Traveling with Your Children

Summer is quickly passing but you have a few more weeks before school begins to take a quick trip to the cool mountains, or a fun resort. Every family needs to try and travel together. This allows family bonding time away from the day to day stress of life. If is sounds too expensive with the price of gas, make it a short weekend get away at a local hotel that has a pool and spa.

You can eliminate a lot of the travel stress by planning ahead. Pack a cooler with favorite snacks and drinks. This will help with expenses and hunger pains that emerge at inconvenient moments. Also having a travel game tub can be fun for the whole family. Pack inexpensive items like card games, drawing books, binoculars, and stress balls. Anything that won't melt and helps your family interact would be fine. Avoid using the dvd player or individual music devices. These items give your children the opportunity to isolate themselves from the family and not interact.

While in the car, play verbal games like "I Spy" and have them guess what you saw by giving them clues. Look at the clouds and imagine what animals they could be. See how many green Volkswagens or "Bugs" you can find. Sing silly songs together that your parents taught you. These games keep your children looking at the scenery and conversing with each other.

When you reach your destination praise your children for the positive choices they have made, which makes the trip enjoyable for everyone. Teaching your children how to travel is just another one of the many joys a parent has.

Safe traveling,

Gina

Summer Can Be a Time For Creative Learning

Summer is a wonderful time to recall family vacation memories and create new ones. I hope you and your family are making time to play together even though you may not have the finances available to travel. Your backyard and neighborhood park can become a haven for learning and sharing new experiences together. Learn a new hobby, ride your bike or go swimming. Your children love to play with you. It is fun for them to see their parents having fun and not consumed with work, bills, and other responsibilities.

Take your children to the library for their summer reading program. Teach your children that they can go anywhere and be anyone they want when reading a story. Write a story together or do a scrapbook together of your summer adventures. Doing these activities together cost minimal money but they do involve your time. Time is a commodity that we can never recapture. It passes and we grow old over night. Value your youth and time. Share it with your family. It is an investment that will give you an unlimited return.

Have fun!

Gina

Creating a Blended Family After Divorce

The effects of divorce linger for both children and parents long after the disintegration of the family unit. When divorced parents begin dating again they will most likely experience resistance from their children. Children will not willingly give up the dream of their parents some day reuniting. They will also experience the fear of disloyalty if they like the person you are dating.

When you first begin dating make sure your children understand that you have a new friend that you are getting to know. It will be important that you don't immediately move this person into your home and expect to become a new family. Once the relationship becomes serious take the time to allow your children to adjust to this new concept and get to know their potential step-parent. If you are planning a wedding involve the children in the ceremony so they will understand that the ceremony signifies a new beginning for everyone.

If your family plans to move to new home and neighborhood allow the children time for closure and to say good-bye to friends or family that lived in the area. Make a special effort to invite them to your new home occassionally to continue those relationships for your children.

Step-parenting is a difficult process. It is important that both sets of parents agree on parenting and discipline issues. Keep communication open with your ex-spouse to reduce the hostility your children may feel between the parents. This can cause very strained relationships in both households and a lot of duress between partners.

Blending a family is never easy. Be open to asking for help and seeking a respected professional when needed for family or individual counseling. Counseling can be a great intervention for rebellious children.

Good luck,
Gina