|
|
 Few things strike fear in parents like the dreaded long car ride. How do we stay sane with our little ones strapped in the back seat, so very close to our helpless ears? With children, a roadtrip has the added planning of how to keep them entertained, fed, and happy for the drive to your destination. If you fail parents, you will hear about it. Again, and again, and again. Here are some tips to help.
That’s Entertainment! A portable DVD player tops the list of favorite new gadgets for parents on roadtrips. We’ve had one for a while but just recently tried it out in the car. We knew better than to hand it off to the twins. We found this removable car mount to help us out. The DvdDr 70200 00 Portable DVD Player Car Mount My mini-review? Worked great and gave us peace we’ve never experienced in the car before. Also, if you have any books on the destination, bring them out here. It will help get your children excited about the trip.
Keep it Cozy. Bring pillows and blankets inside the car. It makes everyone instantly more comfortable, like they are lounging around in bed. Also, take driving breaks before you feel you need them. Stretching your legs together can go a long way toward relaxation when back in the vehicle. And if you wait too long, you’ll have a tough time getting everyone back in the car.
Snack Time. Use non-spill cups and foods that aren’t sticky or crumbly. Think goldfish crackers, bagels or string cheese. Though tempting, avoid juice boxes. Kids will have juice spurting out of those things quicker than you can say “Old Faithful.” Also watch out for certain granola-style bars. Those multi-grain fruit bars are about the messiest, stickiest food I’ve ever seen our kids eat. We had to chisel it out of their clothes.
Keepin’ it Neat. Bring supplies to keep the trash off your kids and in one place. Bring small trash bags to dispose of when you refill the car with gas. Plenty of wet wipes, paper napkins from your favorite fast food restaurant, and tissues help keep even the older ones clean.
 As summer vacation arrives, I thought it might be nice to share my ridiculously complete Car Camping Checklist. This is based off a former backpacking checklist and includes things that you would probably never need with four wheels in the vicinity. Still, I’d much rather scratch things off the list than forget that one item that drives me nuts all weekend. Pay particular attention to the corkscrew. Many camp shops have profited over the years from this oversight. And if you need one, just holler. I have a pile of them resting at the bottom of my camp box.
To use the list, pack the “kit” items into large freezer bags. I like to cut out the individual kit lists and place them in the bag with the supplies. This makes it much easier to restock. I toss the kits and loose gear in a large plastic storage box that stays in the garage. When we’re ready to go, I can load the box into the car and be confident we have everything we need for a fun and safe weekend.
View and Print My Car Camping Checklist Here!
 While praising the role of stay-at-home moms during a book tour, Dr. Laura Schlessinger took the opportunity to slam dads doing the same job. “I recommend that during the first three years, the mom should be at home because all of the research shows that the person whose body you come out of and whose breast you suck at, at that stage, really needs to be the mom — unless she’s incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial.” Really? Only in lieu of incompetence should a father be considered the go-to parent?
I think the research she lightly refers to is based on the mother vs. having an absent parent. With her comment, Dr. Schlessinger suggests that fathers are the “second parent” in the household, or even less. There’s significant research that confirms her statement when compared to no parent at home, an absence of a mother, or single parent raising children. But it is a grand assumption to say that because of gender the child gets none of the benefits of having a parent actively nurturing that child.
I believe this bias comes from the belief that the gender of the child’s primary caregiver will affect the social and psychological growth of the child. This assumption is irresponsible and potentially damaging to the confidence a stay at home dad needs to do his job well. So let me be the one to say, males and females are equally capable of meeting the daily responsibilities of their children. Men and women can feed, nurture, comfort, bathe, and encourage equally well. Other than breast feeding and better balanced hips, there is nothing physiologically that makes a mother’s job easier than a fathers in caregiving.
As for the research, studies tend to support point a much more positive outcome than Schlessinger’s opinion when dads stay at home. A 1996 study from McGill University in Canada found that the “single most important childhood factor in developing empathy is paternal involvement in childcare”. The study also concluded that fathers who spend time bonding with their children nurture more compassionate adults. These are striking results in the arena where men are most often accused of having the weakest natural ability.
Further studies conducted by Dr. Kyle D. Pruett from the Yale School of Medicine documented the favorable response of infants when held by their fathers. Pruett also found that a father’s parenting style is beneficial for a child’s physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral development. His studies showed that during the first five years of a child’s life, the father’s role is more influential than the mother in how the child learns to manage his or her body, navigate social circumstances, and play.
So fear not fellow dads. The research is on our side. Don’t let radio personalities convince you otherwise. Keep at it and know how important you are to raising good secure children. It comes naturally, after all.
 With the economy still creeping from the dumps, the growing stay-at-home dad movement was often bolstered by turbulent employment shifts. Men’s Health editor-in-chief David Zincenko calls the economic downturn the “Great He-cession”, referring to statistics citing a man’s declining job security compared to a woman’s. Many at-home dads are still actively seeking work or will decide to find something later to help balance their household budget. This is where fathers need to be prepared for the stigma against stay-at-home dads in the workforce.
Sue Shellenbarger of the Wall Street Journal conducted interviews with stay at home dads looking for employment opportunities and compiled some helpful tips. It is definitely worth checking out if this is something you are considering. I also recommend reading the comments where more stay-at-home dads share their experience searching for employment. You can read Sue’s article here.
I understand there are very few things a man can go through that are as painful as giving birth. Delivery is one of those things that mothers have always been able to hold over us. Well, I am proud to say that in my never ending attempt to prove fathers are as capable as mothers I have been given a gift. Yes, I will be giving birth to a pointy-headed kidney stone over the next few days. He looks like a miniature Bart Simpson head. Just adorable.
Kidney stones are regarded as one of the most painful urologic disorders and have been recorded in humans for centuries. Scientists have found evidence of kidney stones in a 7,000-year-old Egyptian mummy. Now we can also add “daddy” to the list. (Okay, bad joke. Cut me some slack. I’m delirious with pain over here.) The site Revolution Health even has a kidney stone community board. Scrolling through, you’ll find excerpts like these:
“The first time I had a kidney stone I thought I was going to die.”
“I’ve had 5 children and I would rather give birth than have a kidney stone.”
“If you are reading this because you think you might have a stone, just prepare yourself for 48 hours of hell.”
Not the most comforting of statements. So please, wish me a speedy recovery. I am delivering this stone for fathers everywhere. This will prove our ability to live through this overwhelming situation and thrive on the other side. It will not destroy me. It will make me stronger. Ugh. Now where did those pain meds go?
|
|
