Moms Talk: Keeping Your Cool!

Let's talk about keeping your cool. Every mom has a bag of tricks full of games, crafts, snacks, etc. What do you carry with you for when the kids are at that point, or you need a minute to breathe?

Jennifer AuBuchon

Well, my kids are older now so fewer "tricks" are needed thankfully, but when they were younger, we rarely left home without an "activity bag." We varied what we took with us, but my kids always loved games, mazes and puzzle books. (I'm thinking about when we went to restaurants or other places where they needed to be quiet.)

The "dot" game was always a big hit. During car rides, they'd play (and sometimes still do), the alphabet game, travel bingo, and mad libs. We do have a DVD player in the car, but reserve it for long trips.

Now, they have their own "devices" to keep them entertained when we're involved with other things, though we do try to limit time on these things! Of course snacks are key to preventing meltdowns...even at this age! We try to stay well stocked with portable snacks.

Karin Jackson

I hate to say it, but we bought a DS a year ago to travel across the Pacific with our kids...and since then, along came an iPad and a couple of iPhones and I find my kids increasingly requesting–and bringing–these items when we are out and about to entertain themselves, even though we bought that first personal gaming device just for long trips.

What has happened to us?! The reality is, the personal gaming devices, the iPads, the phones, they are all so easy to tote. Within them are a wide variety of options–from math games to talking Santas to flying birds! It is so much easier to toss that one square item into my bag–or even better if it's already there–and race out the door than to remember to do what I did so few years ago...find a coloring book, pack a zipper bag of crayons, maybe some Squinkies, or those portable Thomas the Trains.   

If I were completely honest, I do still have a notebook and an old box of colored pencils in my purse, along with a little jar of bubbles you get as wedding favors, a bag of flashcards, plus that beloved cell phone. Oh, and a bag of yummy pre-packaged chocolate chip muffins (they won't last past tomorrow). No one thing works for ever.

It truly does have to be more than a single trick, and sometimes a complete bag of tricks even wears out its welcome. Mostly I try to be reasonable with my expectations of my kids while we are out and about–avoiding shopping during naptime or those bewitching after-school hours (!!!).  I'm probably not so great at "keeping my cool," so I do try my best to keep the kids busy...or I walk very, very fast so they have to focus just on keeping up instead of melting down or quarrelling.