What we learned was that Labor Day and the days after are fabulous times to vacation because everyone else is in school! Last year, we traveled to Chicago for Labor Day weekend to see some family. On that Monday, we went to Six Flags Great America, where the crowd was way more than manageable. Even better were the crowds at the indoor water resort where we stayed the next couple of nights.

Seriously, when we checked in to the Key Lime Cove that evening, there was hardly anyone around. The next day when we ventured into the waterpark, it was like our own private resort. There couldn’t have been more than 30 people there. The resort staff told us the hotel and park had been at capacity just days before. Of course though, by the time we got there, everyone else was back at school and work.

We had one of the best times ever!

If your kids aren’t school age yet, take advantage of every opportunity to travel while everyone else is hitting the books.

As for my family, we’re tied to the school schedule now, and I guess we‘ll be vacationing with everyone else. Hello, lines. Hello, crowds. Not so nice to meetcha.

I made myself comfy on the side of his bed, anticipating it would take a while to wake the little fellow, particularly after the busy few days we had on our “mini vacation.” But I called his name only once and said, “It’s time to get up. It’s your first day of kindergarten.”

He quickly rolled over, pulled the pillow over his head and said, “I’m nervous and I’m scared and I’m not going.”

If I could’ve seen his face, I know there was a smirk on it. A little half smile. That’s just how he is.

So a minute later, he sat up, held his index finger in the air as if to make a great proclamation and said, “I’m nervous and I don’t want to go, but I’m going anyway.” And then he made a mad dash out of his room and downstairs where Dad was waiting to get him breakfast.

His “nervousness” seemed a little more like excitement to us as he raced around, laughing and chatting. He even got his uniform on lickety split.

On the way to school, he made up songs about going to kindergarten, verbally displayed his math skills and told his sister that he would now be at a different school than her.

Once we got there, he skipped across the parking lot and inside the school cafeteria where his class meets in the mornings before heading to their actual classroom. We sat him down at the table with the rest of his classmates and at that point, he didn’t really seem to know what to do. We didn’t really either. Do we stay? Do we go? I kept recalling the advice from the parent who wrote on the Well-Prepared Mommy Facebook page… to not linger on the first day. So, we tried to make our getaway. He ran over to us a couple times before we left to give us more hugs. That was fine with us. We needed them. And then we left.

We went to school this week for an orientation so he could meet his teacher and see his new classroom. That went well, except that Mr. Motor Mouth clammed up and barely said a word. Go figure.

I do love that my son is growing and developing. He’s been doing math problems out loud. He’s starting to read a little. He really understands a lot. And he’s been in a formal “school” setting since he was three months old so I’m not worried in that sense.

But kindergarten is a threshold to a new world where you no longer can limit his exposure to, well, the real world. It’s just different. He’ll be riding the bus in the afternoon, which likely will put him near some older kids – and that really has me worried.

So, while he may be ready to start school, I’m not so sure I am.

I’ll post some updates, including pics, next week of how the first few days go.

Some doctors will recommend you keep baby at home for 6-8 weeks – not counting the doctor’s visit, of course. Once you get the okay, remember to prepare your diaper bag and take it with you.

A new Well-Prepared Mommy video on YouTube takes a look at some of the items to put in your bag during baby’s first few months.

There’s also a checklist on WellPreparedMommy.com that includes a few items that you’ll need as baby gets a little older, including sippy cups and baby spoons.

I’m excited to say that the proposal has been circulating among some of my colleagues, friends and family members. I’ve sought feedback from a range of folks, including those with and those without children. The feedback I’ve gotten so far has been mostly positive with some fantastic suggestions for enhancing the proposal and, in turn, the book. I plan to complete the proposal by the end of next weekend and have it all ready to go.

The next order of business is to write a sample chapter. I’ve started work on the book’s first chapter and hope to complete it in the next few weeks. During that same period, I’ll be polishing up a query letter to send to agents to, hopefully, secure some interest in the idea.

Keep those fingers crossed, People!

One of the items was a portable pacifier cleaner that looked to be about the size of a small humidifier.

Really?

Really?

Rest assured, Peeps, that I would never encourage you to pack something so bulky in your travel bags. What I might encourage is that you take along a travel-sized container of dish soap. (Sometimes you can actually find these amidst the travel items in stores, and sometimes you just have to pour your own dish detergent in a clean travel-sized bottle.) With that and your hotel wash cloth, you can clean many a pacifier, bottle, sippy cup, toddler fork, spoon… you get the picture.

I wasn’t terribly surprised though. Most of your really good centers will book up at one time or another, creating the need for the dreaded “waiting list.”

This couple was definitely thinking though. They started early. I feel bad for couples who don’t start looking until their last trimester.

So once you begin the search for a daycare, what are you looking for? As you’ll see in the pregnancy checklist on WellPreparedMommy.com, the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care has put together A Parent’s Guide to Choosing Safe and Healthy Child Care. It can give you a good start. Some states also offer information online about licensing requirements, center violations, etc. Check to see if your state has a department of social services or a department of jobs and family services. You might find some helpful info there.

Finding a safe, nurturing environment for your child is most important, but I also would recommend at least considering the following:

**Does the daycare provide food? It might not seem like a big deal at first, but after a year or so (or having another child), you might grow tired of making lunches. That was certainly the case for my husband and me. Every night (because mornings were way too busy) for about four years, we washed lunch boxes and plastic containers from the day’s lunch and got meals ready for the next day at daycare. It became too much, and we finally switched centers. Another reason we left ties into the point below.

**What are the center’s hours? At our first daycare, in order to make it to work on time, I had to be at the center waiting when it opened, drop my child off and race to work; if there was bad weather, there was no leeway. The school we now go to opens an hour earlier. I don’t need an hour, mind you. I only drop my kids off about 10 minutes earlier than before, but that 10 minutes makes a world of difference.

**Do you have to take your own linens? (e.g., blankets and sheets for the baby’s cribs) Again, just something to consider. Some really fine centers provide this, saving you from one more load of laundry a week.

**Location! Location! Location! If your work is close to home, this probably isn’t a big deal. You’ll likely pick a daycare near there. However, if you work a distance from where you live, think carefully about where you choose a center. Do you want one close to work? Or do you want one close to home? There are pros and cons to both. Having your child close to work might mean you can visit occasionally during the work day, and you’d have her around you longer – even if it’s in the car on the ride there. On the other hand, if you want to take a day off to do some things around the house or whatever and you still want to take your child in, it would be easier if the school was closer to home. When considering location, also think of this… if you have to pick your child up early from daycare because she’s sick, make sure you don’t have to head in a complete different direction to go to the doctor’s office.

It’s a lot to think about, I know. The most important thing, of course, is that you’re finding a center that will provide your child a safe environment – one where you’re not worrying about her during the day and know she’s being taken care of. At the same time though, it doesn’t hurt to also find one that will offer you some conveniences that can allow you more time to focus on your child when you’re home.

Here’s the finished product. You’ll see a new “search” feature on the right, as well as easier access to the “Categories,” in case you’re looking for something in particular. The tags are listed prominently. The actual font for the tag increases with how often it’s been used.

I think you’ll agree that overall it’s just a better look. Thanks, Hubby!

Right now, there’s a video up about how to choose a diaper bag. It’s a basic question a lot of expectant mothers have. Well-Prepared Mommy provided the answer. When it comes to preparing for a baby, I don’t think there’s always a one-size-fits-all approach so this video is intended to encourage moms-to-be to think about their own lifestyles when choosing a bag.

Check it out, and by all means, share it (or this post) with anyone you know who’s expecting. Also, let them know there’s more to come on YouTube. As often as I can, I’ll add new content to the Well-Prepared Mommy channel on YouTube. Most will be short tidbits. The idea is to provide solutions to some of the organizational issues that result from having a child.

I hope you’ll find it useful. I’d love to hear your feedback so please share with me on Facebook. (As a result of excessive spammers, I have unfortunately been forced to disable the comments section on the blog.)

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Connect with me at www.facebook.com/wellpreparedmommy.

With kids, the task to keep them entertained can be a challenging one, and unfortunately, your magazine and iPod won’t cut it. Very young babies don’t generally need as much entertainment as toddlers, but even so, you’ll want to pack some items to use while traveling and once you arrive at your destination.

I generally look for lightweight options, especially when I’m flying so I’m not weighed down while making my way through the airport. I generally go for paperback and cloth books. I also look for items that can serve more than one purpose. For babies, books with teething rings attached are good options.

No matter what the toy, it should be quiet. For instance, if you pack a DVD player, don’t forget the headphones. We’ve been pretty pleased with the Leap Frog products we have—Tag and Leapster—because they allow for headphones.

And sometimes you have to think outside of the “toy box.” Items to entertain don’t necessarily have to be toys. It could be almost anything new to your child. Just make sure it’s safe. My son played with a deck of playing cards for almost an entire flight once when he was two, pulling the cards out of the box one by one and then trying to put them back in again. A friend let her son put adhesive bandages all over himself to keep him entertained on an international flight. Whatever works, I say. Because every minute counts when you’re traveling long distances, you might even consider wrapping some of the items as gifts. For toddlers, it allows another distraction and sucks up more time.

In my family, snacks are also part of the “entertainment.” I load up on treats. While I try to pick some things that the kids don’t get on a regular basis, I also try to make sure they’re still fairly low in sugar. When you’re cooped up on a plane or in a car for hours, it’s not a good time to goop the kids up on sugar.

And lastly, I would just recommend that if your child has a favorite toy he can’t live without or she uses a pacifier, by all means, don’t forget it!