Drew Thomas Sounds Off – How Can You Survive Travel And Theme Parks This Summer
It is still getting hot as each day goes by - and that can only mean more people will be heading outside, on vacations, and at amusement parks...also it means the moron criminals are coming out of the woodwork's!
KNUCKLEHEADS IN THE NEWS
A dufus in Cincinnati with outstanding warrants, asked a police officer for a ride. Oh he got one, alright…to jail.
COOLEST THING YOU’LL SEE ALL DAY
Just a little size perspective for our galaxy, compared to others.
TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH THE KIDS
If you and your family are taking a summer vacation, of your biggest challenges will be to stay sane.
Here are some tips to help ease stress for parents and kids alike:
- Be a Parent First and a Traveler Second -- A hug, smile and some TLC go a long way.
- Plan the Journey -- Map everything out ahead of time and take the notes with you.
- Play Along the Way -- Build extra playtime into the schedule and make rest stops frequent and fun.
- Eat Healthy -- As tempting as it will be to offer sugary snacks and drinks, do your best to pack nutritious food and extra water. Having the kids eat a bunch of junk food could be a recipe for disaster.
- Take Familiar Objects -- Pack the pillows, dolls, toys, blankets and stuffed animals that make the kids feel at home.
AMERICANS WANT FEWER KIDS
Having lots of kids is great-- if you're "the Octomom" or Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. But for most of Americans, two is the limit.
According to a Gallup poll, 58 percent of Americans want no more than two kids. Only about a third of Americans think three or more kids is optimal for a family.
Experts believe the poor economy may be a big reason why parents want fewer kids.
Other findings of the poll show that lower-income households are the ones more likely to want more kids. Also, Republicans want more kids than Democrats.
THEME PARK SURVIVAL TIPS
Taking the kids to a theme park can be a wild and scary ride -- for everyone. To make things go smoothly, Rhonda Clements, a Professor of
Education at Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York, offers these tips:
Start small: If your toddler is surrounded by YOU MUST BE THIS TALL signs, he/she is going to be disappointed and frustrated. Clements suggests choosing a park that has activities for younger kids -- wading pools, climbing structures, toddler-friendly rides and kiddie shows. (Suggestions: Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, or Legoland in Carlsbad, California)
Strategize wait times: You'll want to get to the popular rides as soon as the park opens, when the wait will be shortest. Once lines start to get longer, head for a different activity -- maybe the pool or playground. There's no way you can avoid lines entirely, so pack some toys to keep the kids occupied.
Satisfy all ages: If your older child wants to go on the big kid rides, have a plan so your little one doesn't get jealous. "One parent can bring the toddler for a special treat, like ice cream, while the other parent brings the older sibling to the ride," Clements suggests.
Avoid the buy-me's: There will be toys EVERYWHERE and they will want EVERYTHING. To avoid tantrums, tell your kids they can pick one souvenir -- at the end of the day. "Explain that it'll be too hard to go on rides if you have to hold a package," Clements says.
MOMS ADDICTED TO THE INTERNET
Internet "addiction" is becoming so prevalent that many psychiatrists want to have it recognized as an official disorder. And surprisingly -- a growing number of moms are becoming online addicts.
According to Coleen Moore from the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery, more and more women are being treated for Internet addiction. They're typically young, are often new mothers, and they're addicted to blogs, message boards, and social networks like Facebook.
"Being a mom of young children can be very solitary," says Jay Parker, co-founder of Internet/Computer Addiction Services in Redmond, Washington. According to Parker, moms turn to the Internet to create a world there where they are not alone. Once that world is created, it becomes an escape that moms turn to whenever they're feeling stressed, lonely, bored, or sad. Often, they become dependent on that escape.
Here are some findings from a Stanford University study on Internet addiction:
- 14 percent of Internet users find it hard to stay away from it for several days at a time
- 9 percent try to hide their "nonessential Internet use" from their loved
- 8 percent admit they use the Web as a way to escape problems
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