Yay! I’m so happy! My family managed to have a road trip (albeit a very short one) without any disasters, tantrums or meltdowns! What was the secret to this success? Spending a lot of money and a portable DVD player.

I’m only half joking. I posted previously about my younger child that held the rest of the family hostage on road trips with her outrageous behaviour. To combat some of the boredom that was creating the behaviours, she received a portable DVD player for Christmas. I burned a CD with her current favourite songs, packed some books and colouring materials (which I had done on previous trips, but perhaps she wasn’t old enough to appreciate), and made promises of beautiful purchases if she behaved herself.  We also gave her an old digital camera and let her photograph away.

Well, miracle of miracles, the clouds opened and the sun shined on us. I’m sure all those tactics were responsible for some of the changes in behaviour, but believe it or not, I think my baby finally realized that she is not a baby anymore!

We had a wonderful time, with NO tears, very little attitude and ugly mocking faces. Oh yes, she is a very cheeky child that openly mocks us to our faces. Very ballsy, that one. As I’ve said before, she looks like Shirley Temple and acts like Anna Nicole Smith. Sigh.

Spending a fortune on toys that will rarely be played with is a small price to pay to have an enjoyable family vacation, don’t you think?