by Cathy Wilson
I remember packing for a long weekend before I had kids - it didn't take long. Pack up a few outfits and quickly pass through the bathroom for toiletries and cosmetics, and I was done with packing. Make sure the car had gas and buy a few snacks and I was ready to hit the road. Things are a bit more complicated when we travel with our two daughters, because when you are traveling with a child, especially one with special needs, planning is key to success.
I love lists - they are the only thing that can keep me even half-way organized. When traveling, a good packing list is key. If an item isn't on the list it is very likely to be forgotten. I have a master list that I use as the base for most of our trips and a separate list for our annual camping trips. I try to think about everything we use on a daily basis (e.g., clothes, toothbrush, special stuffed animals) and things we occasionally use (e.g., a thermometer, nail clippers) when making my list. Looking at the master list after you get home from a trip also helps because you can add or delete items while traveling is fresh on your mind.
For Mary Quay, who has spina bifida, the packing list includes not only her clothes, but also prescription and non-prescription medicines, medical supplies, and a CD of her most recent CT scan images. For the most part we travel by car, but for our upcoming trip to D.C. we will fly, which means we need to pack these extra items carefully, taking into consideration airline baggage fees. I have recently learned that some airlines will let you check a bag with only medical supplies free of charge. We will definitely be doing that for this trip! I will bring some of our supplies on board with us in a carryon in case our checked luggage is delayed, but I also have some friends who won't check any medical supplies out of concern that their luggage will be lost. We will check Mary Quay's stroller at the gate so we can use it in the airport and will just bring her crutches on the plane with us.
Another part of packing is making sure I have plenty of things to entertain the girls during the trip. When we drive, their main entertainment is a portable DVD player and movies from Redbox. With Redbox, you can rent most movies for $1 per night and return them to any other Redbox kiosk -- even in another state! There is an app to help you find the closest one. We also bring plenty of books, crayons and coloring books, notebooks and pens, small toys like Barbies and Polly Pockets, and of course lots and lots of snacks! When flying we don't bring the DVD player, so I usually bring some new books and small toys to help keep them entertained. It is amazing what you can find for a dollar if you shop before your trip. We avoid airport gift shops since they are usually so expensive.
Once you arrive at your destination you will want to make sure you know where to go and what to do to make the most of your trip. I love planning trips and figuring out what new things we can do at each destination. The Internet is a great tool and we also will sometimes check out books from the library to help educate the girls on where we are going or stop by AAA for tour books and maps. Talking to friends who may have also recently visited or people who live where you are going is a great way to find out more information. In D.C., we can't wait to visit the many museums and monuments that will be so close to our hotel.
Traveling with kids is definitely harder than traveling without kids, but we love the wonderful memories we make as a family as we explore different parts of our beautiful country and experience once in a life time events like Family Advocacy Day.
The Wilson Family will be representing Le Bonheur Children's Hospital at Family Advocacy Day
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