3 Kids and Us

4 Pieces of Good Advice for All Expecting Mothers

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There’s nothing quite like motherhood. It’s challenging, stimulating, exciting, draining, and wonderful –– but it’s not something that everyone adapts to quickly. As such, it can be difficult to make the transition into parenthood, no matter your personal situation. And even if you’ve already experienced the joy of raising a child, there are still ways you can work to become a better, more adjusted parent. So, in order to take a little stress away from moms-to-be everywhere, we’ve compiled four short pieces of good advice that can provide a big lift just when you need it:

Know When to Freak Out

When you first become a parent, everything is likely to make you nervous. After all, ensuring that your baby is healthy and happy will be your number one priority (as it should be). And while you should definitely maintain your focus on your child’s well-being, part of becoming a parent is knowing when to freak out and when to relax. Otherwise, every little moment in your child’s life will present an opportunity to fall into anxious fits and panic attacks. Take the little things in stride and recognize that not all problems are earth-shattering. It’ll help you focus on what you really need to worry about.

Ask for Help

Raising a child without any help at all is a difficult task. Indeed, it’s about as daunting as it gets, really. That’s why it’s important to seek out reliable help from time to time. Calling on friends, family members, and trusted professionals isn’t a cop-out or a sign of weakness; rather, it’ll broaden your little one’s horizons to spend time to with other people, and provide you with a much-needed break at the same time.

Live in the Moment

Too often parents have difficulty adjusting to the way their children react to new technology or concepts. Just because things were different when you were a kid it doesn’t mean you should dismiss your child’s interests or stifle their creativity. Don’t close the door on something your kid wants to do just because you don’t understand or appreciate it. Instead, take the time out to empathize with them and support them in any way you can.

Consult Medical Professionals

This should be a given, but a bit of practical advice here: visit a trusted M.D. early and often during your pregnancy –– and schedule plenty of appointments afterward as well. This includes a wider array of tests, procedures, and practices than what you might first imagine. For instance: every expecting mother should get tested for STDs, since certain infections can cause complications during pregnancy. (In some cases, you could even inadvertently pass on an STD to your newborn!) So if you have any questions regarding your health, or what steps you should take to lower the risk of complications during gestation, speak to your doctor ASAP. They’ll be willing to offer insight and assistance as needed.

Top Life Skills To Teach Your Children

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Do you wish that your parents had begun even earlier to teach you all about life’s important lessons? As a parent, it is tricky to decide when we need to discuss important life events, such as death, money, divorce and even learning how to be a balanced and fair-minded adult, with our children, even more so as in today’s day and age they seem to grow up so fast. However, you need not worry. By beginning to talk through any worries and concerns that your kids have at an early age, and creating a safe and open space in which to do so, your children will be stronger than ever and ready to face the world.

If you are beginning to choose the right moment to sit down and have a conversation with your kids, then make sure it is when they are feeling relaxed and ready. Do not force your little ones if they are tired and cranky, as you may risk closing the door on an important opportunity. Equally, if your children bring up any questions themselves, then it is vital that you take this chance to begin having a dialogue. Make sure that you treat your little ones as adults from a young age, and be sure to enable them to voice their opinions and ask questions when they feel that they need to. If you begin teaching your kids to be vocal from a young age, then they will soon learn crucial life skills without too much effort.

Money management

Money is always a difficult and complex topic to talk through with your kids, and this will depend on the relationship that you have with finances as an adult also. Make sure that your children understand from a young age that money does not grow on trees! In order for your kids to experience the value of money and the price of things and goods, why not get them involved in your weekly shop from a young age? It could be as simple as taking your toddler to the grocery store and practicing counting up to ten or getting your four or five-year-old to help you pick items off the shelves. As your kids grow up and begin to have their own allowance, or income from a Saturday or weekend job, make sure that they understand the importance of saving. If your kids are looking to buy a new bike or outfit, then it will be up to them to manage their income and make sure that they have enough cash before they can splash out on a treat for themselves. You could try buying your kids a piggy bank so that they can save any dollars or dimes that they earn in a safe place. Take your kids to your local bank too, so that they can open up a savings account and see first-hand how money is managed. Money management is always a complex topic to discuss with children, so make sure that you start as soon as you feel that your kids are ready.

Love and friendships

An important life lesson to discuss with your kids, and one that they are sure to learn first-hand as they grow, is love and friendship. Friendships and relationships with others are wonderful and beautiful, and your kids should learn that with respect and tolerance these interactions will grow into long-lasting and cherished exchanges. However, make sure that your little ones understand that they will need to treat their friends as they too would like to be treated. When it comes to friendships, your kids will need to learn that they need to show respect for others and always be willing to listen and exchange thoughts. In younger children, this will become obvious when your kids have an argument in kindergarten over a toy or a crayon, whereas as your kids grow older, they may have a negative experience in the schoolyard that needs to be discussed. At home, make sure that your children always know that they are loved and supported so that they do not bottle up and concerns or worries that they may have. Encourage your kids to talk about their friendships, and they will grow up into well-balanced, loving and open-minded adults.

It is important too that your kids learn that not all relationships work out. If you are going through a divorce, then make sure that your children do not feel alone, and be sure to tell them that Mom and Dad will still love and cherish them the same amount. Kids often feel vulnerable and alone when any changes occur that affect their family life, so it is up to you to be the adult in this situation and ensure that no animosity between yourself and your partner damages your kids. Provide your children with the opportunity to ask any questions that they need to come to terms with this difficult period.

Follow your dreams

When it comes to teaching your kids about life, and the challenges that they will face, it is vital that you teach them to follow their dreams and do not allow others to put them down. If you want your children to succeed in life and enjoy a career that they enjoy, then make sure that they aim high from an early age. Even if your kid’s struggle in school, when they get home it is up to you to ensure that they have the support and attention that they need to get their homework completed on time. You could also try and support your kids during their downtime, by making sure that they can follow and play any sports that they enjoy and are good at, or make sure that they have the chance to learn a musical instrument or take an art class. Try and provide your kids with a rich and varied childhood, so that they learn new talents and skills that they can transfer into their future career as they grow and mature.

It is ok to say no

Your children will begin to experiment with saying yes and no from a very early age. However, as they begin to grow up and enter into their teenage and adolescent years, your little darlings may soon be saying no much more than you might like! Be sure that your kids understand and explain why they are feeling negative and want to say no – could it be peer pressure is influencing their decision? Make sure that your kids are comfortable with saying no too if they are not comfortable with a particular situation or experience. Learning to say no is an important life skill that will keep them safe and in control well into later life.

Old age

If your parents have been around as your kids grow, then chances are they will love spending time with Grandma and Grandpop, however, old age is a topic that many younger children will struggle to understand. Each and every family dynamic is different and special, so make sure that your kids feel comfortable and ready to ask you questions about getting older, what happens to the body and even mortality if they bring this up themselves. If you have your parents in your life and they are getting older, then it soon may be time for them to go into care or to live in a retirement unit. Sites such as the seasons assisted living provide a safe and welcoming space for residents with an action-packed social and activity calendar. Be sure to encourage your kids to have a rich and loving relationship with their grandparents and encourage them to discuss getting older and what this means as soon as they feel ready and able. This will also instill a good mental attitude and sense of care, consideration, and respect towards older people in general.

As your kids grow up and get older, it is crucial that you begin to talk to them about different life lessons, to provide them with the skills and knowledge to succeed during their own lifetime. Make sure that you do not force these dialogues and make sure that your children feel comfortable asking any questions that they want to. Money management is a vital lesson for your little darlings to learn, so be sure to teach them about the value of finances from a young age. Make sure that your children begin to understand the importance of love and friendships and make sure that they understand that they need to respect others so that they can build life-long bonds. Make sure that your kids feel comfortable saying no, and make sure that they understand the power of this word. Your little ones should also always feel driven and confident enough to follow their dreams so that they can go on into a fulfilling and exciting professional career. Finally, take time to talk to your kids about aging and old age, so that they understand more about this important and inevitable part of life.

RV Friendly Craft Ideas to Keep Your Kids Busy

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Do your kids get restless while traveling in the RV? This list of RV friendly craft ideas will help keep them busy and out of your hair.

Traveling with younger children is always a bit of a challenge.

However, when you’re traveling in an RV?

That challenges increase tenfold.

You want to be able to find ways to keep your children busy and entertained (and to prevent them from asking “Are we there yet?” one more time.) However, you also don’t want to have to spend half of your vacation time picking up after their crafting decisions.

Before you cancel your trip, read this post.

We’re sharing our best RV friendly crafting ideas with you and your family.

Origami

When you’re in the market for RV friendly crafting ideas, your main priority is looking for options that will keep your kids entertained and won’t have you cleaning up for hours afterward.

One of the best solutions?

Origami, which requires nothing more than paper, a YouTube tutorial or other how-to instructions, and a whole lot of patience.

Your child can learn the art of paper folding without getting glitter and glue all over the interior of your RV. Plus, they can also create affordable and handmade zoo animals, hearts, and much more.

This means that they’ll have toys to play with throughout your journey, and you’ll save tons of money in the process.

One of our favorite creatures to fold is the traditional bird. Get inspiration and instructions from this list of the top origami bird creations to inspire your child at any level of folding experience.

Stringing Beads

Another RV friendly craft that won’t break the bank or cause you to spend half of your vacation scraping craft glue off of your furniture?

Beading bracelets and necklaces.

All you need is string, a few awesome beads, and maybe a kid-friendly plastic needle to help with the threading.

Encourage your child to express themselves by stringing together lots of different colors and shades. You could even “commission” them to make you something special to wear around the campfire.

Now, we know what you’re thinking: how can I prevent these beads from ending up all over the floor?

The solution?

Tupperware and beading trays.

You can store beads and other supplies in Tupperware, or even old baby food jars if you’re looking for a more eco-friendly option.

Then, you can use a beading tray or board to help your child to string out and design their jewelry. Many of these trays also come with a cover, so you can click it shut and avoid disaster if you’re going over any bumps in the road.

Do your research online before your trip starts to gather inspiration, and even bake some clay beads so your child’s necklace will be all their own!

Making Paper Chains

Continuing on our theme of paper crafts that are RV friendly (like the origami example above) let’s talk about another favorite: paper chains.

Especially if you’re on the road frequently, it can sometimes be tough for your kids to feel like their space is their own. They don’t have a “room” to decorate with stickers or line with posters.

So, give them the next best thing — the ability to decorate a tiny section of your RV with paper chains!

To avoid a mess, we suggest cutting the strips of colorful cardboard paper ahead of time. You can also look for tape dispensers that give out smaller strips of tape to loop the chains together, mess-free.

If your child is old enough, of course, they can also use a stapler.

In addition to standard paper chains, we also love the idea of making this paper chain caterpillar. Invest in some googly eyes for a truly fun look!

Rely on Coloring Books

When all else fails, the truth is that few RV friendly crafts work as well as the classic coloring book.

They entertained you as a child for hours on end, and we’re confident that they’ll be able to do the same for your kids.

Make sure to get a variety of coloring books, so that kids don’t get bored. Get themes related to their favorite cartoon characters, books, or even toys. To keep them guessing, pick up lots of different drawing materials.

We love the fun look of glitter pens, stamp markers, and colored pencils.

To make sure your children know that you appreciate their artwork, hang up a few of your favorites around your RV’s interior.

If your child is a little bit too old for coloring books, but still enjoys painting and drawing?

Maybe it’s time for them to graduate to paint by numbers! They can choose to copy famous paintings, landscapes, or even their favorite mythical creatures! To avoid a mess, use basic watercolor paint on the canvases.

These are especially awesome activities to do outside in the sunlight when you’re camped out for the afternoon. Then, let them dry on the picnic table.

Want More RV Friendly Lifestyle Ideas?

We hope that this post has helped you to realize that it is possible to find affordable and fun RV friendly crafting ideas for children (and yes, even adults) of all ages.

From creating paper chain creatures to encouraging your child’s inner artist with coloring books and paint by numbers, the possibilities are limitless.

Of course, we know that you also need lots of other advice on how to cook, clean, and generally get the most out of the camping lifestyle.

We’ve got you covered.

Spend some time on our website and blog to get access to how to conquer and thrive in the nomadic lifestyle!

Dog Travel: 10 Tips for Traveling With Your Pup

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You’re super excited to bring your dog with you on vacation. But, pets can be a handful on vacation. Follow these dog travel tips to make sure things go well.

Dogs have been humankind’s best friend for tens of thousands of years.

Whether you’re like Brazilians who tend to favor small dogs or you can relate more to the Saudi’s who prefer larger breeds, we can all agree dogs are great.

But many people seem to think that if they have a dog, they won’t be able to travel. Fortunately, that’s not actually true; dog travel is very possible.

You just need to know what you’re doing. After all, if you can travel successfully with small children, it can’t be that difficult to travel with a pooch.

To help you out, here are ten tips for traveling with your beloved pup.

1. Do A Test Drive First

Before you engage in any type of dog travel, do a test drive first. You may find out that your dog gets carsick.

Maybe your dog has a fear of driving or barks incessantly.

This is not something you want to find out the hard way. Make sure you are fully aware of how your dog will react in new situations before you travel.

If your dog can’t handle surprises, meeting new people or other animals, or is fearful, keep your dog at home.

2. Crate Your Dog When Traveling

It’s much safer for you and your dog when you crate them. Dog travel is hard enough without worrying if your dog will go flying if you stop your car too fast.

Also, you don’t have to worry that the dog will somehow open the car door or get out through the window. And you can rest easy that your dog won’t try to start playing with you as you’re trying to focus on driving.

There are several types of dog crates to choose from. Which one is best depends on your needs and the breed of dog you have.

3. Create A Traveling Kit

Many people keep a travel kit containing toiletries in their suitcase for when they travel. You can do the same for dog travel as well.

In the kit, you should keep any travel papers your dog might need. You’ll also need their food, bowl, leash, a waste scoop, plenty of plastic bags, and grooming supplies.

Consider having your pet microchipped for identification purposes. Make sure they are always wearing a collar with a tag that has your home address imprinted on it.

Go one step further for safety and create a temporary tag that has your cell phone number and any other relevant contact information.

4. Take Them For A Walk Before And After Any Dog Travel

Most parents are savvy enough to ask their kids if they’ve gone to the bathroom before embarking upon any traveling. Even if it’s just to the grocery store.

Do the same when you embark on any dog travel vacations. Make sure your dog goes for a walk before you travel.

Make sure you plan out plenty of time to take them for a walk, not just so that they get exercise right before a long trip, but so that they urinate and poop outside rather than in their crate.

During periods of long travel, try to walk your dog as often as possible so they can use the “bathroom” and stretch their legs as often as possible.

When you arrive, don’t forget to take your pet on a nice, long walk.

5. Talk To Your Vet About Medications

Any medications your dog needs should go into their dog travel kit. But make sure you speak with your vet about your dog traveling first.

If your dog gets nervous or reacts negatively, you may want to consider giving them a small sedative before they travel.

And your vet should be aware that your dog travels. He or she may have a new set of instructions regarding the canine’s healthcare while the dog is traveling.

6. Call Ahead To Learn The Rules

Different businesses have different policies regarding pets. Call ahead to make sure you don’t encounter any unexpected and unpleasant problems.

Check to make sure your hotel is pet-friendly. Ask them what their policies are regarding your breed.

Call ahead to the airlines to see what their rules are. Often, you need a note from your vet explaining that your dog has already had its shots.

Even if you plan on visiting family, call ahead to make sure it’s okay to bring your own pet.

Sometimes, family members might have allergies or another pet who won’t take kindly to a stranger in their midst.

7. Ways To Keep Them Calm

It’s important to keep your dog calm while traveling.

Make sure they get plenty of exercises to help keep them calm. Talk to them in a soothing voice if they start to get nervous.

You can also stroke them if they seem too excited.

Try rubbing lavender oil on your palms to give them some aromatherapy or giving your dog a massage.

8. Let Them Explore New Places

One way to make dog travel easier is to let your dog explore their new surroundings.

Dogs are naturally curious, and they need to inspect their surroundings. Let them roam around and sniff away.

Be vigilant that there’s nothing around your dog can choke or accidentally ingest. Keep an eye on your dog at all times.

9. Bring Their Food Along

Dog travel is hard enough without trying to find out if a local store has their favorite food.

Plan ahead by bringing their food along. Try looking into freeze-dried food.

If you want to know why freeze-dried dog food is better – click here.

10. Don’t Forget Their Favorite Toys

Don’t forget to bring along their favorite toys and a blanket.

Toys are great for two reasons. One, they provide a great deal of comfort for your dog while they are far from home.

Two, dog toys are a great way to keep your dog entertained while in a new and strange environment.

Follow Our Travels

We love traveling around the world with our family. We also love sharing the tips we’ve learned along the way to our readers.

From how to cope with a divorce to learning how to handle being a new mum, we’ve touched on nearly every subject family’s deal with.

Keep coming back to read our blog for travel tips and follow us on our adventures.

Should You Become a Foster Carer?

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Across the world, there are thousands of children that are in care who are all looking for homes. However, there is a shortage of suitable homes that can take these children in and make them part of a family again. Not everyone thinks that becoming a foster parent is for them, or they think that they won’t be selected. In fact, there are probably more potential foster families out there then you think. Here’s how to decide if you should become a foster family.

What Types of Foster Care Are There?

For those that want to foster children, there are several types of foster care you can do. Short-term care is when you are looking after a child for a few months until they can be found a permanent home. There is also respite care that involves taking children for a few days or a couple of weeks. Respite care is usually used to give long-term carers a break and is often for children with disabilities or special needs. The last type is long-term care and involves fostering a child until they reach adult age.

Are You Suited to Foster Care?

There are no sets of rules for those who can foster and those that cannot. However, it is important that you have certain characteristics for it to be a success. Fostering a child can be full of challenges and in many ways demands more from you than a birth child. You need to have an empathy and understanding for children to get the best from the experience. You also need to have a loving nature but be able to set boundaries and be aware of their needs. For some people, fostering is not what they are looking for; some people who are looking to give back might decide that they want to find out how to become a surrogate instead, which is a completely different experience, but just as rewarding.

Do Plenty of Research

Taking on a fostering role is a big responsibility, and you should be fully aware of the requirements before applying. That is why you need to do a lot of research into fostering and what it entails. Read stories from other foster parents to see what challenges they faced, try to join forums where you can ask questions or read about other fostering parents.

Understanding the Process

Once you have decided to apply to become a foster carer, you need to understand what the application process involves. It can be quite an in-depth process and also invasive to you and your family. It needs to be like this so that the authorities know you are the right person to foster a child. The authority workers will need to speak to you and your family about your lives and also look into your financial and work backgrounds. After all of this, you will be told if you are successful or not.

Becoming a foster carer is one of the most rewarding things you can do in your life. For those who cannot have children of their own, it also means they can still offer the love they cave to a child.

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!