10 Life Learned Travel Tips For Boy Moms

Traveling is often something families wish they did more of. Although, all the daydreams of traveling to fun places and creating awesome family memories goes hand in hand with the anxiety of remembering literally everything, being on time, and keeping everyone happy.

Whether you have one boy or multiple, boys are their own special breed of human. As a seasoned boy mom, I have enjoyed the ups and downs of traveling with little boys.

Keep reading for my life learned travel tips for boy moms.

A friend of mine, and fellow boy mom x2, owns her very own travel business. Guess what? You can too! Let her help you get started.

Life Learned Travel Tips For Boy Moms

Have relaxed expectations.
Things will go wrong. Plans will change.
I used to make itineraries for every vacation. Days were planned to a T. It didn’t take too many disappointments before I realized, that just wasn’t going to work. This woman, who needs a plan, had to learn to let go of one.
Research.
Know what your destination has to offer.
You don’t have to make an itinerary… like we established, it will change, but you can have an idea of things you want to do!
Having a general idea of what you guys want to experience will keep you focused while on vacation when it is easy to get distracted.
Get distracted.
If you get distracted and end up spending an entire day by the hotel pool or at one park you visited, don’t beat yourself up about it.
Sure, you want to experience everything your destination has to offer, but the real importance is in spending the time with your family and making those memories.
Take snacks.
Even if you feed the bottomless pits before you leave the house, 15 minutes into the car ride they are going to be hungry!
You’ll need them in the hotel too!
Take a few bottles of water.
Some hotels offer one or two complimentary bottles of water, and some hotels charge $5 a bottle.
Even if you don’t spend much time in the hotel room, chances are you’re going to want the water!
Let them pack their travel entertainment.
You can pack their very favorite toys, and they won’t play with them. They’ll still be bored, which leads to thousands of are-we-there-yets and how-much-longers.
Just let them pack their little go-bag.
This has absolutely worked out better for us at keeping them entertained.
Encourage bathroom breaks. Then re-encourage.
Whether there’s a lot of driving involved, flying, or visiting attractions, I highly recommend encouraging bathroom breaks when they are MOST convenient. Honey (my MIL) has taught them to “pee on command.”
When driving long distances, I ask them to go to the bathroom before we leave. Of course, “they don’t have to.” So, I do what any good mom does and do everything short of forcing them to go.
*I’ll never forget being on a stretch of road with no gas stations, towns, or stores of any kind for the next 45 miles, when 4-year-old Wheels had to… poop. Yep. Talk about a panicked mom moment. Thank goodness Dollar General pops up new stores overnight.
Pack extra.
Boys are messy.
Let them pack. But check over it!
You have 1 billion things to do before you leave.
Take some stress off of yourself, and let the boys pack for themselves! Give them some guidance about weather and activities.
When they say they are done, remind them they need undies and socks.
When they are done-done, run through it to make sure they have appropriate items and mostly match.
Enjoy.
My boys are at awesome ages- 7 and 8. We have so much fun as a family. You can still see the abundance of joy in their little faces, but they can carry on a decent conversation.
You’re a mom. I know you’re like me. I know your mind is constantly turning and thinking and planning and … all of it.
Lately, I find that I am constantly reminding myself to slow my thoughts down and just enjoy them. Enjoy our family. Enjoy all of these special moments at home and traveling.

Travel Plans- Moms Supporting Moms

Need some help booking your family’s travel plans? I have a great resource for you!

Parisia is a hard-working, mom of two boys that can get your family where you want to go! Find her here.

Boys are fun.

They are also passionate, stubborn, and have an insatiable hunger.

No matter how much you plan and perfect, things are going to change. Hopefully these tips have prepared you for much of that!

I’ve found my boys are much more easy going when preparing for vacation if I let them feel like they are making decisions. By letting them pack their suitcase and travel go-bag, they have some creative control.

At the end of the day, we have to allow ourselves to let go of some of the stress and anxiety, sit back, and enjoy these special moments with our family.