family road trip

Mar

2018

A Comprehensive List of the 40 + Job Titles of Being a Parent

It’s no surprise that being a parent is a lot of work. Day in and day out you wear a ton of different hats. My job title is official “Mom”, but unofficially, it carries many more job titles than that.

President: My husband might argue this point a little, but even he phones and clears things with me before planning things. I run the household.
Secretary: Yes, I carry both titles. If I don’t make the schedule things just won’t happen.
Chef: Maybe not gourmet, but any day that I don’t cook boxed macaroni and cheese or serve cereal for dinner I am probably winning. 3 kids; 1 who is going through a stage where everything has to be plain, and an adult male under my roof mean it’s ~~hard~~ impossible to please everyone most nights.
Cheerleader: Kids in sports (or any activity) means that I am at EVERY game, and EVERY practice cheering them on and cheering them on loud enough to make sure they hear me. Especially those where my husband isn’t able to because of work. I never want them looking into the stand and wondering who is there for them. I will always be there.
Housekeeper: Cleaning the entire house every day. Sweeping, mopping, dishes, laundry it literally never ends.
Laundromat attendant: All the laundry, all the time. With only one washing machine. At least I get all the pocket change out of the dryer.
Maid: Different than a housekeeper, I am expected, it would seem anyway, to wait on my children hand and foot.
Janitor: Also different from the housekeeper, I also get to clean up all the spills and messes.
Taxi Driver: I have to drive everyone everywhere, usually with no time to spare.
Judge: When all the little arguments happen, guess who decides who is right.
Referee: Scraps happen, I’m the one who has to climb in the middle, or hopefully diffuse them before they start.
Secret Keeper: While we don’t keep secrets in this house, they have found a loophole when it comes to “surprises”
Personal Assistant: Forgot something? Need something done? Don’t worry mom will get it done.
Teacher: Colours, ABCs, spelling words, all of the above.
Coach: In all things sports. Even if you know next to nothing about them.
Art Critic: Of course that looks like a dinosaur!
Potty Trainer: Two kids down one to go.
Bum Checker: Even though they are potty trained, wiping is still something that needs working on.
Diaper Changer: And counting down!
Search and Rescue: A toy or a blanket always seems to be missing.
Tickler: My boys loved to be tickled
Tickle me Elmo: Who needs the toy when I can tickle mom?
Day Care Provider: Someone has to take care of them.
Government: Someone needs to make the rules.
Police Woman: And then they need to be enforced.
Stylist: No you can’t wear shorts when it’s -30 degrees
Personal Shopper: Groceries, clothes you name it, I buy it
Dentist: Gotta make sure all the teeth are clean.
Breath Smeller: How else am I going to know if they actually brushed their teeth?
Volunteer: Field trips, councils, hot lunches, as often as possible.
Play Date Organizers: Back to that scheduling we talked about.
Event Planner: Birthdays, and holidays.
A Conductor of Sleep Studies: Overnight, in a bed that is far too small
Monster Patrol: Under beds, behinds doors, the works.
Librarian: Complete with storytelling.
Singer: Specialising in nursery rhymes and theme songs.
Doctor: Kisses and cuddles are my specialities.
Paramedic: Breaking out the big guns with fun band-aids when needed.
Nurse: I administer the medicine when they’re sick.
Cuddle Expert: Because sometimes all you need is a good cuddle session.
Speech Therapist: There are a lot of words to learn how to say properly.
Councillor: For the days when being young is just too much to handle.
Barber: I can’t be the only one who has had to cut their kids’ hair.

There is no sugar coating it, being a parent is hard work. My job as a mom is ever changing and ever evolving. Would I give up any one of them? Not a chance, they bring be closer to my kids and that makes me a better parent. It is rewarding in a way that you will never be able to explain.

Are there any job titles you feel you carry as a parent?

Dec

2017

Surviving a winter family road trip.

Christmas is in just 12 short days, and for many people that will involve loading up the car with people, gifts, and luggage to head on a long winter family road trip. Family road trips at any time of year can be overwhelming and stress full, but during the winter where everything is in another level.

Much of my husband’s family is about an 8-hour drive away from where we live, and while we have never made the trip at Christmas we have made it in the winter more than not. This, of course, involves packing up three kids and make the journey.

These are the tricks that I have accumulated over the years to make travelling with our boys a tad easier and in some cases, safer.

Let them pack their own bag

Kids, or mine at least, get excited when they have some independence. Letting them pick and pack their own clothes really helps them be excited about what is happening and going somewhere. I send mine with a number of shirts, pants, socks etc so I still know everything they need is taken.

Leave early

On the way out of the city, we started our journey at 4 am. Cruel I know, worse for me than the kids. Our hope was that they would sleep for the first part of the trip. Little H is usually asleep the moment he was buckled into his car seat and Big H doesn’t make it out of the city. L can usually power through nearly the whole drive but he is a unique boy. The later we leave the more they seem to fight.

Books

Neither of my kids can read yet but that doesn’t stop them from flipping through books and making their own stories. I bring a handful and this keeps them busy for a few hours.

Games

I am not an iPad mom. But, I believe there is a time and a place and so we have a couple of personal games systems that we let them play with when they really got stir crazy and that kept them busy for a bit.

Have something for them to look forward to at the end of the drive

This can be as simple as ice cream or a toy or anything that they are going to want to get.

If possible have a pool at the hotel

This is probably our best move. L has never been a strong sleeper so when staying in a hotel we prepare for the worst. Making them super tired always seems to do the trick. Swimming, even for a half hour is always sure to exhaust my kids so before bed each night we went for a swim by the time they hit the pillow they were already asleep.

Bring their bedding

Our kids each have a special pillow and blanket they can’t sleep without. By bringing them with us it is close enough to their actual bed that it wasn’t a big deal.

Bring an extra full outfit

My boys, always seem to need an extra change of clothes no matter where we go. L somehow manages to get syrup all over his shirt he is supposed to wear to dinner. Big H loses a pair of pants. Little H explodes out of his diaper. Seriously just bring extra clothes.

ALL your winter gear

Be prepared for the worst. In the event that your vehicle breaks down or you get lost, or any other of the million things that could happen you want to be prepared. No heat in the winter means you’re going to be cold. Have everything you need to be as warm as possible.

Understanding

Remember these are little people who normally move 100 miles/minute. Being strapped into a vehicle for hours means that energy isn’t being expelled. They are going to misbehave.

Travelling isn’t easy for anyone, let alone with kids. We usually make it through unscathed and are able to enjoy our time at wherever we were headed.

What are your best road trip tips?