Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

The Queen on Leave: 5 Dream Vacation Ideas for Hardworking Moms

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I hope you enjoy this fun guest post! Isn’t it nice to dream?!

One of the most demanding yet fulfilling job a woman can ever have is that of a mother. Being a mother means you are responsible for another human being who is dependent on you for almost everything. This is a job that calls for you beyond the work hours—even the most stressful job cannot be at par.

Yes, motherhood is a never ending job for a typical hardworking mom. All mothers would gladly have an extra pair of hands in order to perform all the duties in the house.

Regardless whether mom has a day job or is just your regular homemaker, it cannot be denied that she needs to take a break from her routine so she can keep up with her responsibilities to her husband and children. Most moms work hard to earn a living or take care of her growing brood full time. Chores at home is never-ending that’s why it is just fitting to reward her with a luxury vacation she must have dreamt of all her life. A thoughtful and generous husband should give his wife a luxury vacation as a birthday or anniversary gift.

Now put that ladle down, toss that apron, and gear up for a dream vacation you’ll never forget.

Sing like Gwyneth Paltrow at a Cruise Ship Vacation
Is it your deepest desire to imitate Rose DeWitt Bukater in the world-class, blockbuster film, Titanic? Set forth on a cruise ship vacation! Going on a cruise ship is actually on top of the bucket list for some mothers. After all, who would not want to sail from port to port and have the time of their lives relaxing and taking a break from her usual routines? Depending on what her dream destination is, she could go for a Mediterranean or a Caribbean cruise and go on board famous cruise ships such as the Queen Mary 2, Allure of the Seas, Norwegian Epic and Carnival Magic.

Go Wild on an African Safari Getaway
The activities that mothers embarking on an African Safari can do are numerous. She can conquer her fear of the “King of the Jungle” and feed the lions up close in a Tanzania safari. She can also join activities held at game reserves. Other activities she can enjoy: boarding a hot air ballooning and riding horseback.

Feel like a Kid at Disneyland
Admit it; as a little girl, you once dreamt to become that beautiful princess, waiting for her prince to come and save her from the evil clutches of her stepmother. Relive the dream and feel like a kid once more when you come visit a Disneyland near you. Disneyland, as the happiest place on earth, can only give pleasant memories. A lot of mothers would prefer Disneyland as she can bring her whole family with her. Some of the activities that moms can enjoy with their kids include: the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, and Splash Mountain, to name a few. There is no need to cramp as many activities in one day as there are several hotels nearby where she can rest with her family and enjoy Disneyland at a much more leisurely pace.

New Snow Destination: Antarctica
Say goodbye to France, Austria and Canada. There’s a  new skiing spot in… Wait. Antarctica? Yes! Ever since the 1960’s, there’s an increasing count of tourists coming from all over the world in Antarctica. It’s a different adventure experience; more than often, cruise ships offer travels to Antarctica for a week or two. There are just so many activities that you can do in Antarctica like getting cozy with thousands of penguins, kayaking, camping, going on a Zodiac cruise and swimming in Deception Bay.

Tropical Getaway in the Philippines
Last but not the least— if you’re planning to get a tan, where else would you find white sands and the most affordable accommodations than that in the Philippines? The Philippines boasts a tremendous lineage of beaches and other tourist spots.  Having 7,107 islands could only mean one thing —miles and miles of pristine white beaches— so choosing one beach destination would be very difficult as one option tends to be as good as the next one.
If you want to relax and party at the same time, you can go to Boracay and enjoy what that tiny island has to offer. They deserve to edge out on the Santorini and Bali, named as the 2012 World’s Best Island by Travel + Leisure magazine. Been to that island already? You can always visit Palawan and its wondrous underground river which has been included in the list of New 7 Wonders Of The World. If surfing is on the agenda, she can always go to Siargao. Other noteworthy tropical getaways that must be considered are Camiguin, Bantayan, Malapascua and Sarangani Bay.

The kind of vacation selected doesn’t really matter. What is important is that the “queen” is having the time of her life. The purpose of this vacation is for her to de-stress and unwind from her daily responsibilities. But the best thing that family members can do to their mothers is to help with her regular work load so she doesn’t get stressed out and instead have enough time to spend on other things with their family.

This is a guest post by Ruth Mendez, an outreach manager for www.andbeyondafrica.com. If you are planning for an African safari escape, then visit our website today! Or Follow me on twitter @fruthfulness

My Top Five Picks for Kid-Friendly Summer Fun Getaways

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Do you remember how awesome summer was when you were a kid? No school, no homework, long days to play outside with friends, lots of slumber parties (even on weeknights!) and of course, family vacations.

My family wasn’t very big on taking major vacations, although we did often go to the beach and to water parks. The beach was only 2 hours from where I lived, so day trips were very doable. I do wish we had been able to do more in the way of vacations.

I think if you don’t plan ahead, the time just escapes you (and the funds, too!). Tim and I have made a list of 5 vacation experiences that we think Darah should get at some point in her childhood. Here they are, in no particular order.

1. Time at an amusement park of some sort. When my youth group would take trips to Six Flags over Georgia, I would always sign up to go, even if it meant that I had to sell candy at school as a fundraiser for months. I LOVE roller coasters and cheesy boat rides and even the live entertainment that they have at these places. I love water parks even more than places like Six Flags, and I will most definitely be taking Darah to Shipwreck Island in Panama City Beach when she is a bit older. The lazy river ride calls my name every single summer! And Disney World….I had been 6 times by the time I left for college! I really do have a “Disney fund” for Darah, and I put $25 into it every single month!

2. Camping/hiking. Ok, so I’ll admit that I’m not necessarily thrilled about this future vacation. I’ve NEVER camped overnight anywhere. I just don’t have the interest. But Tim’s family would do these kind of trips and do lots of hiking on them. He has some of his best memories of his family happened on hikes, and talks about how shared crisis really brings families together. I can see his point. This would most definitely be a bonding experience!

3. Time with family. I went on a few vacations as a child with one of my cousins, and I had a BLAST! Tim would go on a vacation with his cousins every single summer. Darah has so many cousins (all girls so far, but a little boy is on its way!), and I want them to know each other as they grow up, even though they don’t live near each other. Planning some vacation with family is the best way to make sure this happens.

4. Beach trip. Oh heck yes you need to take your kids to the beach! The time in front of the ocean is relaxing for mom and dad, and there’s endless entertainment at the world’s biggest sandbox and swimming pool! Just be sure that you keep everyone slathered in sunscreen and get one of those sun tents for extra protection. I say this as someone who has suffered from MANY sunburns over the years. The beach is fun, but the sunburn is NOT. There are ways to prevent it and make sure that your beach memories are awesome ones!

5. A cross-cultural experience. Taking your child to another country is ideal if you have the means to do it. If that is out of the question, just get outside of the norm. If you live in a rural area, pick a big city to explore, and stay downtown, right in the middle of all those skyscrapers. I’ll never forget my first trip to Atlanta in the second grade, seeing all those tall buildings. I totally fell in love with the city right then and there! If you already live in an urban environment, find a quiet place to go to and explore. I have always wanted to go out West and go horseback riding and stay at a dude ranch (isn’t that funny, since I am not really interested in “roughing” it, otherwise?). Those areas that are known for great skiing in the winter months have their own charm during the summer (and vacationing there is likely a bargain since it is out of season!).

What about you? What kinds of experiences do you think all gets should have during their summers. What are your plans with the kiddos this summer? Do tell!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Alamo blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.