Our Moving Adventure...With Children

I know it's been quite quiet around here this past week. I hear the crickets chirping myself! Well, the reason for my brief hiatus is because we have moved from Virginia to Ohio this past weekend. This is something we have wanted to do for a very long time, and it feels wonderful to finally be in a home that's truly ours in a community that puts families first.

We chose a great time to move, too, since it's my town's Bicentennial Celebration week and there are fun festivals, parades, live music, and activities happening all around town. It's pretty cool because we live very close to the riverfront and can actually hear the bands as they play! We also smell the fresh bread baking at a Schwebel's bread factory that's a block or two from us. But that, my friends, is another post entirely!

Moving is always very hectic and stressful. Our move was a nightmare! For one, we did not get everything fully packed in time. We were rushing to fill last minute boxes with anything that would fit into them. We also came to the realization that even with a 26ft moving truck, the bed of my Dad's Ford F-150, the back of Dan's Suburban and the entire interior of my Mercedes E350, we did not have enough room for our ridiculous amount of stuff. And this is AFTER giving away loads of things for free like our patio furniture, grill, Bowflex and treadmill. Eeeek!

So right now while I am home with the babies and trying to unpack, my husband and my 12 year old are back in Virginia at the old house cleaning up and grabbing the last of our belongings. They've rented a 6x12 U-Haul trailer, so hopefully they'll be able to fit everything. I know the kids would love to have their bikes and our lawnmower is desperately needed around here! Hopefully they'll get everything done quickly and be on their way back home tonight!

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While our move may have seen some big...okay, HUGE hiccups along the way, one thing we made sure to prepare for was moving with the kids. An 8 hour car ride can be quite the challenge with 2 toddlers, so I made sure to have an emergency stash ready full of things that would make this travel better for my babies and hopefully save my sanity at the same time. As much as I adore my children, I do not care for listening to them scream/fight/whine for several hours in a vehicle. Not exactly my idea of fun!

Thankfully, during our move the kids remained pretty happy. (When they weren't sleeping, that is!) They didn't cry a whole lot at all, and they didn't fight as much as usual. Probably because we made sure their car seats were not close enough together to allow the babies to hit one another. Yep, they really do this!



Here are a few tips to make moving go more smoothly with young children:

1.KEEP TOYS ON HAND
Make sure to leave a few favorite toys out. As boxes begin getting loaded and moving hustle and bustle sets in, young kids will need a distraction. Leaving a couple of toys out that can be easily packed when it's time to depart is a VERY good idea.  This not only keeps kids occupied, it keeps them from getting in the way of the movers!

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2. HAVE PLENTY OF NUTRITIOUS SNACKS
Kids have a way of getting hungry right after you've passed the last rest stop for 135 miles. (Yes, this has happened to us before, and there was nowhere to stop at all!) So I always make sure to pack a generous amount of cold drinks and nutritious snacks. My toddlers love the pouch-style fruit purees, Organic cookies and crackers, and even fruit slices. I love being able to give them more wholesome, nutritious foods on the go. It's so much better than having to rely on fast food, which I try to avoid giving my kids as much as possible.

3. KEEP SUPPLIES FOR UPSET TUMMIES IN YOUR PURSE
Sometimes fast food isn't exactly avoidable, especially when traveling long distances. Perhaps the snacks have dwindled or the family is simply hungry for a hot meal. Moving and eating out more than normal seem to go hand in hand, it seems. With this sudden change in diet paired with the motion of a vehicle, many kids end up with upset stomachs and digestive problems. I like to keep Culturelle Kids! Chewables in my purse for these occasions. These chewable tablets taste great, dissolve quickly, and can help tame those tummy problems in no time flat.

Culturelle® Kids Probiotic Packets is the #1 pediatrician recommended probiotic supplement brand for children.1 It is the only probiotic supplement brand in the U.S. containing 100% Lactobacillus GG, one of the most scientifically studied probiotic strains for digestive health and immune support. It helps restore the natural balance of good bacteria in the digestive tract to help alleviate occasional digestive distress as well as support a child’s own natural defenses.

4. HAVE FUN!
Keep kids engaged by telling stories, singing songs, or playing games during the trip. You can also point out interesting things you pass on the road. My kids get a major kick out of the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Here you literally drive through the mountain!

Keeping kids entertained can really help keep the fussing at a minimum, and it also helps the time pass by more quickly and allows valuable bonding time.

5. SET UP A KID-FRIENDLY AREA IMMEDIATELY
When we arrived at our new home, the very first thing we did was set up a kid-friendly area, complete with diapers and wipes, playpens, highchairs, as well as a few toys and books. This made it a LOT easier to multi-task as we try and unpack as well as take care of the kids. Keeping our toddlers' necessities close by and in one spot has come in very handy. Plus, we don't have to go searching through box-cluttered rooms to try and find everything!

Here is our "kid zone" right after unloading the moving truck.

While the rest of the house looks like this:

Overall, moving with kids can be stressful. There may be meltdowns, tummy troubles, and plenty of other challenges in the way. By following these simple tips, moving day can be a lot less painful, for Mommy and Child. I have to admit, my kids did pretty well....But would I want to make a move like this again anytime soon? Not a chance. Thank goodness we're done moving for many, many years!

It feels good to finally be home.


***Disclosure: I was compensated for this post and provided with Culturelle samples.All opinions provided are my own***