US & Canada PTR - 2 sleeps to go, wow

[PrincessInOz]

Great shopping Shuttergirl.

Sounds like you're getting ready for this trip.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Wow Ms Shuttergirl. I'm impressed with that shopping effort! I love Diana Ferrari shoes, especially the supersofts.

We've bought and activated our travelsims. So you can call me or my parents or my in-laws...

I am hoping to get my DH to ring up and unlock our phones this weekend so if my nagging pays off (I mean seriously, it's the only damn thing he has to do for this trip ), then I will activate our sims and take you up on the call thing.

For someone who doesn't like to shop wow you did a great job

Ta, I was buggered afterwards though.

Great shopping Shuttergirl.

Sounds like you're getting ready for this trip.

You know PIO, overplanned to the max.

 

[Mum from oz]

Sounds like a fun day for me! I <3 to shop. Put for a non shopper you did a fab job!!

 

[australiankaren]

How many trips back to the car did you have to make? I'm impressed. I think even Karen would be impressed! Lol!

I am reading the list and you get a 2 thumbs up from me...although I am loving the below cost sale at target for clothes....picking up the DDIL work stuff for next to nothing....she also worships at my feet re my shopping prowess.....so ladies check it out before it all goes....racks and racks at around $10 from $40......and dont forget to use the extra $10 pff purchase over $60 vouchers they have near the price check scanners.....here to help

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Karen you are the shopping queen, there is no doubt

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Hahahaha, so I am a little bit sneaky. Our family is full of "personalities". Trying to manage those personalities 24/7 for 5 weeks would be enough to test even Mother Theresa. I'm so keen for this holiday to be as happy and relaxed as possible which is why everything is super duper planned out to accommodate everyone's interests and energy levels etc.

We had a little family meeting this afternoon which I sold to everyone as a great fun opportunity to sit and discuss a few of the finer details of the trip etc. I served platters of food to lull them into a false sense of security and then hit them with the "good behaviour contract" .

There were some discussion points, well when I say discussion, it was me talking/lecturing, them listening. Then I had individual "points" I wanted to make to each member of the family so that they knew there were things I thought they could work on and that I wanted them to not do/be/act out. Basically a list of expectations .

Then I made everyone sign the bottom of the sheet bwahahaha.

It looked a little something like this:-

US Trip Family Meeting


Food

Must have at least 1 piece of fruit per day

Must have salad or veggies with at least 1 meal per day

Desserts only sometimes

Cereal and fruit in our room will be a common breakfast throughout the trip

Everyone to try and embrace some new foods


Sleep

Kids to go to sleep of an evening when asked

Getting up in the morning is really hard for everyone, please try to be as pleasant as possible

Must get up and out of bed and ready for the day when asked


Showers

Mum, DD and DS to shower of an evening, dad to shower of a morning


Grumpiness and Tiredness

Its going to be a long trip, what are some things that we can do to give everyone some space to unwind and rest eg. Perhaps headphones on watching a movie on the ipad, listening to the ipod quietly on the bed, an afternoon nap or rest. Lets discuss


Being considerate of others

DS10 - no silly noises EVER, speak nicely to people, please and thank you, dont annoy your sister, try to remember how lucky you are to be on such an adventure, no whinging, be considerate and remember that its everyones holiday, be happy and have fun

DD14 - no annoying your brother, no attitude, speak nicely to people - especially your brother, listen to your parents, no whinging, try to remember how lucky you are to be on such an adventure, we cant buy you everything you want, be considerate and remember that its everyones holiday, be happy and have fun

Dad - if you are tired make time to rest, even if that means going back to the room for a nap without us, speak nicely, deep breaths before growling at the children, be happy and have fun

Mum - try not to be grumpy, remember that its everyones holiday, speak nicely, deep breaths before growling at the children, be happy and have fun


My list of things to remember is the shortest and really it was just a token gesture hahaha, but it's a fair assessment I guess.

You can imagine how enthusiastic everyone was. The discussion points about food and sleep up the top though were well received and agreed upon.

 

[5ofus]

I love it!!! I think my three will be a little young for his next year, but maybe not.

Oh God, your DS and weird noises!!! I was hoping my lot would grow out of that soon! What is with making random/odd/loud/annoying noises?

 

[WAMUMOF4]

i love it what a great idea

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I love it!!! I think my three will be a little young for his next year, but maybe not.

Oh God, your DS and weird noises!!! I was hoping my lot would grow out of that soon! What is with making random/odd/loud/annoying noises?

5ofus - nope, alas they don't grow out of the noises, they in fact seem to come more often and louder. It's like they have turrets or a tic. We are often left speechless at the times he comes out with stupid noises .

i love it what a great idea

Feel free to use it

 

[Beee]

I so want to copy your good behaviour contract, but I fear that my list of things will be longer than the rest of the family's

DD is getting on my last nerve at the moment, think I might have to ask my doc for some valium or something to ensure I do not kill her on the flight to LA - let alone the rest of the holiday

 

[Caroline NZ]

That is one impressive contract . You'll have to keep us updated throughout your trip as to how many conditions are met or otherwise

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I so want to copy your good behaviour contract, but I fear that my list of things will be longer than the rest of the family's

DD is getting on my last nerve at the moment, think I might have to ask my doc for some valium or something to ensure I do not kill her on the flight to LA - let alone the rest of the holiday

Hahahaha, daughter's can certainly test our patience.

That is one impressive contract . You'll have to keep us updated throughout your trip as to how many conditions are met or otherwise

Oh Caroline, I think we know it's not worth the paper it's written on but you can't blame a mumma for trying

 

[Andona]

What a great idea! Hope it works

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[PrincessInOz]

I see nowhere in the contract about consequences for breaking said contract rules. I trust consequences are to apply to everyone??

 

[shushh]

Ms Shuttergirl, that's hilarious!

 

[Toy Story]

This is a great idea, I think I would be adding - everyone has to contribute to deciding where (and what) to eat.

 

[jacs1234]

It all sounds so dreamy, It's getting close now!!!!!!!

 

[alicia1506]

Wow not long to go now. I tried to implement something similar on my last trip but with 3 stubborn adults it didnt work too well. Fingers crossed your family stick with yours

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

What a great idea! Hope it works

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Yes, I hope so too

I see nowhere in the contract about consequences for breaking said contract rules. I trust consequences are to apply to everyone??

Yes consequences. We didn't discuss them. I was trying to keep an upbeat fun vibe about it all. I didn't want to make them sad about consequences. It's my son and my husband I need to worry about.

Ms Shuttergirl, that's hilarious!

Hehehe

This is a great idea, I think I would be adding - everyone has to contribute to deciding where (and what) to eat.

That's a good one Toy Story. I actually do lots of research for each city we are visiting and then thanks now to Shushh I create my own google maps that show me where everything is and a description of the food etc. Something for everyone is my motto when selecting places.

It all sounds so dreamy, It's getting close now!!!!!!!

It sure is, not as close as your trip though.

Wow not long to go now. I tried to implement something similar on my last trip but with 3 stubborn adults it didnt work too well. Fingers crossed your family stick with yours

I'm tipping if it didn't work for adults, it's not looking good for our kids

 

[PrincessInOz]

Yes consequences. We didn't discuss them. I was trying to keep an upbeat fun vibe about it all. I didn't want to make them sad about consequences. It's my son and my husband I need to worry about.

hmm....I'd definitely be thinking about consequences. They don't have to be sad consequences. About the only one that I'd have consequences for is around the food thing.
You could have things like...whoever breaks the rule...the rest of the family get to order your next meal for you. That way, you can sneak in a whole fruit salad with yoghurt for breakfast; or broccoli for dinner.

For the rest...it will be what it will be. I get grumpy, tired and snarly too; it comes with the territory of travel; so I'm with you on this front...no consequences.