Zen parents, zen children: 5 tips for taking the road with the family with peace of mind

1- Preparing your luggage and managing your space (mental and physical) will lighten your load.

We understand the desire not to be caught off guard, but our advice on the luggage side is of course to travel light . But because there is still a minimum to bring, we encourage you to lighten your mental load with the following tip: make sets of objects and gather them in separate containers , in order to go from 1000 things to prepare and classify to a total of a few sets, lists and containers. It will also make it easier to store in the car.

For example: adult clothing and toiletries, children's clothing and toiletries, sports and leisure, food, utilities. And if you are not going to the forest, keep the possibility of buying certain things only as needed instead of carrying the whole house on your back.

You can do the same thing with your lists of activities, places to visit and restaurants to try. For example, by making a list of must-dos, maybes and possibilities.

In short, dividing our mind into fewer categories helps us keep the big picture and stop the hamster wheel!

2- You will equip yourself with easy-to-remember markers and rules.

Our instinct sometimes tells us that on vacation, the goal is to have no rules and not think about anything. However, a few rules and guidelines can make a big difference in managing daily life on the road, to facilitate decision-making, reduce negotiation and help children be more independent. Few, simple and easy-to-remember rules are the key! Of course, these rules are also built over time, based on your preferences. We bet they will even become vacation traditions!

Examples:

• We bring 5 things (toys, stuffed animals, books) in our backpack, so the children can quickly take inventory and make sure they don't forget anything.
• We never go camping for less than two nights.
• No tablets or phones in the car (or a limited time that is non-negotiable).
• We choose the music in turn (one album and not one song at a time!).
• We only cook or eat in the caravan when it rains.

3- You can take special holiday shortcuts.

On vacation, happiness is in shortcuts. Meals that are quick to prepare and clean up, or even without cooking. Cold dinners that are ready to eat when you arrive. Taking the shortest route leaves more time to explore!

Please resist the idea of ​​taking an adult vacation if you have children who are no longer babies. There comes a time when we realize that the pleasures we had on a romantic vacation can become a source of stress and disappointment when the reality of children gets involved. Don't worry, happiness and pleasure change, we must see it as a diversity of experiences rather than as a lowering of our standards. After all, the purpose of vacations is lightness!

4- You will respect everyone's bubbles.

Who says car trip on vacation or even tent or hotel room says issues of proximity! How to ensure that everyone can have their bubble, whether to take a break from others or to regain their spirits when they are heated? Headphones, of course, but also books, individual or duo activities can be good options. Collaboration and large united families are great, but we may not always have to follow each other!

5- The flow, you will follow and the pivot, you will do.

When you imagine yourself on a family vacation, I'm sure you picture yourself as relaxed as can be. Of course, it won't always be relaxed, there will be moments of exasperation, but since emotional states spread like wildfire - and even more so in a small space - it's an opportunity to practice your psychological flexibility and continue to move forward in line with your values ​​without hanging on to irritants, stresses and triggers for too long. Come back to that image of yourself calm, relaxed, with a smile on your face and the wind in your hair!

Have a good trip!

This blog post is part of our special “On the Road” feature. To see all the content in this feature, which offers tips and advice to make your next nature getaway easier, check out this article !