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This summer our family will be visiting friends in the Washington, DC area.  So I decided that since we were that much closer to Kansas (where I am from) than Maine (where we live), that I would drive on to Kansas with my 3 children by myself.  It is a little scary, but I have always been a bit of an optimist.  In my head, the children will spend the entire trip coloring and reading books and we’ll just plug away down the road.  I have been hard at work thinking of ways to make this roadtrip more doable and as safe as possible.

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Here are some of the plans that I have been making in preparation to traveling alone with my children on a roadtrip.

• Plan out the route – I am usually the navigator in my family while my husband drives.  I don’t mind driving, but what I love is to sit with the map in my lap and know exactly where we are at all times.  I will not start out on this trip until I have as much of the route planned as possible.
• Plan your stops – The scariest part for me is not the driving, but the stopping.  I cannot lose track of my children at any time.  I don’t relish the idea that I will be more vulnerable far from home.  I have begun planning our day stops as much as possible and have tried to make reservations for the night at either a friend’s home or in a hotel.  I would not like to be caught driving at night, not knowing where a good hotel might be.
• Bring entertainment – We have never owned a portable DVD player before, but now with my laptop, I am planning on showing a movie or two each day of the trip.  With Redbox, I will be able to stop and replenish our movie selection often.  I will be checking out books and books on CD from the library.  My children love to color so we will have plenty of supplies.
• Pack lightly – I don’t want luggage to fall out of the van every time we get in or out of it.  My goal is to do laundry whenever possible so fewer clothing will be required.  Thankfully, my children are now of the age where they do not require bulky strollers or equipment.
• Prepare the children – Although I love to surprise my children, I want nothing about this trip to be a surprise.  I have begun to talk about what exactly is going to happen, how they should behave, what kind of help I expect from them on the trip, and how long the drive will seem (especially on the way home).  I know there will be whining at times, but I hope to
• Adopt a mantra – I know there will be times when I feel stressed and out of control.  I am on the hunt for the perfect mantra to repeat to myself (and maybe my children) when I need to calm down and think clearly.

Have you ever traveled with children alone? What have been your experiences? What is one (or many) tricks you have learned to rely on? Any ideas for a good mantra?