First of all, I’d like to say THANKS to Daddy A, who so kindly filled in for me for February with his illuminating posts of life from the other side (aka Daddy’s). My deepest gratitude and thanks. I wouldnt be able to pull off the busiest month of the year without his time and effort for this blog.

February is a crazy month in my household. Its the month where most people buckle down to the routines of the New Year, but in our family, its the month of birthdays, followed by the yearly growups-only trip my husband and I take, away from the kids.

So after the meyhem of a seemingly endless stream of birthday celebrations culminating in the Pirate Party I obsessively blogged about, hubby and I took off to Hong Kong for a fabulous, ultra-luxe holiday. Its become a sort of tradition, these child-free trips right after the birthdays. I’m not sure how it started, but I suppose it arose from the need for some quality grown-up time after a month (or two - Christmas too, remember) where our lives just seem to be consumed by our children.

Wonderful as it was to have long conversations with my husband without whiny interruptions, shopping trips at leisure where I could actually browse as long as I pleased and try on as many things as I liked without rushing, and late breakfasts where I could read an entire newspaper, going home to our five-year-old and two-year-old was the biggest thrill of all.

And lastly, something very “pre-school” that my best friend sent me: (I promise this is the past pirate thing!)

Alexander Ratcliff from Spokane, Washington is the grand prize winner for the Riddles contest. His winning riddle is:

Q: Why wasn’t the child let in to the pirate movie?
A: It was rated arrrrrrrrr (delivered with an appropriate pirate squint)

After breakfast the kids would fill their napkins with bread from the breakfast buffet and feed the many carp ponds around the resort with Lola. O knew exactly whom he liked to feed best and after giving a few crumbs to the what we called the “teens” (read: smaller), he’d toddle away shouting “big ones!! big ones!!” to the pond with the biggest carp, who reminded us very much of pirhanas, being able to polish of an entire loaf in seconds.

Just so you dont think we wiled away our holiday without letting the children experience the Thai culture, let me assure you that we also visited the mummified monk and the Wats around it, where N lit incense and shook the fortune sticks. We also stopped off at the Big Buddha, where large mermaid statues jutted from the sea, and both kids were fascinated at the top of the shrine where we had to walk around the area, ring the large bells in line with the Buddhist tradition.

We also made it to Samui’s national park, where the daring N went on elephant safari with her daddy, riding on its head, and later riding a baby one bareback at the elephant show. O was a little less daring, saing “no, no no” matter-of-factly when I asked him if he wanted to ride the elephant as well.

N made great friends with some expat kids who came to the hotel one afternoon, spent hours on the beach, got 2 tattoos (temporary of course!) and was saying “Kap Kun Ka” like a native! O had his first experience using water wings and was in total ecstasy feeling independent in the water for the first time ever. It was wonderful for both the Grandparents and the kids to spend quality time together, and my husband and I got to sneak off on several occassions to sample some of the great restaurants on the island.

Tanned and happy, it was a wonderful holiday, not without its hitches, but with kids, it was a good as it gets!

[tags]Thailand, Koh Samui, Travel with Kids[/tags]

We arrived Koh Samui and were happily greeted by Lola and Poppa Joe (my Mother and step-dad who had moved to the island last April). My four-year old N was thrilled (as she adores her Grandma) as was the little O, who unfortunately by now had a fever which spiked to a ghastly 39 degrees.

We checked into the Banana Fan Sea Resort in Chaweng beach, which was the main beach and tourist area of the island, which suited us well, as it was also the most child-friendly. Our “hut” for the next two weeks was wonderful, right on the beach with our own little terrace, and a tiny garden enclosed by a wooden gate - perfect for deterring my darlings from running straight to the beach. Aside from a pool area which stocked a good supply of water games equipment, and a little tykes playground on the beach, the hotel had a kids menu, crayons, and fantastic themed buffets nightly where the kids ate free. Add a very reasonable and friendly baby-sitting service and we were set up. It was perfect!!

As luck would have it, we had also arrived right on time for Loy Krathong, one of the biggest and most beautiful festivals in Thailand. On this night of the full moon, pretty little rafts made from banana tree trunks are filled with flowers, candles, incense and banana leaves are set afloat in rivers all over the country. There are contests and fireworks and
in our case, after a traditional show , we all set the rafts afloat in the hotel pool, which you can imagine, thrilled the children to no end. My girl N was actually the last person on the poolside, arranging the floats that had drifted to the edge of the pool and pushing them away again.

The days that preceeded were lazy and in true holiday-mode, except for my little boy’s awful cold, that is. After a few days of a seemingly relentless fever, Lola and I took him to the impressive Bangkok Hospital, where a very good doctor said that his cold had progressed to an ear infection and ordered him to take some antibiotics. Barely two days later O was back to his normal self, and our remaining days at the Banana Hotel (as N called it) were filled with swimming, eating roasted corn and mangoes from the vendor on the beach and when it rained, shopping at Tescos for toys and art supplies, and eating at Svensens ice cream.

[tags]Thailand, holiday, Loy Krathong, Travel with Kids[/tags]

Upon arrival in Bangkok, my husband whisked us all away to a night of luxury at the Oriental hotel, which really is Asia’s best and most historic hotel. Having stayed there earlier this year for our anniversary, you can imagine how different things were this time around with our offspring.

Within half an hour, the beautiful room overlooking the swimming pool and river beyond was quickly becoming a disaster zone. The lovely fruit basket which lay on the table was now in disarray, banana bits dotting the carpet, a half eaten rambutan under the desk, the fresh orange juice on the silk sofa and so on. The toys they had brought (and Dad had brought from his trip to Singapore) were all over the place, and at bathtime, my son promptly smashed the celadon container with bath salts into a million pieces.

Our poor butler (every room has one at the Oriental, and you can reach him through a buttton by the bed), who probably wished he were assigned to a different room,had to come in several times to help limit the damages. Luckily, he came with a basket full of DVDs after a few visits, which got the rug rats calm for a bit. We then took them for a quick ride on one of the hotel’s charming boats on the river, which my daughter loved, but keenly observed ” Mom, why is the river so brown? I dont think I should swim in it“.

Expecting the chaos and overwhelming sense of oh-my-god-why-did-we-take-them-on-holiday? , my fabulous husband had already slyly planned something for us that evening, a plan which involved a babysitter and the most amazing restaurant in the city.

So that evening, we left the kids with a very sweet hotel babysitter (whose name was “UH”), room service and dvd, and had the most wonderful evening at Cirocco’s, which I have to say is the MOST incredible restaurant I have been to in my life. On the 63rd floor of the State Tower (Bangkok’s second tallest building), the restaurant has some FANtastic views of the city, not to mention delicious food AND a jazz band entertaining you as you literally feast in the stars.

With some time left before the babysitter’s departure, we quickly sneaked a nightcap at the hotel’s Bamboo Bar, another favourite haunt of ours. We got back to the room just in time, the kids in bed but awake, all kisses and smiles (apparently the babysitter was a good one, thank goodness!) Such a wonderful evening, and a wonderful way to start a holiday, dont you think?

[tags]Bangkok travel with kids,Oriental hotel with kids,Cirocco[/tags]

The daring parents we are, we’ve now taken our two kids to Thailand for a family holiday. As my husband had some work to attend to in the region, we decided to meet up in Bangkok and fly down to Koh Samui for a two week holiday.

And even more daring, I think, is that I flew solo with a 21-month-old and 4 year-old to Bangkok. To make things worse, my 21-month-old came down with a raging fever that very morning we were leaving, promptly vomiting on me (twice) in the car on the way to the airport. A very important lesson in travel with kids (and perhaps the single most important thing to do) - bring more than 2 sets of extra clothes (this means for Mom as well)!! The longer the journey and the younger the child, add an extra shirt or two, or be doomed to buying something hideously ill-fitting or overpriced at the duty free when you touch down.

After a frenzied call to Dr.J, who assured me that the show must go on and that a cold with fever is no big deal, we arrived at the airport, got through airport security, made it through to the plane, and finally arrived in Bangkok. The plane journey turned out to be pretty painless actually, my little girl was thrilled with her window seat, headset and kid’s meal saying “Mom, this is the best ever!, can I always have food like this?”, and amazingly, my little boy slept most of the way through.

Upon arrival, the flight attendant informed me that our stroller would NOT be available until the baggage carousel (grrrr), which was a real nightmare if you have ever been to the new airport in Bangkok and know how many miles you have to walk until you reach the baggage claim.

After a seemingly endless number of those flat escalator thingies (sorry I just cant remember what they’re called), going through immigration (I think the Thai police pitied us with my son screaming in line and opened a desk just for us to stop upsetting the other travellers) and getting our bags (which came out last, of course), it was the most wonderful feeling of all seeing my husband at the greeting area while my kids screamed Dada! and with a sigh of relief, I handed the stroller over to him.

[tags]Travel with children,Kids travel,Asia,Thailand,Koh Samui,Air travel with kids[/tags]

If you think that shopping with a toddler is bad enough, imagine what it would be like if he discovers how much fun it is to run away from you at a crowded store. Or worse, a crowded airport.

You can’t keep him chained to his stroller all the time, but the possible alternative of losing him would be the worst nightmare ever.

Experts say that for children under 3, it is virtually impossible to teach them the dangers when in public places or when travelling, so the bottom line is it is up to the parents.

Rule number one is to keep him safely strapped into his stroller, until you find a child-friendly area he can explore – like a playground for instance. And always keep him close to you. There have been too many terrible news reports about a parent entering a store to buy something quickly, leaving the child outside in the stroller for conveniences sake, only to find the stroller (and their child), gone when they return. That obviously is the worst case scenario, but when it comes to your child it always makes sense to be extra cautious.

Other alternatives are backpacks or a toddler harness. Stay away from wrist straps as this could pose as a danger if someone (or something) comes in-between suddenly. These devices can extend up to three feet, so imaging walking in a busy street (or park even), and a big dog bounds through unexpectedly. Your toddler could fly off with him!

By the time your child nears 18 months, he should be ready to to enjoy traveling, seeing new places and new things. However, even the most confident baby can feel anxious in a new environment so it is vital that you prepare well for the journey- and above all, try and relax!

Health
If you are going abroad to the East or to Africa, it is a good idea to visit their pediatrician at least a month before travel to ensure that their child is up to date on all required vaccinations and in case additional immunizations are required. Also load up on all the usual OTT medicines and vitamins your child uses.

Air Travel
Consider traveling at off-peak times and minimize the hassles that often come about with connecting flights. Bulkhead seating and bassinets should also be requested ahead of time, as well as special meals for babies. Alternatively, you can pack some baby jars and have the flight attendant warm it for you.

Stroller
An umbrella stroller is a must for those long treks through the airport and endless waiting periods before boarding, passport control and customs.

Necessities
Do pack only necessary items. This should include essentials like diapers, wipes, changing pad, plastic bags, medicine and extra clothing for your toddler and you. Make sure to bring more than enough supply of many of these items, or keep a back up in your carry on.

Entertainment & Snacks
Bring a goodie bag containing a few of your little one’s favorite toys, plus a couple of new objects. Possibilities include sing-along tapes, hand puppets, story books, stuffed animals, musical toys, or anything else that captivates her. Wrap a few toys or books as surprises to be dispensed along the way to ease the tedium of travel. Make plenty of rest stops along the way to let your toddler run off some steam.

Toddler snacks like raisins, snack bags of Cheerios cereal, crackers, cookies and juice boxes are a Godsend during a long trip. Bringing along something for toddlers to suck on such as a lollipop or juice box, or pacifier/bottle can help reduce ear pressure during take off and landing.

When the geographical move happens, it is inevitable that the children would be affected and as such, parents have to take care of making sure that their children are more open to the cultural differences. Aside from that, parents also have to be aware of some things like:

Parental roles and expectations in the community they are going in to
This probably one of the difficult things for parents to do. Take for example the expectations from fathers and mothers in different communities. Do they have something like mothers meeting up weekly to talk about motherhood? What are the things that fathers are supposed to teach their children? One of the difficulties about moving in another community is sticking out too much. At least as parents, you would know what to expect and what they expect from you. You may not agree with those things, and you may choose to not practice those things, depending also on your beliefs and circumstances. But it is important to have that understanding.

Activities of the children

Each place has different activities. Find out what they are. Children would need to socialize with fellow children. They could only stay in the house with you too often. It is part of their growth and development. Find out if girls and boys are separate from each other all the time. In case you have children who like sports such as soccer and basketball, are there places they could do that or not? What are the games they play?
Sometimes there would be activities you would not be comfortable having your children attend. Even before stopping them from participating, find out more about them. It is important that they also learn what the community is like there where you are moving in to.

Hold A Training Camp At Home

For some children, the biggest challenge of camp is not so much being far from home as it is sleeping so close to nature. Night falls and suddenly ponderosa pines take on bearlike shapes, and then Camp Sunshine doesn’t seem quite so sunny. One thing you can do to help your child become more comfortable sleeping outside is to set up a tent in the backyard for her and a friend. Make s’mores in the microwave and sing campfire songs (an empty orange powdered-Gatorade canister overturned on a headlamp makes a good faux fire in a pinch). In this familiar environment your child can become acquainted with the sounds of the outdoors while you are still relatively close at hand.

Practice Homesick Prevention

Most camp counselors agree that calling home is not the best cure for homesickness. So what can you do? Acknowledge to yourself and your child that some pangs for home are a normal part of the camp experience and be positive about your child’s ability to overcome them. During the day, most kids are too busy to pine for Mom and Dad. Rest time and bedtime can be more difficult, however. Before your child leaves for camp, encourage her to talk with camp counselors about any concerns, including homesickness. Camp instructors have seen many cases before and will be able to assess the seriousness and offer support. If your child does call, encourage her to stay the course. Also, if it’s your own feelings that are at issue, remember that you can call the camp to ask how your child is doing without letting her know about the call.

Send Your Love

Whether your child is missing home or has completely adapted to camp life, a letter from home will brighten her day. Make sure to send mail early, since postal service tends to move more slowly in rural areas. Think in terms of sending something that will be special to your child — a photo of the dog or a book of jokes she can share with new friends — rather than extravagant caches. In fact, sending large quantities of food can be a problem, because often counselors have to store it away from your child’s cabin to avoid animal visits to the sleeping areas.

Looking to make your child’s summer camp experience a success? While much of that fate lies in the hands of the camp staff, there are things parents can do to help their kids transition smoothly.

Do Your Homework

Nothing will influence the success of your child’s camp experience as much as the camp you choose, so it pays to go beyond the brochures and talk to real people. Past campers and their parents can lend valuable insight into the day-to-day camp experience. Attending camp fairs can also give you an opportunity to meet camp reps all in one place and compare routines and amenities. Some camps, particularly wilderness experience programs, hold parent information meetings where you’ll get a better sense of the staff and the program than you will by clicking on Websites. Even if you can’t meet instructors in person, call and ask questions and double-check staff credentials.

Tip!

Let your child help choose the type of camp. Nowadays camps cater to every interest group — from golfers to rock hounds, engineers to horse lovers. Passion for an activity can help fuel passion for camp.

Bring A Buddy

Nothing makes the transition to a new environment easier than arriving with a pal in tow, and shared camp memories can definitely deepen a friendship. However, even if your child is interested in attending a different camp than her pals, you can help jump-start a camp friendship. Call the camp registration office and ask to be connected with other kids who live in your area and are registered for the same session. Then, set up a pre-camp lunch date with a parent and child. Even one meeting with another child will help break the ice and make stepping into the new social environment easier.