Diane Cordell is the mother of two adult, married children. In her position as a K-12 teacher/librarian, she interacts with students of all ages on a daily basis - good practice for future grandchildren! You can read more about Diane here. Diane also blogs at Journeys and can be found on Twitter as dmcordell. Click here to read more of Diane’s posts.

I’ve been away at a conference, which meant some air time for myself and my husband. Both of our children are grown and married. Hubby suffers from selective memory when it comes to “normal” behavior of little ones.

FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) regulations permit youngsters under the age of two to ride as “lap children” to save their parents the expense of purchasing an extra ticket. The agency recommends the use of an FAA-approved safety harness as a better choice, however, when the option of a separate seat is feasible.

Long airplane rides in cramped quarters can result in restless, cranky children so come prepared. Have some snacks and juice available in your carry-on luggage. Pack a variety of small books, toys, and other distractions. One tiny tot on our flight home had a pint-sized monkey backpack, which not only held a few playthings but also doubled as a stuffed toy. Eddie Bauer offers one model that doubles as a harness, to help prevent children from wandering away from their parents.

Changing air pressure can cause ear problems. Flight attendants suggest giving a baby their bottle at take-off and landing to minimize pain and provide relaxation. Older children, who don’t know how to pop their ears, might benefit from earplugs.

Dress kids in comfortable clothing and bring a sweater for cold cabin temperatures. Veteran parent-flyers recommend packing an extra outfit for both yourself and your child, in case of minor accidents en route. Always carry a travel pack of baby wipes, to help with emergency cleanups.

Try to be sensitive to other passengers’ comfort. If your child becomes upset or noisy, do what you can to soothe them and offer a word of apology to your neighbors.

Even curmudgeons respond well to a sincere “sorry”. Your courtesy might lead to an impromptu game of hide and seek between a would-be grump and a distracted toddler.

If any of you have additional tips or anecdotes, please share. Young parents need all the help they can get to make traveling an adventure rather than an ordeal!

Diane Cordell is the mother of two adult, married children. In her position as a K-12 teacher/librarian, she interacts with students of all ages on a daily basis - good practice for future grandchildren! You can read more about Diane here. Diane also blogs at Journeys and can be found on Twitter as dmcordell. Click here to read more of Diane’s posts.

Saturday morning, my husband and I will leave for San Antonio. I’ll be participating in NECC 2008 (the National Educational Computing Conference); Tim will be visiting art museums and checking out the “Cold Margaritas and Hot Senoritas” (Hmmm).

I’ve already mentioned in Twitter that we’ll only be taking carry-on luggage: a duffel bag for hubby, and a backpack, with laptop compartment, and a small handbag for me. After a few less than successful incidents with airline baggage handling, we’re convinced that traveling light is the only way to reach your destination with wardrobe intact.

If you would like to follow our example, you might want to visit One Bag for tips on how to avoid overpacking.

A challenge faced by vacationers hoping to travel light is the restriction on the type and size of liquids and gels that are permitted in carry-ons. The Department of Homeland Security’s TSA gives updates on the current regulations on its site. Remember 3-1-1…no more than 3 ounces per container packed in a 1 quart ziploc bag with 1 bag permitted per traveler.

The size of the carry-on is also important. Rules vary by airline, but a general rule of thumb given by the FAA is “the maximum size carry-on bag for most airlines is 45 linear inches (the total of the height, width, and depth of the bag). Anything larger should be checked.”

A final tip to make your trip less stressful: go to Expedia and read the guide to whichever airports you connect through. There you will find information about food, shops, activities, even smoking areas. Rather than settle for the limited (or non-existent) food choices on an airplane, purchase a sandwich or regional specialty to munch on. Oh, and be sure to include some extra ziploc bags to contain leftovers - you don’t want any drips or leaks to stain your pared-down wardrobe! [I usually tuck in a Tide pen, just in case]

I love to travel and am very excited about exploring San Antonio for the first time. I’m bringing along a small tote bag to contain any tiny treasures we find there. Anything larger can be shipped home.

No checked luggage for this couple - we want to get there and go, not wait at a carousel for cases that have taken an unexpected left at Albuquerque !

“Suitcases” by masochismtango

Hello new friends and Mommies of all genres! Since summer holidays are in the future for many of us, I thought I ‘d focus on family vacations in my first This Mommy Gig posting.

I inherited the traveling gene from my Dad, so early on I established the “we must leave home for at least one family trip” rule. Depending on available time and money, these adventures in togetherness ranged from the obligatory pilgrimage to Disney World to a week in Cape Cod to a long weekend in Vermont (within an hour’s drive of our home). Other family favorites included Ottawa and Montreal, Canada; Hershey, PA; and Boston, MA.

Through trial and error, I came up with some rough and ready guidelines for maximizing enjoyment and guaranteeing survival:

•    Pack quick and nutritious snacks. A hungry child is not a genial traveling companion. Some good choices are snack-sized fruit cups, yogurt, mini-bagels & peanut butter, and, our special breakfast alternative, home-made oatmeal cookies with mini-chips. Air travel is a bit more challenging: make sure to purchase some kid-friendly items in the airport food court, even if your child claims he/she doesn’t want to eat. Once you’re airborne, your choices are slim and none.

•    Bring a variety of activities. Notebooks, crayons, pencils and a deck of cards don’t take up much room but can be lifesavers if batteries run out on more sophisticated toys. On a car trip, insist on some interactive time even if your vehicle has a DVD player or the kids are toting iPods or cellphones. The idea is to reconnect as a family not travel as isolated units. Do some advance planning by checking out sites like Mom’s MiniVan and Family Fun for game suggestions and downloads.

•    Whenever possible, stay in a hotel/motel with an indoor swimming pool. Since we didn’t have a pool at home, this was always a big treat for our kids – plus it added an end-of-the-day calming activity.

•    Know what child-friendly attractions are in the area you will be visiting. Petting zoos and children’s museums are always fun. Don’t neglect to inquire about local parks and libraries, which frequently run special programs during school vacations.

•    Limit your own online time, as well as that of your children. One of the main reasons I insisted on traveling was to have uninterrupted family time. That’s more difficult now than it was 20 years ago, but not impossible. Ban or curtail connective technologies during your time away from work and school. The bonds you form, the memories you create together while your children are young, will help all of you survive some of the more difficult teen years.

I’m sure many of you Mommies out there can add to my list. What tips and tricks do you have to make family vacations more enjoyable for everyone involved?