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Taking Care of Mom on the Road

© Lain Ehmann

Let's face it; traveling with kids is tough. No matter how old or young your children are, how self-sufficient or immobile, they still mean more to worry about. More luggage, more bodies, more needs, wants, opinions and time schedules. Juggling all these different people can make a mom feel like she's in need of a vacation, even though she's in the midst of one!

To ease the burden a bit, here are a few tips to help make your vacation truly a relaxing experience - even with a few kids and a husband in tow.

1. Take time for you. Get your husband or an older child to watch the kids, and head out on your own for an afternoon, evening or a whole day. Hit the shopping mall, the gift store in the lobby, the movie theater or the beach - but DON'T take any kids along! Even an hour in the hotel salon, getting your nails done, can make you feel like a new woman.

2. Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation is the biggest cause of a rotten vacation - trust me, I know! If you can afford it, spring for separate, adjoining hotel rooms. If that's not possible, try a min-suite like Embassy Suites where you get a bit more room for a little more cash. If the kids are in a different time zone or are prone to waking in the middle of the night, make a deal with your husband to take turns heeding their calls. There's no reason that he can't pick up some of the slack. After all, you're BOTH on vacation!

3. Pamper yourself. Take care of yourself first, so you can take care of everyone else. Try the Naturopathica Herbal Remedy Travel Kit ($65; to order, call 1-800-669-7618). The kit, specially formulated for the needs of the traveler, is chock-full of items you'll love, including teas, tinctures, lotions and oils to help you relax, recover and actually enjoy your trip. My favorites are the peppermint essential oil (which helps combat motion sickness) and the lavender hydrolat (for rehydrating skin). Hide this from hubby and the kids, though, because once they get a whiff, they'll want to try.

4. Leave your worries at home. If your dryer is on the fritz, you've got three conflicting carpool schedules, and your car is making funny noises, forget about it all, if only for a week. All those worries - and more! - will be waiting for you upon your return, so why take 'em with you? See your vacation as a true getaway. Often, it's the psychological and emotional aspects of our everyday life that really take their toll. A break from all of the pulls and pushes of your weekly life may be just the ticket to make sure you return refreshed and raring to go.

The copyright of the article Taking Care of Mom on the Road in Family Travel is owned by Lain Ehmann. Permission to republish Taking Care of Mom on the Road in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.