Traveling With Kids: Road Trip and Hotel Room Tips [Episode 357]

We just back from a six-day road trip with our family of six, and I’m excited to share my latest tips for making travel work with a bunch of kids (especially while 25 weeks pregnant). After years of taking these trips - including our annual month-long summer adventure - we keep finding ways to make things 1% better each time.  In this episode I share: How we solved our food challenges by bringing an Instantpot and griddle to cook simple hotel room meals Why eating at restaurants for lunch instead of dinner completely transformed our evenings The pre-packed toiletry and activity bag system that saved me from hunting down everyone’s toothbrushes How we handled long car rides with zero screens and kept everyone happy Finding the right mix of free museum visits, hotel swimming, and paid activities I’ll also share our biggest challenge – dealing with overtired kids in tight hotel quarters where everyone can hear everything! And the important parenting lesson we learned about solving problems rather than trying to control behavior. If you’re interested in seeing exactly how our travel systems work, I’ll be sharing all of that in the Family Systems Playbook to the Surviving To Thriving Toolkit. You can join the waitlist HERE to be the first to know when the doors open again! Resources Cooking Set: https://amzn.to/3E0uwae (affiliate link) Toiletry Bags: https://amzn.to/4jkGryp (affiliate link) Activity Bags:https://amzn.to/4jghZ1a (affiliate link) Brother Label Maker: https://amzn.to/4i13Jbz (affiliate link) Sterilite Drawers: https://amzn.to/420Rw1V (affiliate link) Instant Pot: https://amzn.to/43IDJhO (affiliate link) Griddle: https://amzn.to/42py9OZ (afiliate link) Previous Travel Episodes 20 Secrets For a Fun Road Trips With Kids: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/20-secrets-for-a-fun-road-trip-with-kids-episode-172/ Successful Family Road Trip Systems: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/successful-family-road-trip-systems-episode-224/ Easy Car Organization on A Budget: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/easy-car-organization-on-a-budget-episode-265/ Reflection and Travel Tips From A Family Road Trip + 5 Day Hotel Stay: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/reflection-and-travel-tips-from-a-family-road-trip-5-day-hotel-stay-episode-309/ The Ultimate Guide to Family Road Trips: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-family-road-trips-episode-273/

I’ve been working with moms for years, helping them plan weeks they can win. One of the biggest challenges I see is what happens when you get to the end of the week with loads of unchecked tasks still on your list. In this episode, I’m sharing a brand new process (complete with a downloadable flowchart!) that I’ve been using for years but finally put down on paper.  This simple framework will help you: Process every unfinished task effectively at the end of the week Stop carrying over the same items week after week Know exactly where each task belongs in your planning system Set yourself up for a clean slate and a winning week ahead Whether you’re using the Thriving In Motherhood Planner or your own systems, these principals will work for you! I walk through what to do with tasks that need to happen daily, weekly, or monthly, plus how to handle ideas that don’t have deadlines but you don’t want to forget. The goal isn’t to do everything – it’s to make intentional choices about what matters most and create momentum in your life by having weeks where you actually finish what you plan. Download the free flowchart HERE and start processing your own unfinished tasks today!  

Problem solving is one of those skills I’m truly passionate about - for us moms and for our kids. When our children know how to solve problems, they can face whatever challenges come their way with confidence. In today’s episode, I talk with Linsey Jensen about three simple principles that help our kids become better problem solvers. Whether you’re dealing with homework struggles, teaching science concepts, or just trying to get your kids to clean their rooms, these ideas will change how you approach teaching this important skill. Linsey shares: Why making our kids the heroes of their own experiences builds confidence.   How discovery creates deeper learning than following directions   A simple framework for breaking big tasks into manageable steps As a bonus, Linsey shares some of the amazing tools she’s created. If you enjoyed this conversation, I’d love for you to join the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit waitlist! I’ve created this program to help you move through the five steps from surviving to thriving in motherhood. It’s all about identifying what problems to solve in your life at the right time and in the right way, so you can stop feeling stuck on the endless treadmill of demands and start thriving instead. Join the waitlist HERE. Resources from this episode: Lindsay's Etsy Shop for Escape Rooms, Logic Puzzles, and Science Kits Episode 20 with Lindsay Circuit Wiz Kits Lindsay's Website Covalent Moments

Today I’m sharing a delightful conversation that I had with Erin Loechner author of, “The Opt Out Family.” Erin and I dive into what it really means to create a low-tech family life and explore practical ways to reduce technology’s grip on your home while cultivating richer, more meaningful alternatives that both parents and children genuinely enjoy. This is longer than my usual episodes, but the conversation was just too good to cut anything out!  In this conversation, Erin shares: Her journey from social media influencer to intentionally stepping away from screens Simple ways to bring her family motto to life in your home Practical ideas for discovering what truly delights your children How to earn your children’s trust and respect in a digital world What it looks like to opt INTO wonder, creativity, and human connection I hope this episode gives you plenty to think about as you consider technology’s role in your family life. If reducing technology use in your life is something you’re considering, I have a free gift for you! My Technology Fast Workbook guides you through a 30-day break from technology. You’ll create your own personal rules, set up your environment for success, and learn how to reflect on the experience to make lasting changes. This isn’t just a temporary challenge - it’s a way to become truly intentional about technology’s place in your family and discover what matters more! Get it HERE.  

The transition from quarter 1 to quarter 2 here from March to April is one of my absolute favorites because we’re not coming off major holidays, our routines are set for the next little while, school schedules are still flowing, and the weather’s warming up! It’s such a perfect time to reset in a couple of different ways. In this episode I’ll walk you through: A complete RESET framework for reviewing your vision for the year How I’m decluttering  my digital life – including my email inbox, phone apps, and Google Drive folders My approach to physical spaces now that I realize my home should work, even when I’m not my best I’m sharing all my real-time discoveries about what’s actually working in my life right now – practical tips you can implement even during busy seasons. You’ll hear exactly how I’m setting up systems that don’t require me to be at full capacity to maintain a peaceful home. This isn’t perfection – it’s about taking these little windows of opportunity to make tiny changes that create big results over time. Ready to make progress on your own reset? Click HERE to grab a checklist of everything we’re covering so you can start making progress right away!  Resources Thriving in Motherhood Planner: https://pages.thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/wyw-page-5620 Technology Fast Workbook: https://pages.thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/technology-fast Create Your Vision Workbook and Mini-Course: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/vision/ Episode 218: How to Start a Prayer Journal https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/starting-a-prayer-journal-episode-218/ Tiago Forte Email System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXdEVeoGRRc&t=287s&ab_channel=TiagoForte

Are you feeling overwhelmed by complicated clearing systems and endless to-do lists? In this episode, I’m sharing our family’s journey from complete survival mode (where we abandoned all cleaning systems) to creating simple, sustainable routines that keep our home relatively clean without exhausting my limited pregnancy energy.  I’ll walk you through: How to identify YOUR daily cleaning priorities based on your family’s actual pain points Our “confiscate and clean” strategy that’s transforming our tidying habits Why we’re tackling deep cleaning with music and turning it into a family activity How just 20-30 minutes of focused cleaning each morning is creating dramatic results This isn’t about perfect Pinterest-worthy spaces or following someone else’s complicated checklist. It’s about figuring out what matters most to YOU, making it easy to maintain, and celebrating the progress that comes from consistent simple actions. Whether you’re pregnant like me, in a busy season with young children, or just tired of the clean-then-crash cycle, this episode offers practical inspiration for creating cleaning systems that actually work for your real life. Ready to move from surviving to thriving? Grab my FREE 5-Step Path from Surviving to Thriving checklist HERE to help your figure out where you’re at and where to focus your time and energy.  

Do you ever find yourself responding to your children in ways that don’t align with the parent you want to be? As I navigate through pregnancy with our fifth child while homeschooling through Georgia’s cold winter days, I’ve found myself struggling with patience and tone - especially when cabin fever sets in. In this weeks episode, I open up about: One parenting skill I’m trying to master right now.   How a moment of frustration with one of my kids led to an unexpected heart-to-heart.   The simple, yet profound principles of maintaining respect even when kids make bad choices.   Why this approach encapsulates so much of what I’ve learned from countless parenting books. I’m not sharing this as someone who’s mastered respectful parenting - far from it! This is my real-time journey of growth alongside my children, inspired by divine guidance when I needed it most. For those feeling stuck in reactive patterns or discouraged by family tensions, this episode offers a gentle reminder that parenting provides endless opportunities to grow beyond our automatic responses.

Do you ever feel like your best isn’t cutting it? Like no matter how hard you try, you can’t keep up with what it takes to run your household? I hit this wall recently in my fifth pregnancy. Despite giving it my all, I couldn’t maintain the peace and systems I was used to. But through this struggle, I discovered something important about the standards we set for our homes. In this episode, I’m sharing: Why linking household management to family peace is a flawed mindset How to shift from feeling stuck to finding solutions The reality check about “normal’ capacity versus survival mode Why this challenging season has become an unexpected gift A new way to think about our household standards Whether you’re in a survival season or just feeling overwhelmed by your current systems, this conversation might help you move from despair to hope. If you’re struggling to figure out how to do the things you need and want to do, I have a free training for you. Head to thrivinginmotherhood.com for the Plan a Week You Can Win workshop.

I wanted to give a personal update today - I haven't shared much about what's been happening behind the scenes with the podcast and my own life, and there's a lot to tell. Our fifth baby is on the way (I'm about 17 weeks), and while this pregnancy has brought some unexpected challenges, we're so excited. I've been mostly horizontal these past months, but that hasn't stopped our family from dreaming and doing. The kids have been incredible - helping with everything from digging out tree stumps to managing our new two-tier garden. In this episode, I'm sharing: The projects we tackled this past year (including a rock climbing wall and that garden story!) Our vision for transforming our yard into an edible landscape How homeschooling has clicked in a whole new way What's really happening with the podcast while I'm learning to work from bed Why I'm finding more joy in home life than ever before For those who've been around a while and feel like we're friends (some of us are!), this one's for you. P.S. The beta group for the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit opens next week to just 10 people. Join the waitlist at thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/toolkit.

In this week’s episode let's discuss problem solving and how it applies to motherhood.  We'll get super practical with my new S.O.L.V.E. framework to help you get practical and apply this powerful principle today.  Be part of our  beta group of the surviving to thriving toolkit. Join at: thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/toolkit We are only taking 10 members for this first group.  This beta launch includes exclusive coaching access so don’t wait to sign up!