Bonding through travel

There is no greater opportunity for getting closer than traveling together, especially over a long period. For friends, you get to know each other's positive traits, as well as character quirks. Mostly, friendships are reinforced and made significant by shared experiences — most specially, through travel.

Bonding with little ones who don't live with you makes traveling together a great way of knowing them better, feeding them and nurturing them in times when the parents really need an extra pair of hands.

I particularly like the times when Noah & Sab were in my room (I always have a separate room!) deposited by the parents who were packing before we moved to the next city.

They would play hide & seek with me or play with their toys, then would ask me to tell them stories. So, we would settle on the bed, with each of them in my arms, and my dramatic background would come in most handy.

This time, I realized their mom "sanitized" Hansel & Gretel when 3-yr-old Sabrina got out of bed and started to play, saying: That's scary. That's not how mommy tells it! But 4-yr-old Noah stays in my arms, saying: Never mind, Ella. What happens to the witch? Well, I called Sab back & "edited" the brothers Grimm by giving a happy ending to the tale: And Gretel got the key to the cage & pushed the witch into the boiling cauldron. Then by magic the green water became lemonade. Their father found them and they drank the lemonade and feasted on the cookie house and candy roof of the witch. Sab still asked: what happened to the yucky critters thrown into the cauldron by the witch? (I included rats, spiders, worms, toads, etc.) Well, I replied with astounding authority, they all melted with the witch and together they all turned into yummy lemonade. End of story! Mealtimes we always try to be together even if we do our own things during most of the day.

In San Diego, the families of my sons Irvie & Allen did the attractions at their own pace. Irvie got a Go San Diego Pass that allowed us access to almost all the major attractions without lining up for tickets. The Pass is good for 1 week. Quite value for money & a time saver! However, we all managed to meet up for lunch if we were in the same park or had dinner if we went in different directions.                             

I am on Premium Economy with my grandchild Meg and this has really brought us much closer together. Being not quite 7 yrs old, she cried for her mom when she got sleepy and was forced to sleep by her dad who saw to it she obeyed me - before he went his seat in economy. (I already wrote about this convenience in Economy with kids who want to sleep in their parents' laps or arms.) Our window seats are very near the toilet so it was convenient for me to carry her there when I felt she had to go. And the silence of the PEY cabin was so soothing!!! I hope we will not be inconvenienced on the way back as I could not get the same seats.

Disneyland - the Happiest Place on Earth! we visited after we arrived in Los Angeles and before we set out for San Diego. I do believe that no one is too old for Disneyland. One  can recapture one's inner child while enjoying the rides with the little ones. I pretended to be "strong" with Sab and "scared" with Noah on riding the Dinosaur Ride that actually ribboned my guts even if I closed my eyes. Pretty Lizzie, Sabbie & Meg were transformed into princesses when we bought them their fave costumes to wear around during the visit. I wish I could find a Merida costume big enough for me - she is a princess after my own heart!!!

In a couple of days, we will be filling up those "balikbayan" boxes & mailing them from here. I could hardly move in the van amidst all the toys in some of their boxes on the way back here in L.A. That's the best way to do it....mail the purchases, so you can buy them what they want and do some shopping for yourself, too.                                               

Hope we will have an uneventful trip home. Travel safely, dear readers, and have a great summer! It's quite a mild spring over here.