We’ve been on a roll here lately on the blog, and it feels really good to be in the swing of things again. I have to say, I missed this place and it feels rather nice to be back!
Hopefully, recent posts have shed a little light on what we’ve been up to, especially on travels. I’d like to write a little more here about the school choices we’ve made post forest school and how those are going. But I also feel like we have some things to close out from Copenhagen, our departure and how the forest school experience ended.
Time passed by in a bit of a blur as we were leaving, and to some degree, it still does. Leaving was hard for many reasons, and while life every bit lovely and fulfilling on this side of the pond, there’s a bit of a homesickness that works its way in when I sit down to write those last days of a tremendous experience. I’m still surprised how much emotion thinking through our adventures and what we learned can still draw out of me. I suppose part of that is because of the experience itself. But part of it is a feeling any mother will probably confess to, that of time passing, when you realize that these years and these days are going by much quicker than you thought. In fact, trying to write some of it down is one of the only ways to hang on to it for just a little longer.
I guess we’ll end up jumping back and forth through time a bit as it all sorts itself out, mixing in our stories from today, with the ones from Denmark, as we figure out our new voice here. All of that to say, thanks for your patience; and we hope you continue to enjoy following along on the journey!
A little postcard from our travels in Florida – more on the blog soon but just thought we would check in and say hello. It seems like we’ve only been headed to palm tree destinations but I assure you it’s not the case. We also have some awesome tips after last weekend’s trip to North Carolina as well. In the meantime, sending a little palm tree and sunshine your way!
We’re been traveling the past few days but missing the Danish tradition of Fastelavn a lot right now…after three years, Danish traditions have a way of sticking with you. We won’t be parading in costume this year (although we will be celebrating – my grandmother turned 90!), we did spend some time going over old videos and pictures on my phone, remember what fun it was. As we settled into the United States, she got to dress up for Halloween this year (in the photo) but one of the best parts of being an expat sometimes is that you get double the traditions. Your own, and that of your adopted country, so loving ours doesn’t mean missing theirs any less.
We’re missing the sweet “boller” that seem to spill out of every bakery window around this time of year in Denmark. I’ve got to tell you, what we wouldn’t both give right now for one of those treats, eaten to the forest school chorus of the Fastelavn song…
Fastelavn er mit navn, boller vil jeg have. Hvis jeg ingen boller får, så laver jeg ballade.
Boller op, boller ned, boller i min mave. Hvis jeg ingen boller får, så laver jeg ballade.
If you want to learn a little more about this fun holiday (that by the way, in addition to boller and costumes, involves threats of flogging your parents, decorating switches of branches, and beating a barrel until it breaks), here are a few posts from past years:
If we’re on the go, with our tot and toddler in tow, chances are, you will see them running and fro around the airport with matching monkey backpacks. Our oldest has actually had hers since she was two, and now our two-year old has his own smaller version as well. Over the years we’ve experimented with what goes it in but seemed to have settled on a formula that works well for all sorts of trips.
At this point, our packing list is pretty standardized – we adjust for age over time but right now, her backpack has the following:
Water & Snacks
Water always. Often times we leave her Thermos water bottle empty until we cross security and then fill it up at the nearest water fountain. Water is important not just for the drinking but sometimes we’ve had situations where we need to do a little washing on the go so it’s always good to have. It goes in the side pocket.
We also pack snacks – mostly healthy, higher protein ones like nuts, dried fruit, apple slices + peanut butter pouches, granola bars and the like. We started using these Sistema containers for her lunches in forest school in Denmark because they’re a little easier for little hands to open, and the compartments help keep things protected when the inevitable drop on the floor happens. But we also pack a few treats like gummy bears or M&M’s for the occasional indulgence.
A couple of years ago, Funkins sent me a few of their double-sided napkin cloths to try out, and we’ve been hooked ever since. I always have one or two in there for the kids as they double as placemats, napkins, you name it….my daughter likes to set out “picnics” on them but mostly they are lifesavers when you spend your travel day around dubiously clean surfaces.
Electronics
If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you’ll know that “yes, she has an iPad”. I know not everyone agrees, but I have to say, for travel, this has been a game changer for us. Our daughter almost only gets her iPad when we travel, and it has to be a long trip at that, so its arrival in her backpack is always much anticipated. She’s also got her own pair of children’s headphones sized just right for her that don’t go too loud and that help protect my sanity.
In celebration of a trip, I always try to add a few new apps and a few new episodes of her favorite shows. Luckily, she’s likes shows that involve animals like Wild Kratts and Octonauts and the like, so I try to pick a few episodes featuring the kinds of animals that live where we might be visiting. Recently, she’s also been enjoying the read-along books, like Winnie-the-Pooh.
The Just in Case Pocket
I use the front pocket to keep a series of “just in case” things. Although our daughter is long potty-trained, I always keep an extra shirt, leggings and underwear for her. Accidents don’t happen that frequently but they do happen with children, plus, you never know when there’s a spill or an overnight flight delay or who knows. Things happen when you travel.
Similarly, although diapers are a relic of the past with her, I always have a travel pack of diaper wipes in there. I read once that a mom said that having wipes in your back is the equivalent of carrying a kitchen sink in there. That might be a stretch but that’s not far off from the truth. Wipes always come in handy.
Finally, I also store in that pocket a toothbrush and toothpaste in a ziplock bag, an extra ziplock bag or two in a large size, and a hat and gloves if we’re going somewhere cold.
With the exception of things that are specific to weather, everything else in that pocket stays as is so that it’s one less thing to think about when I pack the bag.
Entertainment
My daughter loves her time with the iPad but that’s not the only thing she loves. In fact, she’s pretty good about handing it over when she’s had enough. When that moment comes, especially on longer trips, then I like to have a few of her favorites ready to go.
Usborne Sticker Books are great – lots of different ones with high quality stickers that you can also remove and move around. There are a ton of themes to choose from but she usually gravitates towards the ones that are animal or travel based.
My sister-in-law, generally, the knower of all miracle things for children, introduced us to the “ImagineINK” books a few years ago. They’re coloring books that only have one special marker that basically reveals colors underneath. They definitely peak at the 5 and under set but my daughter still enjoys one every now and again so I usually put a new one in there for the trip. They’re simple since there is only one pen, but at the same time, when you’re in tight spots or need entertainment that won’t require picking up a lot of complicated pieces, this is a great go-to.
We always have a small pad of paper and Crayola Twistables. I’ve loved these for years, especially when my daughter’s hands were less dextrous and crayons were often broken. These have a firm plastic coating that prevents breaking and you just twist up when you need more; and contrary to many of the little free crayon boxes that they hand out, they have a really nice quality to them when you color.
So those are our go-to’s and basics when we travel with our daughter – if anyone has any basics they want to share, I’m all ears!
