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[quote=Anonymous]Parent of now 14 year old twins. We have frequently traveled since they were 9 weeks old. Lots of flights and 8-10 hour car rides. i'm a planner, and have always tried to be prepared to avoid as many meltdowns as possible, but mentally prepared that it would happen. Some airport or rest stop traditions that we developed early on and still use to this day include buying a magazine and one treat that mom wouldn't normally allow. Makes you a hero and kills time at the airport. Or gives something to look forward to at the next rest stop. Toddler years included a couple of new toys that were revealed during a long flight or car ride. They were just things from the dollar bins at target, but new and exciting. A stack of post-it notes, for example. A small, light weight and quiet activity that could distract for a while. My teenagers now just stare at their phones the entire time, but when they were younger, a screen was a special treat after all other options were exhausted and mom and dad needed a break. It was sometimes a reward after a nap, to try to encourage them to sleep. My kids would get overstimulated with too much screen time and that would backfire.

Easier said than done, but the more relaxed you can be (or at least appear) for your kids, it can help them not pick up on your stress or anxiety. It does get easier. And my now surly teens pack and carry all their own gear, so there are some perks to traveling with teens![/quote]

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