Flashback: Sleeping Arrangements for a Preschooler

When we were researching our trip to Russia and Austria I read a couple of books and articles that recommended co-sleeping with small children when you travel. Co-sleeping means that your child shares a bed with you.

The recommendation made sense. Parents represent home, so the logic follows that co-sleeping gives the child a sense of security on a scary trip.

People fall passionately on both sides of co-sleeping debate.  Jonathan and I take a much more pragmatic stance.  We tend to have different rules for travel, then we do at home. At home we do not co-sleep (although a 4 a.m. little visitor is not turned away). So for our 23 day trip we opted to co-sleep with Xander.

It turned out to be a good decision. Xander was instantly scared and homesick. Our first night in Frankfurt he cried that he wanted to go home.  Jonathan and I were at a loss. We reassured him, telegraphed everything that was happening and that he could expect, but he needed more comfort.

Co-sleeping helped him feel secure, and affirmed that we were going to be with him the entire trip.  His homesickness subsided by the time we got to Austria, and co-sleeping was an invaluable tool.

It is also easier to book a hotel room. You don't need to ask for a trundle or a separate bed for your preschooler.

Once home it did take us several weeks to transition Xander back to his own bed ... but we still think that co-sleeping is a positive technique to use when traveling. Even on short trips we opt to co-sleep with the boys if possible.

Preschool Swim Lessons

I was talking with someone the other day, that said that their vacations didn't become fun until their kids learned to swim. I had a brief encounter with swim lessons as a child, and didn't learn to really swim until I was eight ... after that walking to the neighborhood pool was the best way to spend a summer day.

I'd like to make sure that my boys know how to swim. I'm not expecting either of them to be Michael Phelps when they grow-up ... but swimming and water safety walk hand in hand.

On Sunday we took the boys to their first swim lesson at a local club. Xander went to lessons for six months, which I stopped in December -- new job, new schedule, and while the lesson was only eight miles away on the map ... there was a lot of traffic to get there. The shallow end of the pool was also 3 feet, and Xander gained a healthy, but problematic fear of what he called dark water (water that comes in over his head ... or pretty close).

The current club is much closer, and has swim lessons on Sunday, which is awesome! It also has a 2 and a half foot wading pool for swim lessons. It was so fun to see Xander wade into the pool with trepidation, then realize that the water isn't deep ... huge relief in his eyes and a big smile.

Caleb has been asking to go to swim lessons since Xander started ... but my rule is that he had to be potty trained. He was definitely nervous, but being very brave. It took about five minutes, the Thomas water toys didn't hurt either, until he was at home in the pool.

Both boys can't wait to go back to swimming. Xander asked if he could go everyday.

We're taking them to visit my Aunt and Uncle near a lake in Cheboygan, Mich. this summer. They probably won't be swimming by then ... but it will be more fun for them having taken swim lessons.

Flashback: Less is More

Between trains on our trip from Altstadt to Vienna, we had a short window, and we had to run across three trains tracks. Jonathan was carrying the stroller and two bags, and I was carry the heavy backpack and Xander.  I tripped and fell on the mad dash ... managing to keep Xander off the ground. For a moment I thought I was physically unable to get up with a the three-year old and the heavy bag. I was like a turtle on my back. Somehow I managed to turn sideways and pull myself up ... but gosh, why does luggage have to weigh so much!

When it comes to packing, less is more. For most travel I start packing weeks in advance. I create a war room, and stockpile everything that I think I'm going to need. Then a week in advance I start the editing process. I put everything into the designated luggage, and what doesn't fit, doesn't go.

During our 2008 trip we had to pack for Xander, as well as little Caleb. We had to take into consideration weight requirements on all of the airplanes, and had to factor in the stroller. With a stroller two adults can comfortably manage two back packs, and one to two pieces of luggage on wheels.

We also had to pack for two climates. Russia has very warm July's, Austria not so much.  I bought a mesh bag for Caleb's clothing. On the bright side we were able to store his clothing in Stavropol. We also stayed in the same hotel in Vienna on arrival and departure. We we were able to leave our warm weather Russia clothing at that hotel, while we touristed around Austria.

Still between diapers, wipes, clothing for three people, a stroller, entertainment, and a three year old who wanted to be carried ... it could get to be too much.

So, the rule of thumb when packing... less is more, if you can help it.

Saturday in San Mateo's Central Park with the boys

Last Saturday, Jonathan and I took the boys to ride the Bianchi Railroad in San Mateo's Central Park. The railroad turned out to be a small, four minute ride on a miniature train, and not a big deal at all ... but Central Park is a wonderful destination for preschoolers.

Central Park is located on El Camino Real on the corner of 5th Avenue in San Mateo. It is a beautiful, large, classic park with a rod iron fence around the perimeter. You can park underneath the tennis courts for 25 cents and hour.

When you exit the parking lot into Central Park you arrive right next to a darling Japanese tea garden, complete with streams and a koi pond. The boys loved crossing the bridges, watching the fish and the two waterfalls.

As you leave the tea garden and cross the park to the playground, there is a lovely English rose garden with a maze. The boys liked running through the maze.

Once you cross an open space you arrive at the playground. The playground was wonderful. It had several playscapes in a wooded area (note to self, we're always looking for shade during the height of a Bay Area heatwave). It also has some retro playground equipment I haven't seen since I was a kid. Including an old fashioned Sesame Street jungle gym, and monkey bars.

Xander really wants to be able to swing across the monkey bars. We're not quite there yet, but he got some nice practice time with a pleasant fall into sand.

Right next to the playground is the Bianchi Miniature Railroad. If you blink you'll miss it. In fact we couldn't find it, and had to call to find out exactly where it is. The Railroad has odd hours from 11 am to 1 pm ... It is very low key, and at a $1.50 a ride, it was a lot of fun for the boys.

We definitely will go back soon. As an added bonus it is located near San Mateo's charming downtown, and our favorite Mexican Taqueria Pancho Villa.

Flashback: Traveling with the Recently Potty Trained

Anytime you are planning travel with a child that has just started potty training, you have to weigh some things. First, do you regress the child back to diapers or pull-ups (glorified diapers) or do you continue potty training from the road.

On our trip to get Caleb in 2008 we opted to take Xander from underwear back to pull-ups. It made sense. He had just turned three, and his potty training was unreliable at best. Peer pressure meant he was dry at school, but two seconds after he came in the house at night, he had wet his pants. On the weekends it was worse. He would look at you, smile, and pee his pants. I didn't want to rely on this on a 12-hour flight, or while away from the hotel on a mini-excursion, or on a train.

So we went to pull-ups, and he happily didn't miss his underwear. I waited until we got home, and then started a full force effort to potty train. It took about one month to get him retrained, and another three months until he would do number two in the potty ... but it felt like the right decision.

One thing to note is that in Europe the concept of pull-ups is almost unheard of. When you buy them they are thicker, like a good nighttime pull-up. I actually preferred them to the flimsy Huggies or Pampers for traveling. Much less likely to leak.

Recently we took Caleb, now a member of the recently potty trained, on a short get-a-way to Florida. We opted for pull-ups (actually for both boys) on the airplane, but otherwise kept him in underwear. Since we were staying in one place, this was also the right decision.

Finally ... a Saturday at the Sunnyvale Farmers Market

A couple of months ago Jonathan and I came very close to taking the boys to the Sunnyvale Farmers Market. It was a near miss, we discovered as we arrived that it had been moved to temporary quarters. We didn't go the extra block and a half to the Caltrain parking lot. It was an ugly day, and instead we took refuge at the German Bakery on the Mountain View/Los Altos border.

On Saturday we decided to try it again. We'd heard from lots of people that the Sunnyvale Farmers Market, like the Campbell Farmers Market are the best that Silicon Valley has to offer. As far as I'm concerned this is a true statement.

The current location for the Sunnyvale Farmers Market is great. The boys love trains (hey did I mention this before). Being in the parking lot for the Caltrain station is fabulous.

With kids open space is a priority.  Los Gatos location-wise is perfect. A farmers market on a quiet street off the town square, but they have limited stalls. You can't really do your grocery shopping for the week there.  The Campbell Farmers Market on the other hand has tons of stalls, you can actually grocery shop for the week (with a minor Trader Joes subsidy), but the closest park is three and half blocks away.

The Sunnyvale Farmers Market is run by the same coop as Campbell and has the same types of stalls (there are a couple of pleasant differences).  Location wise it is near a large plaza, and the Caltrain station, and has plenty of open space for the kids to play. We also found Sunnyvale more low key than Campbell -- we'll see what we say in the height of the summer, when all the farmers markets are packed.

Flashback: I'm doing the laundry

One of my favorite cartoons of the 90s was the Tick, and one of my favorite lines was "I'm doing the laundry." Even super heroes have to wash their clothes.

On any trip of any long duration you need to plan for laundry. This is especially true with small children. When we traveled in Russia and Austria with Xander we needed to plan for a child that wasn't quite potty trained ... which means on a bad day you'll go through five pairs of pants, and on a good day you can get by with two.

Kids clothes add up. As an adult I can get away with one pair of PJs that walks to the laundromat after seven days ... but a small child needs new PJs every night.

It is important to pack based on when you'll be able to reliably do laundry ... Too bad guide books don't tell you where to go, or what the hours are at the local laundromat. For example, doing laundry in the Czech Republic is very easy ... but Austria and rural Russia takes a bit more planning and know how.

I planned on doing laundry every seven days. This meant that I was going to do laundry on Sunday in Vienna -- big mistake. Everything shuts down on Sundays in Vienna, and none of the laundromats were open. In desperation you can use the hotel to wash a small batch of clothes, but that can add up quickly.

As much as laundry can be a nuisance ... it is much better than packing and hauling three weeks of clothing. Plan your laundry days, and get to know local customs and so you know when the laundromats are closed.

A Trolley Day with the Boys in San Francisco

A couple of weeks ago Jonathan took the boys to San Francisco to give me time to clean the house. During his visit to the Ferry Building he came upon the Market Street Railway Museum almost by accident. The boys loved their visit, so we decided to take them again on Saturday, and this time also ride the classic streetcars up the Embarcadero.

The Market Street Railway Museum is really not a museum. It is more a gift shop ... The museum part consists of the front part of a trolley car, and a train table with streetcars on it. The proprietor is very nice, and knowledgeable, and the boys did like ringing the bell on the trolley car.

After purchasing some t-shirts we headed out the door to the streetcar stop. It was right before the Chinese New Year Parade, so the cars weren't running their full route. Jonathan and I toyed with the idea of going to the parade too ... but we never made it.

For $4 for a family of 4 (the boys were free because they are 5 and under) could do a round trip ride from the Ferry Building to Fisherman's Wharf. We road two different streetcars. The first train was from Cleveland, and the second train was from Philadelphia. Several years ago San Francisco started the F line of refurbished vintage streetcars from around the country and around the world. I have ridden a couple of times for business meetings on Market Street. It was convenient, and fun ... but traveling with two preschool train enthusiasts takes it to a new level.

After our ride we headed to Bluebottle Coffee in the Ferry Building for coffee and gelato (the gelato is across the hall) before the planned walk to the parade. When we left the Ferry Building it was already dark ... so we decided to call it a day, and make the drive back to San Jose.

It was a wonderful day, and you couldn't beat the price.