Can they co-exist? Currently, as I'm rushing around like a chicken with my head cut off, I'm thinking NO!!!!!! It isn't possible.

You probably can't help me at this point but if anyone has any ideas please feel free to list them!!

LOL, as i read your headline, i though... "what? simple, okay now this i've gotta read!" LOL , i'll be looking for replies, bec. i can't think of children and travel as simple.
I guess the key would be to start preparing early and with lots of time, make a list of things you'll need to pack, and try making a small suit case for them to carry. (not sure where you are going, how far, and how long... but have fun!!)

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Our family traveled a ton for four years (dh's job required it) and I found that dvd players w/ tons of movies did it for us. Also, keep your meals light and drink water as needed only so you won't have to stop so often.

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You must be the change you want to see in the world ~ Gandhi

I have only done road trips and end up filling the suburban up to the roof with stuff.

I wish I had some advice... good luck

I go to visit my parents up north (5 hour trip) a few times a year and I've figured some things out. If I'm going for, say, 4 days, I bring 2 outfits for him (mix and match), two pair of pjs, a few pair of socks & underwear as I know I can wash stuff while I'm there. I do the same for myself - a pair of jeans, khakis, and a few shirts with a sweater/sweatshirt if needed. We can fit all our clothes into a very small suitcase, especially by rolling them. We have one bag for hygiene (makeup, toothbrushes, brush, medicine, etc). I bring some snacks (crackers, water, granola bars, etc), but leave them in the car while I'm there if weather permits. I bring the portable dvd player and two or three movies (I used to bring a whole bag of them!) for DS to pick from. Last time we went up, he listened to Adventures in Odyssey almost half the trip. I still take too much, but I've found I can do just fine with one bag, as I have done it before when we rushed north after my nephew passed away.

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We live in NC and my parents live in NY. We visit them a few times a year, sometimes by car, others by plane and the last time by train. It will never be easy, but it is managable once you've done it a bunch of times. The car trip is 12 hours, including stops, its the hardest by far, though each way of traveling has its downsides.
We invested in a portable dvd player, I always buy him a new dvd before we go. That kills a few hours at least.
We stop every 3 hours and let him run around at the rest stop to burn some energy.
We feed him lots of healthy snacks.

As flybygrace said, I also pack way to much but, better safe than sorry right?

It's definately harder to travel with younger kids...

My kids are older - 10 and 13 and we've been traveling with them, since they were born. For me, what works, is to be really organized about it.

I tend to underpack in terms of clothing, and always have...I've never regretted it. "less is more" for us in terms of traveling.

Good luck...I know that feeling of running around like a your head is going to pop off well! LOL! I don't know that that ever goes away!

The very first time I went out of town (4 1/2 hour drive normally) with my then infant daughter....it took 7 hours and I had packed every piece of baby gear I owned! Man were those the old days..!!

Now my two kids and I make the same trip atleast 3x a year and we have really streamlined!! I bought a set of rolling suitcases....mine of course is the big one and the two kids each have the next size down....then we have a small one we use for the air mattress and sheets. For each kid I pack one outfit per day and 2 pairs of jammies with a set of undies for each day as well....one pair of gym shoes(they wear these on our trip and the other pair is packed) and one pair of flipflops or crocks...then they each have a little bag with their toiletries in it (old makeup bags for my purse) once those items are packed they may pack anything else they want as long as it fits in the suitcase and I can zip it closed ! Then I pack them each a bag with coloring books , crayons, leapsters and some snacks...those go in the back seat with them...and of course we load the cd player with their favorite cd's....when we arrive they are responsible for rolling their own suitcases to the door...makes unpacking the car a breeze!!

My kids are 7 &5 and we are usually pretty busy sightseeing or doing our planned activities to need toys but over the years we have bought toys and a box and store them at my aunt's house so that when we come they can just pull out the box and there they are....the need to bring so much is a lot less....and I also keep a bottle of laundry soap in her laundry room for doing laundry if I need too...though everyone there smokes so I prefer to do our laundry when we get home so that it doesn't have the smell of smoke on it...

My kiddos are 3 and 5. We tend to take more when we travel by car than by plane.

However, things I have learned .....

- I start packing early (sometimes a week in advance). I have a list that I print of the computer everytime. I put everything out on the guest bed and no one can touch what I put there. This way I can see .... do we really need all this stuff.

- I pack outfit for the kids in plastic 1 gallon bags (their initial on each bag so we know which is which ... when I get home I save the bag to use next time). In the bag is underwear, socks, shorts, shirt .... when they were smaller and I was unsure of the weather I could also put in long pants and long shirt. So the few days before we leave we are all wearing not our favorite clothes. This way the kids can grab and go and get dressed by themselves.

- By car, I have a cooler that I pack lunches for everyone. Paper bags with everyone initials so we know which is which. Extra drinks and fruit/snacks. I also bring a twin size fitted sheet (to use as a tablecloth for a picnic table ... stays on well because of the elastic). A couple of balls to play with.

- The kids have their own pull luggage. In it we have special books, activity books, cards. I have small pencil boxes for colored pencils and crayons. If we travel by plane their snack is in it.

- We do have a DVD player in the car. However, we only use it for long trips. Also we have a portable DVD player for the plane. Get the kids used to headsets. I find my kids do better with multiple short shows than a long movie.

- Waiting for the plane DH or I have the kids walk around alot. Thank goodness for cell phones. I want them to burn as much energy as possible. By car we stop for breaks not only bathroom but also running. We can play with the balls or tag, red light/green light.

- When all else fails and we have to be still there is I spy and find circles/colors/shapes etc.

- I always expect the worse and if it goes well I am happy. On a plane if they act up I always know I will never see these people again.

Sounds too simple, but talk to your kids. Play the 20 questions game and let them ask you questions, see who can ask the silliest question and so on. Talk about where certain animals live, "If you were president of your own company, what kind of company would you have?", ask them about their friends and school and teachers, etc. Play the game where someone asks a question and who ever answers it has to answer in the opposite of the real answer. Help them have fun and maybe you will too.

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"The best things in life are not things." ~Unknown
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