San Diego Sunshine & Learning

I got out of the Utah smog and snow for a few days with my mom in sunny San Diego.  It was a necessary recharge, and a huge lesson in parenting.  I feel it my duty to share the top 8 things I learned about traveling with a 2 year old, and my mom.

8) Airlines that offer in seat entertainment are superior to any other airline. Thank you Delta for letting my kid watch Cars 3 coming and going!!!  In seat entertainment prevents me from having to bring ONE MORE THING.  

7) Let the Nana be the Nana.  The 2 of them loved walking hand in hand, reading books, and sharing treats together.  I never want my mom to feel like she has to be the secondary parent.  

6) Simple experiences bring the most joy.  My son spent 20 min. on the airplane playing with the seat belt, and window shade.  Later on he enjoyed drinking his chocolate milk the "fancy" way out of a stawless glass.

5) Let the littles help when you can.  Yes, it takes WAY more time but the experience is priceless.  It took us 30 min. to get from our car to the hotel room.  My Buddy was a walking superstar, and even pushed is own luggage most of the time.  

4) Just because I like the SeaWorld shows, doesn't mean my kid will.  He loved the dolphins, but was not interested in the whales, sea lions, seals, or even the puppies(even though I thought he would). 

3) My mom loves being a Nana.  She packed small toys in lunch sacks.  If he got fussy, she was there to  be the hero.  I will always pack some sort of new toy(s) for my kid while we travel.  The cheaper, the better.  Those things will get lost.  

2) Let them be little.  My little Buddy played in a fountain, chased waves, and tiptoed into situations that parents would normally stop.  But because I relaxed, I let him get wet and dirty knowing that I packed extra clothes.  

1) Parents that travel alone with children are ROCKSTARS.  One kid, and 2 adults..........I was exhausted!

It was really nice to soak up that vitamin d. It was also really cool to see how big my kid is getting.  He loves to travel, and I hope he never loses that love.  He's an awesome adventure buddy.  I highly recommend having children, just so you can travel with them and see the world through their eyes.