I used to think I was a complete unorganized miserable failure of a mother. Still do on those rare occasions when I have a quiet moment to survey the soap scum and suspicious green fuzzy stuff creeping up my shower curtain. (Of course, I rarely shower alone, so this hardly qualifies as a real problem.) I can’t get my kids to bed at night and I can’t get myself up in the morning. This is such a problem that i’ve opted to keep them home with me instead of sending them to school. This way those rare moments when we’re all awake and reasonably coherent can be spent together — you know, doing something highly academic like looking at french cookbooks or practicing tango in the backyard. This sort of behavior used to make me feel like a bit of a half-baked slacker compared to that dreaded and intimidating club, ALL THE OTHER PARENTS. Continue reading ‘Slacker Parent and Travel-Friendly Child — Yes, they go hand in hand.’
When we land in a new city, we have a couple “Day One” rituals. One of them is the “Cheesy Bus Tour”. First, we check-in to our hotel, or stash our bags at the bell desk if we arrive before check-in time, then go fling ourselves into the abyss that is perky tour guide goodness.
Always opt for the general city tour. The point here is to get a quick lay of the land. To determine which areas you want to return to and make a short list of neighborhoods that you might want to “live in” during your stay.
If I had to choose between IKEA’s Milk Frother and one of our children…I’m going with the frother. It’s quiet and it works, which is more than I can say for either of our whiny offspring.
If you live near an IKEA, run, don’t walk. It will be the best $1.99 you ever spent. If you are sans IKEA…stop sobbing. Several opportunistic weasels are selling them on eBay for twice the price. Or, you can always pay 10 times as much for this competing model. Although, it comes with a shiny little stand. Greedy bastards.
TRAVEL TIP: It’s so light weight, we take it when we travel. A comfort of home for very little effort. What is your “slightly embarassed to admit” item you travel with? Come on…give it up.
This is the background story of how a family with two small kids lives the mobile lifestyle talked about in the best selling book the “4-Hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferriss. This blog will feature lots on in depth, detailed posts on how we’ve made “family hacks” to get the most out of our time, money and mobility.
We are a family with three small kids figuring out how to travel the world, work from anywhere while home schooling our kids. We also blather on about life hacks, saving money and cool stuff we love. Snarky bios of each cast member are here.
Although, it comes with a shiny little stand. Greedy bastards.
