Latest news with #familyvacation
WIRED
5 hours ago
- WIRED
The Hero of My First Family Trip Was This Luggage Travel Stroller
I procrastinated flying anywhere with my son until he was almost 3. There were so many things needed—a car seat! Stroller! In-flight entertainment! His own luggage! A crib when we landed!—that it felt like too much to coordinate. And who can blame me? It's just parenting in a new location, after all, rather than a vacation. Still, a trip we wanted to take finally presented itself. We booked a long weekend in San Francisco and the nearby wine country to see family and friends we haven't seen since I was pregnant, and to relive a family tradition (though sans my grandmother, since she passed in 2020) for the first time since before the pandemic. Just in time, the perfect gadget presented itself to make the trip feel a little more manageable: the TernX Carry-On Luggage Stroller. The TernX is both a small carry-on suitcase and a travel stroller built into a single device. One less thing to carry as a parent is always a godsend, and being able to tote my son and his clothes with one device felt heaven-sent. The TernX was founded by two parents who brought the company to Shark Tank , so it's no surprise it has a parent-minded design, though the compact size makes it best for younger (or shorter) kiddos. It was no problem to wheel this around the airport and San Francisco streets as a stroller, and as a suitcase onto a plane (which not all travel strollers can do!). Stroller Stride Photograph: Nena Farrell As a travel stroller, the TernX is pretty solid. It's easy to unfold, has a five-point harness, and sports a storage basket underneath that fits a small bag (I stuffed my kid's backpack underneath it while we walked through the airport). The TernX is always 14 inches wide, while reaching 38 inches tall and 35 inches long in stroller mode, compared to 22 inches tall and just 9 inches long in luggage mode. This stroller can also hold kids up to 48.5 pounds—almost as much as a regular stroller. When it's empty, it weighs 17 pounds, only adding 3 pounds compared to my favored Nuna TRVL stroller. It's really best for small children since the seat is under 12 inches wide. It was a fine size for my tall, almost-3-year-old to sit in, but bigger kids won't fit into this. I also didn't realize on my trip that I could extend the height of the back of the seat. He's nearly 40 inches tall with a particularly tall torso, and his head and shoulders tower above the TernX's lowest setting. Mom-fail for not spotting I could raise that for him (but if that's the worst I did on my trip, I'll take it!). Still, being tall didn't seem to leave my toddler uncomfortable. He happily sat in the stroller both in the airport and while we walked around Sonoma and San Francisco. The wheels are small and can't handle rough terrain, so I recommend sticking to the smooth airport floors and well-paved sidewalks.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
New Goes on Week-Long Trip with Her In-Laws. Now She Feels 'Broken' After Receiving No Help With the Baby
The woman says her newborn's sleeping habits weren't taken into consideration on a family vacationNEED TO KNOW A woman says a week-long family vacation left her feeling "broken" after no one offered to help her with her newborn In a post shared to Reddit, she writes that she brought her 3-month-old baby along on the trip But in the end, she was left out of the group activities — mostly due to her baby's sleeping habitsA woman says she's feeling "broken" after taking a week-long trip with her in-laws. In a post shared to Reddit, the woman writes that she brought her 3-month-old baby along on the trip, which was meant to celebrate her mother-in-law's 75th birthday. "I really wish we hadn't gone," she writes, adding that there were "many people with [child-rearing] experience" on the trip, but none of them offered to hold the baby or give her a break. "They went out to dinner without us every night. It would be like 'oh let's go to nice restaurant! At 7:30!' Well, baby goes to sleep at 7pm and the restaurant is 45 min away….one night they offered to bring us back some food, but then said oh sorry we lost track of time and the kitchen is closing now. Every other night we just fended for ourselves or ate the leftovers they brought home," she writes. She adds that she, her husband and her child weren't included in group photos — which always took place while the baby was napping — and she wasn't asked to join on group outings. "They didn't want to have to plan, they wanted to do things spontaneously, which is practically impossible with an infant," she adds. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Many on Reddit are urging the woman to speak to a professional, with one writing, "Three months is SO little and they are still figuring out life. At that stage I was still in survival mode and I can't imagine traveling where I don't have any of my normal tools or routines. You're are totally justified in being totally spent!" Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
When your poolside snack is interrupted by a surprise guest (and no one knows who's more startled)
In a now-viral TikTok with over 14.6 million views, mom @ellamcconkey the reality of traveling with young kids. It's the reminder every parent needs before their next trip—because no matter how well you plan, something hilarious (or chaotic) is always around the corner. The video starts off peaceful: a toddler, fresh from a swim, quietly enjoying her fries—until a lizard scurries into frame. Neither saw it coming. The video's caption reads, 'God forbid a girl tries to eat her french fries in peace on vaca,' and the text overlay drives it home: 'Lunch by the pool is fun until it's not.' The little girl's split-second reaction—an honest mix of confusion, fear, and restraint—has viewers both laughing and impressed: 'They were both scared ,' wrote @Laririri. 'The lizard: where's the ketchup,' joked @Amanda Franchi. And @amy bloom nailed the vibe: Because traveling with kids never goes exactly to plan Whether you're road-tripping with a baby or wrangling toddlers through TSA, every parent knows: the memories you make on vacation aren't always the ones you planned. Sometimes they show up in the form of a a diaper blowout just as the plane starts to a beloved stuffed animal accidentally left behind at the last hotel. The moments that stick often aren't on the itinerary. They're the tiny plot twists that turn into stories your family tells for years. Related: Toddler gives viral crumpet order—and mom's calm response wins the internet The tiny surprises that shape kids (and parents) Emotional resilience often begins in small, unexpected situations, like a sudden burst of fear met with reassurance or a surprise encounter at the lunch table. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), moments like these help children build the confidence and coping skills they'll rely on as they grow. How adults respond matters too. A calm presence, a quick laugh, or a reassuring hug can help kids feel safe enough to move through the moment. Even retelling the story later, when everyone is dry and eating fries again, can turn a brief disruption into a shared memory. Related: Toddler picks up mom's nickname for dad… and won't stop using it The memories you don't plan, but never forget You might forget the timeline, the meltdown in the rental car lot, or why you ever thought a museum was a good idea. But someone will remember the fries. Someone will remember the chaos. And someone will definitely remember the toddler who just wanted to eat in peace, and got a side of drama instead. Because when you're traveling with kids, the best stories tend to sneak up on you—messy, hilarious, and completely the wildest thing that's happened on a family trip? Tag @motherly on Instagram—we'd love to feature your story! Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Drew Barrymore flaunts natural beauty in black swimsuit during luxurious yacht getaway
Drew Barrymore sported a one-piece swimsuit while enjoying a family vacation in Saint-Tropez. On Sunday, Barrymore, 50, was photographed on a yacht wearing a simple black one-piece during her France getaway. The talk show host spent the day jumping off the side of the boat and relaxing with family members, including her children. During "The Drew Barrymore Show" in April, the actress responded to a fan who asked for her "secret to aging gracefully and being so comfortable in your own skin." Barrymore responded, "I haven't done anything, and I want to try and stay that way." She expressed that she's not knocking anyone for getting procedures done and promoted that people should "do whatever works for you." "The only thing I do know is: Don't judge other people because they do things differently. We're all on our own path, and we have to support each other," Barrymore noted. Drew explained that as she has gotten older, she has become more self-conscious about certain parts of her body, including her "turkey neck." "I see a lot of turkey neck, or I have a lot of other times where I'm like, 'Oh, wow! Wow, we're there now,'" she said. Barrymore didn't have an answer for the fan who asked her, but she did give the woman some advice on how to approach aging. "I want to tell myself not to be so mean to myself. How many beautiful moments do we even get the privilege of seeing our reflection and that person looking back at us is us? "So the kinder, more patient, more resilient, more loving, embracing, less dismissive that we can be, the better it is for our mental game and spiritual game, which affects the face," Barrymore said. The "Charlie's Angels" star continued, "A smile is better than any lipstick you'll buy, and internal dialog that isn't so eviscerating of ourselves and so quick to catch a flaw — who says that's the flaw? By the way, that might be someone else's favorite thing about you... how ironic. It isn't how you look. It's how you feel."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
I always thought cruises were fun for adults. Taking my kids on one made me change my mind.
My husband and I took our first cruise 16 years ago for our honeymoon. We went on more cruises after becoming parents, but had never brought our kids with us. Taking my 10 and 13-year-olds on a cruise made me realize it's the perfect family vacation. Sixteen years ago, for our honeymoon, my husband and I went on our first cruise through the southern Caribbean. From elegant meals and relaxation by the pool to visiting multiple destinations without having to pack and re-settle repeatedly, we were sold from that first sailing. After becoming parents, we embarked on three more cruises to Alaska, Bermuda, and the Bahamas over the next decade. Each time, escaping without the kids, we found the respite we needed to return to parenting and the monotony of everyday life. We took a cruising hiatus But then COVID hit, and the idea of cruising fell to the back burner. As someone who is immunosuppressed, our getaways morphed into mountain adventures with the security of social distancing. But a piece of me yearned for the gentle rocking of the sea, for the socialization of meeting others who love traveling via the ocean, for the attentive staff that simply want you to have the best getaway of your life. Cruising called to me from afar. This past January, when my husband secured our boys' spring break week off from work, I turned to Google to discover what last-minute bookings were still available. I compared all-inclusive resorts to cruises that stopped at various ports, and by far, cruising was more affordable for our family of four. Pictures of Coco Cay, the Royal Caribbean island just north of Nassau, were displayed across my screen. Matching our dates perfectly, a cruise to the Bahamas was leaving from Bayonne, New Jersey — within an hour and a half's drive from our home. It felt meant to be — so we booked, and our love of cruising reignited. Cruising is more than a parent-only getaway With our boys — ages 10 and 13 — on board with us for the first time, I realized cruising is not only ideal for a parent-only getaway. It also happens to be the perfect vacation for families with tweens/teens because it offers more for less. The endless activities kept my boys busy for the entirety of our trip. Visiting a tropical beach like Coco Cay was blissful, and my boys experienced the white sand and clear water that our Jersey shore getaways lack. On board, when they weren't swimming or lounging in the hot tub, they were playing soccer or basketball in a state-of-the-art sports arena or partaking in one of the unique adventures our ship had to offer — like iFLY, FlowRider (surf simulator), and Bumper Cars. Live music and entertainment energize the evenings, and activities like rock climbing and cooking, and exercise classes are around every corner. My sushi-loving teen and I took a sushi-making class, and it did not disappoint. The ongoing schedule of activities is organized in the cruise line app, so you'll never miss a thing. Aboard the ship, it was as if my boys had traveled back to the 1990s. Our world has become unsafe for children to wander without adult supervision, but on cruises, teens can explore independently in a safe, family-friendly environment — possibly the best aspect of cruising with older kids! The ship's boundaries become a haven for teens in search of independence, and even tweens can roam safely in smaller areas like the pool deck. Cruising also solves the travel dilemmas that families typically face. While you're dining in elegance, the ship is sailing toward a new port. How else can you expose your children to multiple destinations and cultures in one trip without packing and repacking, wasting time in the car or on a plane, and without spending the exorbitant cost for airline tickets? You can't. Forget the backseat arguments and boredom that comes with road travel because the fun doesn't stop while you're sailing. They made friends on the boat From poolside friendships to designated teen hangout spaces, kids are also bound to meet others around the same age — and unlike meeting a friend at a resort on land, these new buddies are there for the entirety of your vacation. On the first day, my 10-year-old made a new friend and now they stay in touch via iMessenger. My husband and I used to cruise for a break from parenting. But now that my kids are older, I'm convinced cruising is the perfect family getaway, and we don't intend to sail without our boys again. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
