We just arrived home from our Grayson family Christmas. It was a fantastic time and I enjoyed every minute with my two boys and husband. Traveling with teens can be a challenge, so I’m going to share some insight from this 10 day trip with a 12 and 15 year old.
Survival tips for traveling with teens:
Avoid the iFight. It’s only natural as parents to find the urge to require your son or daughter to leave their iStuff (pods, pads and other devices) at home. Vacations are for ‘disconnecting’ right? Not in the mind of a 15 year old. Letting go can be stressful for an adult and even more so for a teen. Picking this battle is a lose/lose. It’s not worth it!
Phones don’t float. The cell phone is a teen appendage. Even without service, they will continue to have the device in their hand or on their person. Beware of swim trunks with pockets. It takes only a ten minute dip in the ocean to strip all of the knowledge from a ‘smart’ phone. Tried and true tricks of drying the phone out with a bag of rice, blow drying with cool air or leaving in the sun will not work. We learned the hard way. Check those shorts!!
Elect them Chief Information Officer. Teens love information. Involve them in the planning and give them the task. In fact, during our vacation we found the iStuff to came in handy - especially with a resourceful teen. Not only did the GPS save us a few times, but we were also able to discover some great places and find the best deals. Teens tend not to rebel when they are involved in the decisions. We gave the kids a challenge to find the deepest discounts and they could use the savings for spending money.
Enjoy them. Laugh often. Cherish this time. My boys have an amazing sense of humor. Your teens do as well. Our vacation was filled with laughter, inside jokes and poking fun at our selves. Before you know it, they will be off to college and on to begin their own lives.
Happy New Year and Travel Often!
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