Adventuring

photo credit: Getty

I don’t craft. I detest Pinterest. I hate baking with my kids. I don’t like playing dress up. I feed my children generic boxed mac & cheese at least once a week. They don’t eat enough vegetables, they watch a lot of movies, and you can often hear me say, “I’ll give you a doughnut if you leave me alone” every time one of them comes to me whining. I’m nowhere near a supermom. In fact, I pretty much fit the supermom fail mold but I tell ya what…I live for an adventure with my little people.

I have 3 kids under 6 and yes, that’s a little insane but it’s nowhere near as insane as most of my friends who have like 45 kids under 10. I am often solo parenting so in order to not lose my ever-loving mind, I find ways to keep us all busy that don’t involve glue, pipe cleaners, or a massive mess. Pro-tip: You don’t need a significant other to have a fun adventure. You can do it alone so don’t be afraid. But if you can get friends or your hubby/wife to tag along, it’s even more fun.

People often make comments about the fun stuff I do with my kids and I have to laugh because I honestly don’t do it for them. I do it for me. I’d go nuts if I had to entertain them at home all day so for my own sanity we are always up for doing something a little crazy. I’ve learned a few things when tackling a big adventure with kids so here are some tips…because you know, I really like telling all of you how to parent {wink}.

1. Keep your expectations low – I am a professional underachiever and that A+ trait is never more obvious than when planning an outing with my kids. Nothing ruins an adventure like failure so, in order to make the outcome great, make sure you keep your expectations low. If you set a goal to make it to your destination, do a few things with as few meltdowns as possible, and then come home, you’ll be set. Anything else is just a bonus!
2. Pack bribes uh…I mean snacks – The worst thing in the world is to be stuck in a car, on a walk, in the hot sun of NYC without food so fill your diaper bag with whatever good bribery snacks you can find. My kids love fruit snacks and Gatorade so they can basically have as much of those two things as they want when we’re out on an adventure. The point is to keep them engaged and as long as their needs are met, they’ll be happy. The sugar crash hits just about the time we are packing up to head home so it’s a win/win situation. Bribes are awesome and we swear by them for a successful adventure.
3. Bring proper transportation – we have one of those massive sit/stand stroller things and when worse comes to worse, I can fit all three kids in it. It’s a beast and I HATE pushing it along city streets but it keeps little legs from getting too tired so it helps me out in the long run. If you have big kids, bring a scooter or something they can follow along with and if you have babies, wear them! We also have rad little handles to attach to our single stroller for shorter outings. Making sure you can keep whining and fatigue to a minimum will always result in a successful adventure.
4. Let them help choose – When planning an adventure, I give my kids a list of options. I explain to them what fun stuff awaits at each destination and then let them choose their own fun. I may not Pinterest but I can plan the hell out of a good outing. With each option, I put together a treasure hunt list with a reward at the end (hehe more bribery). The kids usually go for the one with the best prize but those are cleverly planned to be the one adventure I want to take so everyone is happy.
5. Set the rules – before we get to our destination I lay down the ground rules. Rule #1: everyone has to have fun. If we’re not having fun, then we bail. Rule #2: No meltdowns. Any hint of a meltdown and we all take a time out and regroup. Rule #3: Safety third! Everyone stays together. Everyone looks out for the other people. Rule #4: Manners! We often find ourselves in restaurants, stores, museums, or any other situation where good manners are important. Pleases and Thank Yous are mandatory and if I don’t hear them then I’m not a happy camper. Rule #5: This is for the moms – Get. Over. It. People will gawk. People will tell you you’re brave or you “have your hands full” (I swear, I want to punch people that say that to me constantly). People will roll their eyes when you show up at the MoMA in NY with 3 kids under 6 but you need to ignore them and get over it. Focus on the kids, fake patience, and have fun!
6. Journal it – one of the fun things we’ve started since my kids have gotten a tiny bit older is an “Adventure Journal”. When we get home or when we have some down time or they’re bored, we draw pictures or write about our most recent adventure. It’s a fun thing to look back on when we decide to repeat one and the kids dig it. Another fun thing is to create a hashtag together so you can make Chatbooks of your adventures. They are super fun to look back on.

By the end of the day I am exhausted and the kids are beat. So, it may have taken patience and planning but the best part about it all is that they’ll be fast asleep soon after you get home and you won’t have one dang toy to pick up or a single dish to wash. See? It’s all done in the name of parental sanity so get out there and explore!

Xx, Rach