#roadtrip - #TopTen sights to behold

On the road again.

One positive thing about technology on a road trip:
It entertains and makes the trip not seem so long. 

One negative thing about technology on a road trip:
Kids don't really see the real world anymore.

TURN THAT THING OFF AND LOOK OUT THE WINDOW!

As the driver, I see it all. So here are 10 things I've seen while driving through the countryside:

1. countless cornfields and livestock
2. cemeteries
3. real red barns (counted 25 on one trip!)
4. actual scarecrows
5. eclectic antique shacks
6. a down home chicken broil
7. beautiful windy roads of rural 'merica
8. wildlife - some still alive, but lots of dead deer =(
9. state parks and area museums
10. unique eating establishments

And despite the slow-downs of inevitable road construction here are some positive things to help make it less stressful:

• Plan on it - add extra travel time, it's okay to be early if you don't have traffic!
• If you're at a stand still, you can catch up on email, social sites, but don't ever device and drive!
• Roads will be improved, eventually
• People are working - job creation... it's an endless cycle!
• It's a good time to give a life lesson on patience to your kids =)

What have you seen in your travels? Got any advice or road trip stories to share?

Wherever you go - wishing you happy and safe travels this summer!

#TopTen Reasons My #Kids Hide in their Rooms!

And with teenagers, it ain't to play Hide-and-Seek...

Top 10 Reasons my kids hide in their rooms:

1. obviously to play on their devices - though they don't think watching videos and texting and social media is "playing" it totally IS!
2. to avoid chores or HW or general nagging
3. to hide activities I don't want to know about
4. to pretend they're not around, esp if they might be in trouble for something
5. to remove themselves from a sibling getting yelled at, don't bring me into this!
6. to sulk and recoop after a loss
7. to chill and relax
8. to watch their own shows on netflix when mom has the remote
9. to clean up - ha ha ha, just kidding, that never happens
10. to nap/sleep, this one is okay, teenagers need a lot of sleep!

They do spend a lot of time in their rooms, but we have our together time too - like movie nights, sporting events, most dinners, etc. And as they get bigger, they want more time to themselves. I get it. Sniff.

We were teenagers once too. I remember spending a lot of time in my room. I liked to read books and magazines, listen to music, make puzzles, write notes to my friends, experiment with makeup, daydream about boys, talk on the phone - remember that stuff?...Though the format and speed of things have changed, kids need their alone time to figure themselves out. We also need to monitor and limit their device time, like our parents did - but that's fodder for another post!

Got teenagers? Remember when you were that age? And we survived!

Happy Monday and have a great week!