Tips for Trips!

How many of you wake up in the morning in a hurry to get dressed for work while rushing your kids off to school and quickly saying goodbye to your husband who is also in a jam to head to work? Or maybe you’re a stay-at-home mom who does the same thing, only to be left with more to do with your new baby while struggling to get the house in order. In the fast pace of the life we live we all have a million things to take care of, only to be left with little time to actually enjoy what matters most – family. But that’s how things are all over the world; it’s the cycle of life. We are all caught up in it and it doesn’t stop. It pulls us apart, at least physically, making it difficult to even share a meal at the same table.
The regular bedtime stories, everyday hugs and kisses and weekend trips to the club are nice, but not enough. Spending at least one whole day (meaning a shared breakfast, lunch and dinner and all else in between) doing interactive things with your husband and kids that creates a sense of bonding that both parents and children alike need. With school almost over and summer time around the corner, here’s your chance to put aside the strict routine of your daily life, gather your family and enjoy a much awaited time together. Regardless of where you plan on spending your holiday or how long your vacation is, be it one day or one week, the way you make it turn out is what counts.
Make 'bonding' your vacation theme. Concentrate on this and you’ll be making what could be a mere holiday turn into a journey of interactive fun for you and your family even before it begins. Deena and Amr, the parents of two daughters, make it a point to involve their kids in every single detail of their summer holiday. Deena says, 'We show them different choices of hotels available at our destination on the net and let them choose the one they prefer. They love the feeling of making such an important decision and it makes them involved from the start. This way they anticipate being there well in advance.' Hoda, also the mother of two children, tries to make a long road drive pleasant. 'I like to take a small backpack full of things that we can do together in the car. Last holiday I included a notebook and pencil and we played hangman in the car. I also cut up twenty small pieces of paper and gave five of them to each one two days before the trip. We all had to write the name of five of our favorite songs. I collected them and put them in a jar to pack in the bag. During the car ride, each one of us would randomly pick a paper from the jar and sing the song written on it. Refusing was not an option.' She adds, 'There is a lot you can do to interact, have fun and kill time together. You just have to be creative.'
While taking a long trip with your family is a good opportunity to develop strong family ties, also keep in mind that spending quality time together doesn’t have to be put off until you have a long vacation to spare. We live in a country that has endless things to enjoy for a day with your family. Museums, parks, felucca rides and the pyramids are all options of one day interactive outings. So don’t just sit there and let the fast pace of life take control of you. Put a halt to it every once in a while and enjoy time off with the people who mean the most to you!
Tips for Trips!
• One of the most important points to consider is that 'the much awaited family trip' must be enjoyable for the whole family. Sit together with your children and decide which destination will cater to everyone’s needs and expectations.
• Make a list of everything you will possibly need enough time in advance, keeping in mind not to pack unnecessary things. Make sure that each family member is responsible for revising his own list so that you are not held responsible for any disappointments that may arise due to forgotten items.
• If you have friends or family with children that your kids enjoy being with, try to include them in your plans. This will make the trip even more fun and memorable. But remember that 'bonding' with your family is the aim behind vacation time, so make sure you and your family get all the time you need on your own as well.
• Take interactive board games or card games that you and your children can play together on the beach or while resting in the hotel room. 'On our trip to the Red Sea last year, we took Pictionary with us,' says Shereen, a mother of three children. 'My husband and our kids had a great time every night before going to bed. Even the time we spent in the hotel room wasn’t wasted.'
• Make sure that each family member gets an adequate amount of rest every day. Overstimulation leads to exhaustion, which can make anyone feel uptight.
• Avoid raising subjects that may lead to tension. Shereen says, 'I made the mistake once of bringing up our house bills to my husband on our holiday and we got into a little argument. This ruined our mood the whole day, and naturally affected the children as well.'
• Make it a point to share all three meals as a family around the same table. You probably won’t get the same opportunity once the holiday is over.
• On your holiday, make sure that you do something new with your kids that they’ve never done before! It will stay carved in their memories forever. Hala, a mother of twin boys, says 'On our trip to Upper Egypt my husband rented a hantour (carriage) and the kids got to sit on the high seat beside the driver and they each got turns at steering the horses. It was their first time on a hantour and their first time steering horses. Now every time they see a hantour they remember our trip and I can see the joy on their faces.'
• If you are going to spend the holiday at the beach, help your kids build an amazing sand castle which they couldn’t have done alone. Take pictures of it and hang them on the wall in their room.
• If you are going to Upper Egypt you could explain to your children a thing or two about the Pharaohs. Read a bit about the temples and other ruins so you cand make what might be 'boring' for little kids exciting and informative.
• Make long drives enjoyable (if you’re going by car). Involve your kids in making delicious snacks and drinks to keep you satisfied during the drive. Be imaginative and think of simple games you can play together. Singing, coloring and reading (for those who don't get car sick) are also alternatives.