.
- Cooler and ice, ideally enough to last a few days. Otherwise, know where to restock ice.
- Bucket to hold water for cleaning dishes.
- Tongs for roasting marshmallows or hot dogs. :-)
- If you want to stay up late and watch the stars, consider downloading an app like Sky View, so the kids can see the constellations drawn on your phone when pointed at the sky.
- Warm weather clothes, especially for cold mornings.
- Folding chairs for everyone.
- First aid kit with bug spray, band aids,  itch reducing cream, Tylenol, sunscreen, and some basic cold medicine.

Highlights :
We have done 4 nights of camping recently, and most went really well! The kids all say that they like camping, and we are looking forward to our next trip! Here are some of our favorite memories :
- watching the sunrise, sunset, and moon rise (especially over the mountains )
- campfire and smores!
- family dinner and breakfast
- kids playing battle and robot games at the camp site.
- going hiking in Zion National Park
- exploring Gettysburg battlefield
- doing ranger activities and becoming Junior Rangers

Challenges:
Not every moment is fun. Some things about camping will try your patience. Here were our hardest:
- Getting cold. In Colorado, the temperature dropped 30 degrees overnight. Even though we knew the numbers ahead of time, we all still woke up shivering.
- Not getting enough sleep. Anything from non-level ground, a lump, or the stirrings of other family members can interrupt your sleep. Go to bed early, and expect to get up with the sun.
- Walking to the bathroom. This is especially challenging if a kid is potty training, and I know some families use a portable potty at their campsite in that case.
- Staying clean. I am not a germaphobe, but I was constantly asking my kids to wash their grubby hands, and 2 days of grime in a row was our max before we went to a hotel and got hot showers.
- Getting sick. We are very lucky that we just completed a week of driving and camping,  and no one got very sick! We tried to keep them hydrated and rested, but it was an exhausting trip. We do all seem to have sniffles and stuffy noses from the changes in weather, humidity, and elevation. So have a plan for anything more serious than that.

So is it worth it? Definitely! Does it require preparation,  patience, and supplies?  Certainly. But now we are all set for our next trip! We had a really great time, and I think we all look forward to doing it again!

Reverse Culture Shock

Ways Spain and America are very different. ..

Now that we have been back in the States for a few weeks  (for the first time in 3 years!), we have had some time to adjust. Mostly it is going well and we are happy to be back. But there have been some moments of culture shock too. Here are some things we had to get used to, that I'm sure affect most Americans returning from overseas :

- I'm a tourist in my home town. We haven't been here for 3 years, and may not be back for another 3. So it is a busy trip cramming in family time, local excursions, and lots of crabs (the Maryland food specialty ).

- Toilet handles aren't on the top! And many public restrooms are automated! This is mind boggling to my kids.

- America is so much greener than Southern Spain.  As an East Coast girl, I didn't realize how much I missed deciduous trees. We keep feeling like we are in Ireland.

- Technology has changed a lot in 3 years! We used basic cell phones in Spain,  but here we were told that a 'basic phone ' means no data abilities. So even a normal model costs  $500, or $20 per month. Phone bill just went way up. We also purchased a new minivan. Since our previous van was 10 years old, we are amazed by all the technology and features available. Our car reads me my text messages while I drive!

- Text messages are free in the States, and almost everyone has a smart phone, so it is a much more effective way to communicate than it was in Spain. No more WhatsApp messages.

- Sunset is so much earlier!  We were hardly ever outside after dark in Spain,  but here we have been catching fireflies, making smores over fires, and getting mosquito bites. Remember all those things?

- The weather here includes clouds and rain during the summer,  which makes the sun generally less intense. I had forgotten about summer thunderstorms. In Spain I had to wear sunglasses every day!

- We have to drive everywhere. The East Coast is full of suburban sprawl, but there are no city centers with pedestrian areas, produce markets, and ice cream shops. We will miss walking around and exploring.

- Drive thrus: America loves them. Of course Spain had fast food drive thrus, but I literally went through 1 in the 3 years we lived there. It wasn't part of our lifestyle, and I had trouble being understood. Here there is drive through banking, dry cleaners, car washes, etc. It certainly makes errands easier with children.

- So many American flags everywhere! We weren't allowed to fly them on base in Spain. I wonder if my heart will always race a little each time I see the Stars and Stripes?

- A lot of things are more expensive. Eating out, groceries, and appliances seem more expensive. But clothes and shoes seem to be generally cheaper. Maybe I just know where to shop.

- Speaking of shopping : big stores,  big parking lots, so much selection! I didn't do much shopping in Spain because parking and entering stores with 4 kids was challenging. Here it is much easier to find things.

- Grocery stores are overwhelming in America too, but for different reasons. So many choices!  A whole aisle for ice cream!  So many flavors of Oreos! Such enormous sizes of snack food packages! Also, the cuts of chicken and pork here are huge! 

- Restaurants in America have delicious food,  enormous portions,  free refills, and attentive service. And they are open at all the right times! But I will miss eating outside so often. And I am now a terrible tipper. I have to remember to add more! Also, I quickly gained 5 pounds while on vacation.  :-(

- It's exciting to understand small talk all around you. For 3 years, I constantly felt like people were talking about me . (They weren't, I just couldn't understand them. ) I feel so happy to exchange pleasantries with cashiers without stumbling over words or repeating myself.

- Americans form lines and wait for turns. It's crazy. I elbowed my way past some people Spanish style and got some surprised looks. Oops! But on a positive note, my kids got to ride on the rides at a fair without being pushed over.

- Houses and construction are so different!  So much wooden porches and wooden decks! I live in an area with lots of cute 'historic' Victorian and Colonial  style homes. Everything in Spain is much older, and with such a difference in style, yet still beautiful. Carpets and wood floors are pretty neat, though! I will not miss tile.

- It's nice that everything is open in the afternoon and on Sundays. It certainly makes it easier to get things done. But I like Sunday as family day anyway.

- Driving is easier,  obviously. It is also convenient how rest stops, restaurants, and gas are all clearly marked on the highway exits. Makes road trips much easier. You know what I miss, though--roundabouts!  So many places where they would be useful!

- Actually, everything is easier. Americans are all about convenience, and knowing the language means much less intimidation and headaches at the end of the day.

So there you have it. So many things are different. Not better or worse, just different. There is a lot we will miss, but a lot we are enjoying, too. Living overseas makes you more well-rounded and able to handle new situations. The price is that we may always be outsiders looking in at our own culture. I think that's a price we are willing to pay for the adventure of a lifetime in Southern Spain!