Travel Guide for the Well-Traveled Family, Part 1: How to Choose the Best Family Travel Destination

My family.....with the exception of Minnie Mouse (smile).

By Sharon Rose

Getting Started

There are so many tourist attractions in the world for you to choose from. The question is how do you choose the best family travel destinations? There are several destination considerations, such as: schedule, costs, and kid-friendly.  Most families include children, so they should be considered.  In addition, at the beginning of your planning stage, in choosing a destination, you should consider the options available for transportation. Will you travel by car, air, etc?  Researching is a must and gets your planning started.  Also, if you are going to work with a travel agency, they will be helpful in giving some professional ideas and opinions.  Travel agencies are a good resource that should not be overlooked.


Early Discussions

There are many best family travel destinations, but the most important thing is to talk about it with the family group. You want everyone who will make the trip to value and enjoy the experience. Invite each family member to give their ideas. Talk about it in a group discussion. If you can't all be present together use a group discussion format, such as phone calls, texts, or create a Facebook family event page. Today's technology, with social media, can bring you all together. Be open to listen to the ideas of others. This is the moment when you should be able to determine the best results for the whole family. Try to choose a destination for which several ideas can be incorporated. For example, some may want to go to the beach, but others may want to tour museums, theme parks, or enjoy the nightlife. Choose a destination that has all of these activities available and include all of them when you plan your daily trip itinerary. We're not there yet in our planning, but to gain cooperation, it would be wise to explain that you plan to create an itinerary to fit the likes of everyone in the family group.  Part of the open discussion should include the best travel schedule for everyone, as well. Talk about the time of year family members can travel, such as holidays or spring break. Some family members may need to schedule time off from work well in advance, so, this is an important part of the discussion. You can make it work! 



Research

Take advantage of the many ways in which to research various destinations. The internet is one of the best sources. There are also travel books, brochures, and documentaries. YouTube, on the internet, is a good source of short travel videos. You don't have to be disappointed, that your destination was a place you never wanted to go, once you return from your trip. 


Travel Budget

The best family travel destinations have a big variety of things to do that fit all age groups. However, that does not have to mean an expensive vacation. Consider your budget for the trip and talk about it with the family. Starting the planning early will give everyone an opportunity to put a savings plan in place and/or have a good understanding of what is needed, financially, for them to make the trip. Also, if working with a travel agency, by planning early, you may also be able to take advantage of a payment plan, often with discounts. Whether you plan on your own or with a travel agency your budget is important and "key" to your travel plans being put into action. 

Check tomorrow for Family Travel Tip # 2.



For a Spring Break destination, my family chose Disney World, Orlando, FL, and what a great choice!  

Family pictures from Disney World Vacation, April, 2013.  We stayed at the Art of Animation Resort for 4 nights and 5 days.  We visited 4 theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney's Hollywood Studios. 

Copyright - Parents Want to Know 101, Sharon Rose, "Travel Guide for the Well-Traveled Family," May 30, 2013.  All rights reserved.  Photography credits - Sharon Rose.  All rights reserved.

WELCOME TO PARENTS WANT TO KNOW 101

WELCOME TO PARENTS WANT TO KNOW 101! 
Visit our blog, right here, at www.parentswanttoknow101.blogspot.com and our fan page at www.facebook.com/parentswanttoknow101 to stay in the loop on parenting issues and trends and related global issues. Feel free to comment and share your ideas, feelings, and opinions with others. Our mission is to provide a community of support to empower good parenting. It takes a village to raise a child!

Valentine's Day: Puppy Love and Beyond

By Sharon Rose

     Valentine's Day is a day for love.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if the feeling and expressions of love that we demonstrate on Valentine's Day were felt every day of the year?!  Love is a strong, emotional outpouring and demonstration of affection and kindness; peaceful interaction in a relationship; caring, protecting and providing for in a family; and often an exciting, giddy, passionate and romantic feeling between a man and a woman.  All in all, LOVE is a beautiful thing!

      The first time I was in love my Dad gave me a plump little brown puppy for my 3rd birthday.  I can still remember that giddy, stomach- flipping- over feeling that I felt when I was given that puppy, who I named, Brownie.  A plain and simple name given by a very young child.  I loved nothing better than to play with Brownie all day long.  He belonged to me and I loved him!  He followed me all over the house, licked me right in the face, and showed me so much love and attention.  Although he chewed many pairs of my shoes, I forgave him and my unconditional love continued.  Loving that puppy was such a good feeling!  As a result, for the rest of my life I have had a dog or some kind of pet in my home.  I believe I always wanted to keep that good feeling that I first felt at three years old.  The next time I was in love was with a boy in my 5th grade class.  I remember him sending me the do you love me notes on which you were to check a yes or no box.  Remember those?!  I checked yes and happily returned the note to him!  By 6^th grade we had each moved on; had other friends and other interests.  I remember that the school basketball team took up most of his time.  However, one week before I married, and although it had been many years since we had seen one another, he came to visit me to declare that he still loved me from all those years ago.  He explained that he was not there to interrupt anything, but just to take his last opportunity to say, I love you.  He wished me the best in my marriage and was on his way.  
      
     When I think of those emotional, past experiences of love I feel good inside and smile.  Love should make you feel that way and never the reverse.   Since my early childhood days I have had even greater feelings of love: the unconditional love I felt leap into my heart when I gave birth to each of my three children; the enduring, grateful love I feel for my parents; the happy, giddy feeling of gift-giving when I gave my own children a puppy one Christmas, and heard their squeals and saw their beaming faces; as well as, when I said I do as a woman in love.  I have learned that giving love is the best feeling of all!  Is there anyone that you would like to take the opportunity to say, at last, I love you, much like my 5^th grade friend?  Tell that special someone, family or friends, those three special words, I Love You.  It’s Valentine’s Day and love is in the air!  Happy Valentine’s Day! 

 

Poetry on Love, By Sharon Rose

I

When I Fall in Love

By Sharon Rose

When I fall in love,

       How will I know what it feels like?

When I fall in love,

Will it hurt or will it feel right?

When I fall in love,

Will all my days be joyful?

When I fall in love,

Will romantic nights bring bliss?

When I fall in love,

Will he love me again and again?

When I fall in love,

Will it be forever ‘til the end?

When I fall in love,

Will I know it when it shows up?

When I fall in love,

Will I give and not just take love?

 

 

Motherhood

By Sharon Rose

Today something wonderful

Came into my life.

More than a passionate feeling.

More than a special event.

Evolution born in learning

Age old secrets of life.

Discovering soulful emotions

That exists at the core of my being.

Being in a moment

That will never come again.

Being outside of self,

Staying there for someone else.

Being part of a miracle;

Nature’s power given over to me.

Knowledge of the universe,

Realized with primal screams!

Today something wonderful

Came into my life.

A precious gift I was given,

A gift called, Motherhood.

Copyright, Valentine's Day: Puppy Love and Beyond, article, Parents Want to Know 101, February 13, 2013, by Sharon Rose, all rights reserved.

 Copyright, When I Fall in Love, poem, Author, Sharon Rose, March 2000, Cannot be published without permission of the author, under penalty of law.  Cannot be used in theatrical or any spoken word stage production without permission and credit to the author, under penalty of law.  Contact: srgjones@gmail.com.

Copyright, Motherhood, poem, Author, Sharon Rose, March, 2000, all rights reserved. Cannot be published without permission of the author, under penalty of law.  Cannot be used in theatrical or any spoken word stage production without permission and credit to the author, under penalty of law.  Contact: srgjones@gmail.com.

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Sharon Rose

      Parents Want to Know 101, gives honor to a great American, and commemorates the 27th annual federal holiday of MLK, Jr. Day to be celebrated on January 21, 2013.  Born January 15, 1929, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights, using non-violent civil disobedience and the judicial system to make a difference for minorities in America.  His words still ring true to every parent, and every boy and girl who dreams of climbing the ladder of equal opportunity to great success and freedom in their lives.  At a time when so many in our country are without jobs, I am focusing on the historical event, March on Washington, which was held to provide a platform for jobs and freedom.  The I Have a Dream speech given by Dr. King on August 28, 1963, has become a signature speech, familiar to many.  This is a great day to re-visit that speech and share its' words and meaning, as a family.  He spoke of the door of opportunity he wanted to see open for all people, for all children.  His words were always powerful and visionary. You can listen to various speeches by Dr. King at online websites that have archived many of his speeches.  Here are selected excerpts from the speech, I Have a Dream:

                      “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time

                      to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of

                      racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial

                      injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a

                      reality for all of God's children.”

                     “We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood

                     and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only." We cannot be

                     satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York

                     believes he has nothing for which to vote.  No, no, we are not satisfied, and we

                     will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like

                      a mighty stream.”

                     “I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today

                      and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American

                      dream.

                      I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning

                      of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created

                      equal."  I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former

                      slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at

                      the table of brotherhood.

                      I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with

                      the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed

                      into an oasis of freedom and justice.

                      I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they

                      will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

                       I have a dream today.”

                       “And if America is to be a great nation this must become true.  So let freedom

                         ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.  Let freedom ring from

                         the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening

                         Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! 

                         Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

                         Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

                         But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

                         Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

                         Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every

                         mountainside, let freedom ring.

                         And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring

                         from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be

                         able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men,

                         Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing

                          in the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last! free at last! thank God

                          Almighty, we are free at last!’ ”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the National Mall, Washington, D.C., as he  presents his speech, "I Have A Dream." 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King being arrested during the Montgomery, AL Bus Boycott to stop the segregation on the city buses.  The boycott was launched when Rosa Parks, a seamstress refused to give up her seat to a white man.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Monument on the National Mall, Washington, D.C.  I took this picture the first time I visited the monument, February, 2012.

I listened as National Tour Guide of the National Park Service gave a biography of
 Dr. King and a history of the monument.

"The Dream," realized.  Dr. King reaches across the span of time to join hands with President Barack Obama, first African American President of the United States of America.  

                

      Let's expose our children to the many doors of opportunity that are open today.  Let's seek out the information on opportunities and keep our parent involvement in their educational endeavors high.  It is through education that we will achieve our greatest freedom. 

      MLK, Jr. Day is designated as a National Day of Service in which we all do our best to volunteer helpful hands in areas that need urgent assistance in our nation.  A fitting tribute to a man who helped so many. 

 


Adult Reading Selections:  I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World, Special 75th Anniversary Edition (Martin Luther King, Jr., born January 15, 1929), by Martin Luther King (January 30, 1992).

A Call to Conscience: The Landmark Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by Clayborne Carson, Kris Shepard and Andrew Young (January 1, 2002).


Children's Reading Selections:  My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up With the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by Christine King Farris and Chris Soentpiet (December 27, 2005).

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr. (Scholastic Bookshelf), by Jean Marzollo and J. Pinkney, January 1, 2006.

A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Picture Book Biographies), by David A. Adler and Robert Casilla (June, 1991).



Copyright, Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Sharon Rose, Parents Want to Know 101, January 15, 2013.  All rights reserved.

Driving in Snow and Ice

Driving in snow and ice takes special safety precautions. Winter weather is here.

                                                               

Tips by the National Safety Council ____
     

      The time has come when many areas will have snow and ice on the roads making it difficult to drive safely. The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it. More realistically, don't go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination. If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared (TIPS), and that you know how to handle road conditions. It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.

Driving safely on icy roads:

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid:

1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
3. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
4. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
5. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is
normal.

If your front wheels skid:

1. Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
2. As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck:

1. Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
2. Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
3. Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
4. Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
5. Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
6. Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

Source: National Safety Council, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Washington State Government Information & Services, (2012).

Christmas Prince

By Sharon Rose

I remember the day you were born.

It was early and a cold frosty morn.

Rosy cheeks, pink toes, and a little bald head;

Cooing sweetly as you first lay in your bed.

Soon you were walking and going to school;

Building and hammering with Daddy's tools.

Making friends and driving a car.

We knew all along you would go far.

Years have passed and you have grown tall.

You are no longer helpless and small.

Passing through the corridor of time,

You have become a man, sweet child of mine.

On this special day our home still comes alive,

With the season of joy, merriment, and pride.

The Christmas tree lights, the gifts as they lay,

For our Christmas Prince born on Christmas day. 

This Christmas poem is meant to create a view of a child's life and emphasize how quickly childhood passes.  There are many little princes and princesses, whether born on Christmas day or not, that have been given into our care.  The growing up time goes by so fast, we wonder, where did the time go?  Cherish each day to love and teach our children.  The time will come when we must allow them to go out into the world on their own.  Let's do our best to help them to be prepared for that day.  Your heart need not be heavy, for remember, with love, they will come back to you; often on Christmas day.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!!

Copyright, Christmas Prince, poem, October, 2011; Author, Sharon Rose. All rights reserved, December, 2011.  Cannot be published without permission of the author, under penalty of law.  Cannot be used in theatrical or any spoken word stage production without permission and credit to the author, under penalty of law.  Contact: srgjones@gmail.com.

Copyright, Christmas Prince, article, Sharon Rose, Parents Want to Know 101, December 10, 2011, all rights reserved.

  

Credit: Model, Aidan, photographer, Sharon Rose, December, 2008, all rights reserved. Cannot be used without permission of photographer, under penalty of law. Contact: srgjones@gmail.com.