A Few Things Every Masala Wife Should Know

There are quite a few things you have to learn when you become a wife. I was very young when I got married and I felt like everything was different. I was learning what it looked like to live with someone, balance everything I had on my plate, and how to be there for my husband.In addition to all of that, I was told I was supposed to be some semblance of an Indian or "masala" wife. Indian culture was completely new to me and I usually had no idea what I was doing. I typically figured it out by doing something wrong or during the aftermath of it all.Today, I'm going to help you out. I'm going to give you a leg up in the battle of knowing everything a masala wife should know.

Learn to cook roti... trust me..

First things first. You need to learn how to make some type of roti. You could make parathas, naan, or chapatis. They're served with just about every meal and you can't depend on you MIL to make them for you forever. Not to mention you will get MAJOR masala wife points in you learn how!

Your mother in law will be very involved.

I hope you didn't think that getting together with your partner or even getting married means you get to make all of your own decisions. Your mother in law will always be involved. They will have advice for you in their back pocket at all times and won't hesitate to let you know when you're doing something wrong.If you're together with a momma's boy you're really in for it. They will tell her absolutely everything, even things you thought would be just between the two of you. She will always be there so make sure you work on that relationship. There's nothing better than a mother in law you actually want to be around and spend time with.

You should start saving for plane tickets now.

Traveling is a must when it comes to being a masala wife. You're going to need to travel to different weddings, events, and to visit family that will most likely be around the world. You may get lucky and have a few of them living in the States otherwise international travel here you come!Don't worry. If you're not a traveler now, you will be. You'll start to love it and get excited to fill up another page on your passport! Not to mention, I would travel anywhere in the world if it meant I could attend yet another Indian wedding!

Your mouth will eventually adapt to Indian spice levels... or your taste buds just go numb.

I'll never forget my first few times eating Indian food. I would sit down with a huge plate of curry, rice, and don't forget a huge glass of milk. I couldn't handle the heat with out a little help from milk!Over the years, I became more and more used to the heat. Now I find myself adding hot sauce to dishes I never would have and ditching the milk! Something happens in your mouth when you start eating Indian food. It starts out as a battle in your taste buds until they finally submit and realize it's not so bad!

Your spouse won't prepare you for everything... or much of anything..

Last, but not least... Your husband will never prepare you for everything. He may try and let you know what to expect in different situations, but most of the time you'll be sitting there trying to figure it all out. Or you'll be like me and figure it out by doing it very.. very wrong!Luckily most people expect it and hopefully give you a break. They may even tease you a bit. The only solution I can tell you is ask a lot of questions and go with the flow. Watch people around you and you will figure it out.

The First Lie I Ever Told My In-Laws

There were quite a few scary and intimidating moments I had encountered while dating my boyfriend at the time. I knew I was falling hard for Joel, but it was all so new to me. I was young and he was my first serious relationship. As you all know, serious relationships come with a lot of intimidating experiences.One of the scariest is meeting that family for the first time. You want them to love you right away, but instead of going into it with a cool head, your mind plays tricks on you.Would I say the right thing? What would their first impression of me be? Would they like me? Would I survive the night?Some of you have heard bits of this story before. I met my in-laws for the first time in Texas. Cali-Mama (my husband's uncle) lived there and was eager to host Thanksgiving. Their family looked forward to the holidays every year because it meant everyone would come together and soak up as much time with each other as they could.This year was special because Joel invited me along. In his mind, he figured everyone was together so what better time to introduce my girlfriend.I was excited to meet these people Joel had spent so much time talking about but secretly terrified. There are so many people in my husband's immediate family which meant I had a lot of people to convince. To convince that we were a great couple and that I was in it for the long run.Luckily, I was able to transition into the house with ease. We had arrived early so there were only a few people there. Joel's two uncles picked us up from the airport. We quickly hopped into the back seat and I noticed there was a car seat. We sat on either side of it and his uncle (granted his white uncle who is also in an interracial marriage) told me it was there on purpose to keep us apart. I started to laugh and he didn't.... I quickly learned his sense of humor and picked up on the fact that he liked teasing and messing with me. It truly helped take the edge off.The next few days, he proceeded to give me a few pointers and tell me how it was for him coming into the family almost a decade before.He and his wife had one of the first interracial marriages in their family and truly broke the mold for the rest of us. It was a bigger struggle for them because everyone was trying to figure out what it would look like.Would they follow all of the Indian traditions? Would they need to behave like an Indian couple?Luckily for us, they walked through the fire so we didn't have to. Nevertheless, hearing all of his stories made me even more nervous about meeting Joel's mom. I wanted so desperately for her to like me.I’ll never forget the night I met Joel’s mom. Joel decided to be a good son and terrible boyfriend by picking his mom up from the airport. He was a great son because what mom doesn’t want to be picked up from their son who they haven’t seen in a while. Don’t forget the terrible boyfriend part. I was about to meet his mom and what does he do?LEAVES ME ALONE. I ended up pacing the living room the entire time. An hour later, I heard the garage door open.What was I thinking? I can just leave. Walk home. Maybe they won’t notice. Or I can hide.Joel’s sister came in first and she was so sweet and calmed me down so much when she gave me a big hug. Okay, a nice sister. I can do this.Then Joel’s mom came in. She was quiet, slowly walking towards me. I’m sure she was checking me out thinking who in the world is this girl dating my son.She gave me a hug and walked into the kitchen. She then proceeded by asking me what kind of food I cooked. Apparently, Joel told her I made casseroles. Thanks, Joel. First of all, I have NEVER made him a casserole. Ever. What was I supposed to say? I was twenty and barely knew how to cook. So, I said I made casseroles.I couldn’t decide if she liked me the whole weekend! I second guessed every look and everything she said!I quickly learned Joel’s mom’s sense of humor.. She has this quiet, sarcastic humor that is hilarious. However, if you don’t know her it freaks you out because you can’t tell if she’s serious! Now, we have a great relationship.She teases me about being white and I remind her that I’m more Indian than her son. She would never tell me, but I’ve heard through the grapevine that she’s told people I’m becoming more Indian! Two points for the almost Indian wife.Maybe one day you will be reading my new blog… The INDIAN Wife.

Our Little Fixer Upper *Before*

If you’ve been following my blog for long, you’ve picked up a few things about my family. We’re a multiracial family, I like to adopt pets while my husband is at work, and we move… a lot. We’re at it again!We just closed on our new home! Purchasing a home is one of the most exciting things! We started looking for our dream home a few months ago. We anticipated we’d end up starting the process sometime after March. We wanted to have enough time to find the perfect place and be able to save.We had only been looking for about a week when I got a text from my husband. One sentence would send our family into a whirlwind and change all of our plans.Check out this house!I fell in love with it right away! We decided to drive by it that afternoon and our pastor hooked us up with a realtor from our church. We ended up hating the house after seeing it in person.It’s the funny thing about house hunting. A house that looks so perfect in pictures can feel completely different in person.Nonetheless, that house started us on our house hunting journey. We absolutely loved our realtor, Michaela and decided we wanted to keep looking. About one week later, we found Our Fixer Upper House.The funny thing is that we had skipped over it the first time we saw it. The pictures made the house look like something we wouldn’t like. However, it was sitting on 2 acres and my husband decided to add it to our list of houses to see.In order to get to this little gem, you have to drive down this windy little road into our woods. Yes, our woods! It’s absolutely beautiful. I have always wanted to have a yard that my kids could play in all day long. The woods were a dream I never thought I’d be able to have!The inside is a bit of a different story. It took my much longer to fall in love with. It’s much more outdated and needed a good bit of work. However, every episode of Fixer Upper that my husband and I had spent watching together kicked in and made us realize we could turn it into Our Fixer Upper.  It simply needed a fresh coat of paint, elbow grease, and some Joanna Gaines magic!This house definitely has its charm. It has a 70’s vibe everywhere you go. It even has its own intercom system! My husband was going to get rid of it but I quickly reminded him it meant we could yell at our kids wherever they went!Not to mention the popcorn ceiling…Every single room had popcorn ceiling and we knew it would be the first thing we’d get rid of when we moved in! As soon as you started to get lost in the work the house needs, you simply need to walk outside and see why it’s all worth it.The peaceful backyard makes every moment of work worth it. Especially when you hear how it influences you kid’s imaginations. It’s not just a backyard for my boys.

Should You Do Something You're Uncomfortable With In A Relationship?

I recently did a post discussing my decision to be open to what my elders have to say. I've struggled a lot with this while married to my husband. I am a very strong headed person and saw listening to elders as stifling what I wanted. After a lot of discussion with my husband, we’ve decided to be open to what our elders tell us or ask us to do. This doesn’t mean we blindly do everything they say. We hear what they say, discuss it together, and make our decision as a family.I've received a lot of feedback from this one. Some people understand why we've decided to do this and agree. Others say elders have no place in our relationship, so why would we listen to what they have to say. It's made me think about all of the different situations where this can come up and I realized there isn’t one way that works for every relationship.When you face a decision in a relationship, you have to make a decision together. You have to do what’s best for your family, not just one of you.In any relationship, you will be faced with decisions that affect your family. In an interracial relationship, you'll have to decide where you live, what religion your family will practice, what language is spoken in the house, how to discipline your children, how involved extended family will be, etc.What do you do when you’re asked to do something you’re uncomfortable with?What if your spouse wants you to move to their home country, but you don’t want to?What if your partner wants you to practice a joint family, but you don’t want your in-laws raising your children?What if you want to share your country with your spouse, but he/she won’t give it a chance?You both grew up with different ways of doing things. Each of your cultures tells you what’s normal and what’s not. When you begin an interracial relationship, you have to find a new normal for your family. This means coming together and figuring out what you’ll do together.

The biggest thing you have to keep in mind is that you both have to be happy with your decision.

A few years ago, my husband and I moved our family closer to his side of the family. This meant we moved 36 hours away from my family. It was a really big decision for us. If I wasn’t a part of the decision to move here, it could have caused a lot of issues in our marriage. It would have been easy for this to cause a rift between us. However, we made this decision when we first got married. We discussed where we wanted to settle down and agreed we would settle by his family. There are so many factors that helped us to make this decision.However, timing changed. Every few years we would talk about making the big move. To be honest, I wasn’t ready until a few years ago. I knew I wanted to do it, but it was hard for me to move so far from my family. I had to be fully ready and my husband patiently waited.Now, we’re here and our family is so happy. Sure, we all miss my family, but our reasons for moving here makes it worth it. Indian culture is present in our children’s lives every day. It’s much easier to put them in the middle of this vibrant culture when we’re around my husband’s family. By living closer to my in-laws, it also means my kids are around Telugu more often.

My husband and I made this decision for our family.

We made it together and did what we think is best for our family. You can’t look at other multiracial families and do exactly what they do or concede to the pressure from loved ones to run your family the exact same way they did. They have seen what works for them and try to push you to do the same thing.All you can do is listen to their advice, see how their family functions, and see what you can take from it. Chances are you will be able to take a few things and change other things to fit your family better. There is no right way to have a multiracial family or interracial relationship.You have to communicate with each other every day and constantly reevaluate. You can make a decision that works for a while, but you need to see how those decisions work as your family grows and changes.

How To Teach Our Kids Self-Love

As a little girl, summers were special. They meant a break from school for our whole family. My mom worked at a school so she was on the same school schedule as my little brother and I. Our summers were full of days at the beach and sleepovers. If we could have lived on the water we would have.It was the place that just made everything go away. Bad days, stressful season, everything would simply wash away in the water.There was just one little problem. Summers also meant something else. Every moment of sun meant another freckle on my face.You may laugh, but as a kid, I hated my freckles. No one else in my class had them and they made me stand out. Everyone would make comments about them and they made me feel different.

As a kid, being different is uncomfortable.

There isn't this sense of pride that comes along with it, instead, it makes you feel set apart from your friends.If only I could have told my younger self not to worry because one-day freckles would start trending. One day everyone would want to have your freckles so badly that they'll even get them tattooed on their face.I hope it doesn't take my boys a decade to realize how special they are for being uniquely them. Instead, I want them to look at who they are and be proud.I want them to look at their passions and do what makes them happy, even if it's not what their friends are doing.I want them to stop comparing themselves to other families out there and be proud to have a multiracial family that looks different.

I want them to look in the mirror before they head off for school and smile because they're content with who they are.

So how can we as their parents, teach them to love themselves? How can we help them bypass the years of self-hatred that too many kids face and go straight to loving who they are?It's not as complicated as you may think it is. One of the best ways to help you kids love themselves is by loving yourself first.It all started with mom, so why are we surprised to find out self-love does as well?Our kids watch every move we make.

We are their living, breathing example of everything.

They're looking to us to figure out how they should think, talk, and behave.The problem is we're not always what we teach. It's why we tell them so often to "Do what I say, now what I do." Part of it's our imperfect nature. There is no way we will ever be the perfect example to our kids and I think it's better that way. Instead of giving them this impossible image to attain to, we're showing them what it looks like to lead an imperfect life and how to respond to failure.We're going to do and say the wrong things at times and it's okay. It's the best moment to teach our kids a lesson. You can use the opportunity to be vulnerable with your kids and let them know you were wrong and give them a glimpse into your journey.

Self-love has been that imperfect journey for myself.

I look at my stretch marks, the weight I just can't get off after baby Lucas, and love isn't the first thought that comes to mind. Instead, it's self-hate and comparison. I look at other moms that lost the weight immediately after they had their baby and the mom that bypassed the ugly stretch marks and wonder why I can't look like that. The more I lose myself into the self-loathing, the more it starts to come out verbally."Why am I so fat?""These stretch marks are so ugly."You may not realize, but little ears hear it all. They pick up on the negativity and start to look at their own body twice. If their own mom hates what she looks like, they instinctually start to question theirs.

This leads to the road of self-loathing that takes decades to get over.

If we want our children to love themselves, we have to love ourselves first. We have to let the self-hate go and verbally praise the things we do love about our bodies and selves.It's okay if it's small at first. The more you fill your life with positivity, the easier it will become. Then you'll slowly realize how far you've come and how much you truly do love about yourself.

It starts today. Love yourself daily.

A Reminder To The Momma Who Doesn't Think She Make It Through Today

Last week, I planned out a fun and relaxing evening with my husband. Our lives have been pretty chaotic lately and it was the first evening in a while that we didn't have anything scheduled.It felt like the first breath of fresh air in a while.We had put the kids to be and were about to sit down. Then the baby came out of his room, wild as can be! I instantly knew we were in for an interesting night. When baby Luke gets in these moods it's nearly impossible to keep him in his room. We end up in a back and forth battle of who can keep the baby in bed.Although this time, my husband snuck away. I can't fault him because it was my plan too, he simply beat me to the punch.I was about to wrestle baby Luke back to his room and decided to give him a little tickle fest. Although instead of laughter, he erupted into a hysterical crying fit. I was dumbfounded and assumed he had gotten hurt somehow. Ten minutes of crying later, I realized something else was going on.I kissed his forehead and noticed he had a fever right away. In our family, a fever for baby Luke isn't a small thing. It typically means a febrile seizure and sleepless night.

(Read more about our journey with febrile seizures here...)

I swooped him up and put him in our bed. My husband and I were able to calm him down with a popsicle and cuddles. Then the crying started up again. He was trying to tell me he had an owie and I realized what that meant too late.

Vomit.

Vomit everywhere.

A puddle of vomit in my bed, on my clothes, all over him.

I yelled for my husband and he quickly came in, swooped up the baby in his arms, and put him straight in the bath. He didn't even flinch at the buckets of vomit everywhere.Needless to say, our quiet evening quickly turned into a night of cleaning bed sheets, sanitizing everything (including myself), and cuddling a sick baby.These are the nights that make parenthood feel like a blur.The moments that make you question whether or not you can get through the next few years while your kids are all little.I'm here to tell you a little secret that can get you through the worst of times.

It's just a season of your life and every season comes to an end.

Motherhood is far from easy. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's all worth it. Your kids are only little once. I know right now, all you can see if the finish line far off, behind the puke stained sheets, pee covered toilets, and sleepless nights, but it's there. One day, you'll be sitting with your friends over brunch, laughing at all of these stories.So, what about today?How do you get through the season you're in?

You take it one day at a time. One moment at a time if that's what you need. Soak up the special moments with your kids and remember the rough times can't last forever.

Sooner than you know it, you'll be in a completely different season of life and you'll be looking back at today as a memory.

What Mom Is Really Doing When She's Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping has always been cathartic for me. I have three kids under 6 years old so alone time isn't always a reality. In fact, they're always there. Everywhere I turn I have kids telling me about Minecraft, asking for snacks, or tattling on their brothers.Grocery shopping is my time.Mine.Over the last few weeks, I started leaving the kids at home when I go and it's been heavenly! I stop by Starbucks for a quick drink, then head to the store. I have a list in my purse, but that doesn't stop me from going down every single aisle. That's right, all of them. Even the ones I know I won't be getting anything from. It's not the point.The point is to stay at the store as long as humanly possible. Every stolen moment is a moment my husband gets to appreciate me a little more. I know he understands how much I do, but there's nothing like leaving him with three wild children to appreciate me a little more. It doesn't take long for the texts to start.Babe, how much longer?Where is the disinfectant? Levi peed all over the bathroom floor.Are you almost done?If I have to hear another word about Minecraft.....SOS.They're like little love notes from him while I'm away. They definitely don't entice me to come home any sooner. I've been there, done that.Every day while he's off working, I'm dealing with all three wild children. I'm daily trying to convince my four-year-old to pee in the toilet instead of the floor, seat, or bathroom garbage (real story!). I wake up every day to my 5-year-old asking, "Mom, can I tell you all about Minecraft?" I'm constantly making snacks for the never ending belly of a 2-year-old baby, who camps out by the fridge.I know the pain he's experiencing while I'm away. That's where the cathartic feeling comes from. Knowing full well that I'm helping him to walk an hour in my shoes...my high heel stilettos that look gorgeous, but feel like complete hell to wear.

This is why moms take so long at the grocery store.

Pay back.It's all about pay back ladies and gentlemen. Don't bother texting, it just fuels us to stay out longer.I change my name while I'm grocery shopping. Mom is no longer what I go by. I look around at the other moms shopping with their kids and laugh. I sprint away with my Starbucks in hand and a hysterical laughter erupts.It doesn't matter that the number of grocery trips I take each week is increasing because they all need to eat. It's one thing they won't fight because I soothe their pain by bringing them all back food.One day, our kids will get big enough to watch themselves and I'll let my husband join me on my grocery shopping adventure. Then we'll laugh together at the texts from our kids, asking us when we'll get home. We'll skip down the aisles together with the coffee in hand, although at that point I'm sure we'll have upgraded to alcoholic beverages.But for now, it's just me. My grocery trips are a solitary adventure that I have no intention of cutting short anytime soon.

Chapter Books To Read As A Family

As a little girl, I have so memories of my mom reading to me. It was just her, my brother, and I for a good chunk of my childhood and reading was always one of our favorites. As a single mom, she was always busy and reading meant a few stolen moments. We could steal her away from all of the work we knew she needed to get done and just soak up time with her.I couldn't wait to share those same moments with my little boys. I was so excited that they had a library before they were even born. I scoured thrift stores for books I remembered reading as a kid like The Magic Castle series. Every adventure started with "...and Beth opened the word window."What a beautiful image for a little kid. Reading a book truly was like opening a window into a different world. It doesn't matter what is going on in life, reading with your kids is a special stolen moment just for you. It quites everything else around you and helps you to soak each other up.As my kids are getting a little older, we're starting to expand beyond picture books and venture into different chapter book series. Every day during the school year, we all grab a cozy blanket, find a cozy corner of the house, and read together.The Magic TreehouseAnnie and Jack are a brother and sister team that find a magical treehouse. This treehouse is their gateway to travel and adventures they couldn't have dreamed of! Every time they go to the treehouse, they travel to a different time and get to experience history hands on!Little House On The PrairieMeet the Ingall's family and learn what it would be like to live in the 1800's. Each book give you a glimpse into their lives. Laura Ingalls is a little girl looking for adventures everywhere she goes. Whether she's at home with Ma and Pa or she's off at school with her friends, she's having fun and making memories!Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Greg Heffley is just like any other kid, except he has a big brother that loves to pick on him and parents who just don't get it. He journals about his life and shares the ins and outs of his life with you. Just when you think things couldn't get any crazier... they do!Percy JacksonPercy Jackson is just your typical, every day kid... except that he is the son of Poseidon. One day Percy discovers his magical heritage and is catapulted into a life of chaos, danger, and adventure!Harry Potter Harry Potter lives with his awful aunt and uncle until one day the letters start coming... and coming! Until finally his family can't stop Harry from reading them. He finds out he's invited to the wizard world! Each book shows Harry getting deeper into a new world that he doesn't know how he lived without!Boxcar ChildrenThe Alden kids go in search of a home and stumble upon a boxcar. They make the best of what they have and make it into the best home they've ever seen!RamonaRamona is a little girl with the most terrible luck at times! She's just trying to fit in at school and with her friends but somehow ends up with eggs in her hair and forgetting to get out of her pj's before school!Hardy BoysJoin the Hardy Boys along on their adventures! Every book has a new mystery and the Hardy Boys are on the case! They scour every street to find the person behind the shenanigans going on!Nancy DrewNancy Drew isn't a stranger to mystery. Somehow they keep finding her and she sets out to find out what's going on. Nothing can stop her and she even gets the help of the town!A to Z MysteriesDink, Josh, and Ruth Rose set out to solve the alphabet mysteries. The books go from the Absent Author all the way to the Zombie Zone! Nothing gets in their way!Junie B JonesJunie B Jones is your favorite kindergartener. Somehow the silliest and craziest things happen to her in each book! Kids instantly fall in love with her character and can't wait to hear what happens next!Ready FreddyFreddy is your favorite first grader! He's trying to survive through a new class, new friends, all while trying to join the new hockey team! It's a jungle out there and Freddy is on it!The Chronicles of NarniaThe Chronicles of Narnia are just that.. Books that share stories from Narnia! Each book has a different adventure and you can time travel back to Narnia to see what magical things are happening!

What is your favorite family friendly chapter book?

How To Help Your Multiracial Family Ease Back To School

As the summer draws to a close, parents everywhere are walking into the back to school haze. They know everything is about to get crazy. Free time is out the door and hectic schedules are about to be back in full swing.There are so many things to do for kids to be ready to transition back to school. Their sleep schedules are off, they spend their days outside with no desire for a structured activity, and they've gotten used to being home with mom and dad all day.

Get Back Onto A Sleep Schedule

Slowly ease your children back to a sleep schedule. During the summer late nights are normal because you're hoping they sleep in just a bit for you.Get them ready for school by setting bedtime a bit earlier and having them wake up by a certain time. Transition slowly to get their body clocks back to normal. If you ditch the transition, the first week back to their school schedule will be rough.

Meet Your Child's New Teacher

Find your teacher's email and schedule a time to meet before school starts. This is a great time for you child to meet their new teacher and maybe even get a little excited!It's also the perfect time to introduce their teacher to your multiracial family. You can share a few of the unique things about your family, words your child may use in a different language, etc. Teachers want to truly know who their students are and be aware of what makes them unique.

Set Up Play Dates With Their New Classmates

In addition to meeting their new teacher, try and set up a play date with some of their new classmates. One of the scariest parts of going back to school is the unknown. It's scary not knowing what to expect and the possibility of not knowing anyone.Make them more comfortable by helping them make a few friends early!

Start A New Back To School Tradition

Start a new tradition to celebrate going back to school! Do a drive in movie the last day of summer, throw a party after the first week with their new friends, or go out to breakfast the first morning. Find something fun that you know your kids will love! Make going back to school a fun thing and something they look forward to!

Make Sure To Have One On One Time With Your Kids Throughout The Week

One big transition kids have when going back to school is less time with mom and dad. They got used to spending all of their extra time with you and now they only get to see you for part of the day.Go out of your way to spend one on one time with them during the school week. It doesn't have to be a huge ordeal. It can be as simple as a little coffee date with momma.

How do you help your family ease back to school schedules and routines?

Traveling Families You Should Be Following

Traveling has always been a huge passion for me. I love the idea of scouring the whole world and learning about different cultures and ways of life.The problem is I got married and started a family at 21.... Everyone says you can't travel with kids, so I guess I cut my traveling off before I even got started...I quickly learned that it was all a load of garbage. I met dozens of multiracial families that traveled the globe together! What a concept. A family that travels! I started looking for them online too. I wanted to learn all of their tips and secrets to see how they made it work.I wanted to know how to make traveling with the whole family a fun thing!We started traveling after we had our second son. After a lot of fear, we decided to just do it. Dozens of hotels, road trips, and planes later we finally have a handle on it. So far we've just traveled around the US together, but we're hoping to hit India this year!Traveling truly is a beautiful thing for families. It takes them out of their bubbles and teaches them about a world bigger than themselves. My hope is that my kids will fall in love with different cultures around the world by seeing them firsthand.The Almost Indian Wife We document all of our travels with the kids. Our family shares the ins and outs of traveling with toddlers! Even the moments that make you question traveling at all! At the end of the day we love traveling together and making memories around the world together.Kid World Citizen Becky shares about her love of traveling with her multiracial family. The scour the world together to learn about different cultures, taste unique foods, and all while raising her kids abroad!Suitcases and Sippy Cups One mom and dad decided to leave everything behind and let their wandering spirits guide their family around the world. She shares tips for other parents wanting to travel as a family and helps you make it happen!Travel With Bender Josh is a dad who documents his family travels. They defy the world's saying that you can't travel with kids. By the time his kids were 2 and 3, they had visited over 65 countries! They're living the dream and telling you every step of the way!Two Kids and a MapOne mom teaching her kids that adventure is everywhere they turn. She also shares how they travel on a budget and how you can too!The Family Without Borders This family decided to travel for 6 months straight when they had their youngest daughter! They didn't stop there, they travel all over the world and teach their kids about the world around them.World Travel Family Travel isn't just a dream for this family, it's a passion! They travel the world and let you know allthe details. They help families find great deals, places to go, and teach you how to live an adventerous life!The Jet Set FamilyThis family shares all of their traveling adventures with the world. They go all over the world and want you to see exactly what it looks like! Curious where to go? Check them out and get inspired!Walking On Travels This family is here to remind you that you don't have to give up on traveling when you have kids. Just take them with you and experience the world together!Exploramum and Explorason This mother son duo is here to share the lessons they've learned from a life of travel with you. They have a passion to travel the world and spread kindness everywhere they go.

Do Kids Belong At A Meat Shop

Over the last eight years that my husband and I have been married, we've faced quite a few culture shock moments. Most of them happen when we least expect it. We just go about our day and then we find ourselves doing something we've done for years, only to see the look on our spouses face.Complete and utter shock.Or it's the other way around and we look at them wondering how in the world they don't realize how crazy it is.It gets even crazier when you have kids.About a year ago, my husband and I headed to our local Indian grocery store. We had planned out a few Indian dishes for the week and knew we needed to pick up spices and some fresh meat.We have taken our kids to this Indian grocery store dozens of times... Usually the Aunty or Uncle that works there gives them a sucker and they always try to find the good cookies.I knew they had fresh meat at this one, but I didn't realize how fresh.We went through the store and grabbed all of the groceries we needed and saved the meat for last. We walked to the meat section and I noticed they had a lot of pre-cut meat right up front. I assumed we'd pick from the meat in the fridge. My husband started talking to the guy about different cuts of meat and decided to order half a goat. The man then preceded to walk into the back room.

He walked back out carrying a goat over his shoulder. 

Dead.Skinned.Baby Goat.My four year old instantly asked him, what's that? The man smiled and said it's a goat. Do you see his head? Want to watch me cut him up?

WHAT? 

All I wanted to do was yell at this guy that just traumatized my four year old.Why in the world would you joke around with a toddler about a dead animal?! Right as I was about to make the biggest scene this guy has probably ever seen, I stopped and realized this was normal for him. He probably sees families come in all the time, children in their arms, watching this process happen.My husband even told me a story of him and his siblings in India. Him and his family had gone to Hyderabad for the summer. All week long, his younger brother and sister were playing with a goat. They had named it and started to treat it as a pet. One morning, they woke up to see it hanging on a tree behind their bungalow.An Aunty and Uncle were preparing it for dinner.As much of a shock as that was to them, they realized early on the reality of having animals in India.I watched my son the entire time. I was glued to his reactions to see if I needed to cover his eyes and run out of the store at any moment. Surprisingly, he was fine. While I was cringing at every moment, he was curious and then distracted by the cookies in the aisle next to us.This was one of those moments that was completely acceptable in Indian culture and a huge shock in American culture.He still goes with my husband to the Indian grocery store all the time and he still has just as many questions when he goes. The big thing I had to remember was just because this was something new to me, didn't necessarily mean it was a bad thing.I'll admit though... I still hesitantly watch their reactions the whole time!

Have you ever experienced culture shock?

What's Expected Of A Foreign Daughter In Law?

Over the years, I’ve been faced with a question and my answer has changed as I've been married.

Does marrying into a foreign culture mean you are now expected to behave according to your new cultures rules?

This has come up for me in different ways. I’ve mentioned before, I grew up in a family with a single, mom. I was taught to be a strong, independent, and outspoken person. However, the culture I have married into expects humility, submission to leadership, and listening and trusting your elders. There’s not much room for outspoken remarks in there.When I first married my husband, I was very vocal to him. I told him that we are married, starting our own family, but he has to remember, I’m not Indian. He used to laugh.

Yes, hon. I think your white skin was a bit of a give away for me.

I could see some of the cultural differences from the beginning of our relationship. It all started my first Thanksgiving with his family. I was so interested and observed all weekend. I noticed everyone was called by Indian names (Ukka, Mama, Pinni, Ummamma), everyone was extremely close to each other, everyone ate Indian food with their hands, and all of the kids submissively obeyed their elders (even as adults).My husband and I have always wanted to bring Indian culture into our family. So, I tried to find out what was going to be expected of me as a foreign daughter in law. I wanted to be a good daughter in law, but I also didn’t want to be held to every Indian standard there was. In my head, I thought I'd be changing myself if I agreed to be held to all Indian standards.The longer I've been a foreign daughter in law, the more I’m realizing it’s not possible to truly bring Indian culture into our family without being held to some Indian standards.I have responsibilities as the oldest daughter (in law) in the family, as a mother of biracial children, as a wife, as a foreign daughter in law, and as an Akka (big sister).I've learned to love some of these expectations. I love that my husband and I have been able to be there for my brother and sister in law. I love being able to give advice to all of the cousins in the family. I love having family live with us for extended periods of time.Along with so many expectations I love, there are also some that I still struggle with. As an outspoken person, I have the hardest time listening without sharing my opinion. I’ve learned how disrespectful it can be in Indian culture to openly disagree with an elder. In my family, we all share our opinions and often leave it at, let’s agree to disagree. I’ve never seen that as disrespectful. I love that my family shares our opinions with each other. Even if we don’t follow what someone says, I love that we can challenge each other.Submissive obedience in Indian families means an elder tells you to do something and you do it, simple as that. I finally asked someone for advice on this.

Will I lose myself if I agree to submissive obedience?

She asked how I’d lose myself. How could I be myself, without sharing what I thought? What if I disagreed? What if I agreed, but I still want to share what I thought?The more questions I asked myself, the more I realized there's no way to lose myself by listening to someone who loves my family and is trying to help us. I have only been a parent for five years. I have so much to learn. If anything, I’m letting my pride prevent me from accepting help.When elders in our family tell me to do something, I’ve learned to be open. Obviously, I’m so far from perfect in this area. I know my pride will continue to rear it’s ugly head again and again. However, I want to teach my kids to listen to their elders as well. The best way to teach them this is to show them, even adults listen to their elders.This doesn’t mean I don’t have a voice in our family. That is the biggest idea that I struggle with. The western culture in my head says obeying as an adult means I’m being stifled and not respected. In reality it means someone loves us enough, they are trying to help us by giving us advice and trying to make our lives easier.There are the times where I am told to do something with my children and I don’t agree.

What do I do? I thank them for the advice and then my husband and I decide together.

At the end of the day, my husband and I will do what we think is best for our family. However, I am actively trying to quiet my pride so I can be open to what our family members have to offer as advice and wisdom.As a foreign daughter in law, the standards are different. Some may expect me to follow every Indian standard and others won’t hold me to any. My husband and I talk about which standards I feel comfortable holding myself to. The biggest thing I ask myself is what can I teach my child if I follow a certain standard. If I think it holds value to them, I try to follow it. If it’s not something I want to teach them, I don’t.

You won’t ever be able to please everyone. All you can do is what’s best for your family. You and your spouse chose together what you will do as a family.

Mistakes Interracial Couples Are Making

Mistakes Interracial Couples Are Making

There are a lot of things interracial couples have to do. They're constantly trying to figure out how to blend everything from taste preferences to family traditions. However, they're also doing a few things wrong.

Trying To Figure Everything Out On Their Own.

We've all heard the saying, "Relationships require open lines of communication." However, it's one thing most relationships lack. Over time, you start to talk less and either assume your partner knows what you're thinking or figure it's easier to do it all on your own.I'm definitely one that likes to do things on my own. I grew up with an independent single mom and my first instinct is to take care of myself. I've had to really learn over the years, to depend on and communicate with my husband.Communication is vital in interracial relationships. They have all the same things that typical couples have to face as well as all the challenges that come with blending cultures and expectations. It's important for them both to talk about how they feel along the way and to check in with each other frequently.

Assuming Expectations Are Universal.

Anyone in an interracial relationship will tell you just how different expectations are in different cultures. While you may think you're being hospitable and gracious, you in-law may think you're actually being rude and offensive.You may get lucky and have some expectations that are universal, but for the most part, they're not. Interracial couples have to talk about what's expected of each other in different situations. It's up to both of them to decide if they'll follow the expectations, in the end, but understanding what they are is key.

Getting Caught Up In The Drama.

It's easy to get caught up in the stress of blending cultures and trying to follow the expectations that have been placed on your shoulders. You start to forget why you fell for each other, to begin with, because your relationship becomes all about stress.You have to find a way to separate it all. You fell for your partner because you loved them. If you can stand strong as a couple, you can face the rest of it together. Even though it can be overwhelming at times, think of it as something to help you get closer together.

Forgetting What Culture Really Means.

Somehow the term "culture" has been mistranslated by many interracial couples. They assume one of them has more culture than the other because their partner grew up in India or some other part of the world. Then their relationship becomes all about blending their culture into the relationship rather than blending both cultures into their family.Culture is a person's beliefs, how they were raised based on where the lived or their ethnic background, their ideas, and how they behave.We all have a unique culture that sets us apart from everyone else. Interracial couples have to remember to blend both cultures into their family.

Not Laughing.

Interracial couples face a lot. It may be in the form of discrimination, stereotypical jokes, stress, or crazy comments from ignorant people. At the end of the day, they all have a choice. They can let it make them bitter or they can just laugh.Sometimes laughter is the best medicine.You can't control how other people are, but you can control your own response. Don't let other people come in make you feel like your relationship is a burden or stress you out.Instead, just laugh. Laugh because you knew you are completely in love with your partner and that is all that matters.

The Question Interracial Couples Secretly Ask Themselves

My husband and I are about to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. While it's gone by fast, it wouldn't have been possible with a lot of hard work.Every couple that has survived past the new relationship stage knows how hard a relationship can be. If you want it to work you have to grow together, forgive daily, and strive to be the best person you can be.What about interracial couples?While every couple faces challenges, interracial couples are in a whole new ballpark.In addition to meeting the in-laws, you have to be aware of all the different cultural expectations.You don't just have to figure out how to live together, you have to figure out how to blend cultures in your home.There's a unique edge to just about everything in your relationship. At the end of the day, just like other couples, you have to put in the hard work. You'll have different seasons throughout your relationship. The wonderful seasons will help get you through the rough seasons.Your love for each other trumps anything you will go through together.However, if we're being honest... there's a question we've all asked ourselves at some point in our interracial relationship. A question we may even be embarrassed to admit.Would it have been easier if I didn't choose an interracial relationship?If we're going to sit here and be frank with each other, the answer is most likely yes.Blending cultural expectations, lifestyles, and beliefs can be overwhelming at times. It's also work that other couples don't necessarily have to put in daily like we do.While both people in the relationship could ask themselves this question, the thing to remember is that culture is one of the reasons you love your partner.When my husband and I started falling for each other, the fact that we had different cultures didn't cross our minds. In fact, I really didn't think about it until I met his family for the first time. Then I was able to see a beautiful culture and family that had helped my husband to be the person he is today.We can all look back on our stories and ask if we could have made it easier on ourselves somehow. Hindsight is 20/20 so yes. We could go back in time and save ourselves a lot of heartaches, but we've grown from every one of them.My interracial relationship has taught me to communicate with my husband, be open to the world around me, and to love hard.I wouldn't change the life I have today with him, even if it meant things could be a little easier. It's the intricate part of our family that makes my life so exciting.What has your interracial relationship taught you?

Sweeten Up Your Summer With Mango Lemonade

Summer time in our house gets a little chaotic. I look around and my kids are always shirtless, eating popsicles, leaving popsicle wrappers on the floor and trying to have water fights.Moving to North Carolina has changed up our summer a bit. It's so stinkin' hot here so we're always looking for ways to cool off!My favorite way is to whip up a cold treat. We've been surviving on smoothies and popsicles mainly. Now that mango season has officially hit, I've been trying to think up ways to include mangos into our summer fun.Then mango lemonade was born in our house.We all love lemonade and snack on mangos all summer long. I knew there had to be a way to have the best of both worlds in one cup.Today, the boys and I did a little experiment and it turned out to be amazing. Y'all, mango lemonade. Say it with me...Mango. Lemonade.It's what dreams are made of!We've already made up two batches today! We made one for the video in this post and then we drank it all and had to make more so daddy can try some when he gets home!Don't believe me? Make some today and let your taste buds be the judge.The best part is you can tweak it to your liking as well. You could add in a few strawberries or even some pineapple and then voila! Summer in a cup.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:25]

How are you staying cool this summer?

Surprise We Have A New Addition To The Family

My husband and I have always been big animal lovers. While we were dating we talked about the pets we wanted in the future and we quickly started off our pet adventure a few months after we got married.Three kids and one dog later, something just wasn't right. We wanted a friend for our dog, Bella. We were also talking about buying a house with more space outside that would make having two dogs a little easier.My husband and I started thinking through the kind of dog we wanted, whether we wanted to adopt an older dog or a puppy, and when we would take the plunge.Fast forward a few months and my kids and I were out running errands. We got out a little later than expected and the temperature outside was going up. We had planned on going to the park, but I had no desire to sit there, ending up drenched in sweat so they could play for a few minutes.Instead, I decided to bribe them with a pet shop visit. We love stopping in there periodically because you can see all the cute little pets and we could pick up a few toys for Bella. After a bit of whining, they quickly realized stopping at the pet store meant they could check out the creepy crawly bugs and snakes.They ran inside and B-lined straight to the disgusting bugs I will never, ever buy for them. I have a hard enough time sitting there while they poke the cages!After about thirty minutes of running back and forth from pet to pet, we decided to pick up our Bella treats and pay. While we were waiting in line, we saw the couple in front of us had brought their dogs in with them.A-freaking-dorable!!!They had a Chihuahua mix and a little Shepherd-Retreiver mix. We instantly fell in love and made baby sounds to them the entire time they were in line. The couple kept looking at us and laughing because the kids were infatuated. Okay, I was too!They finished up their purchase and walked out of the store. I instantly started gushing to the cashier about how cute they were. I let her know the Shepherd mix was the exact kind of dog we want to get next.She stopped what she was doing. She smiled big and said something that would change our lives forever...They're actually trying to get her adopted.Stunned, I asked if she was serious. She laughed and nodded. That was all my boys and I needed. We left all of our stuff at her cash register and ran outside!I asked if they really were trying to find a family for her and how much they were thinking about selling her for. All they had to do was look at all three of my kids who were all kissing her, petting her, and cuddling her as we spoke.Free. All we want is for her to find a good family.I'll take her! My kids and I started jumping up and down saying we want her and would love to bring her home! We exchanged numbers and scheduled a time to pick her up.She was only 2 pounds and needed to be home a little while longer. Not to mention, she was a rescue and was in bad shape when they found her. They spent a thousand dollars to rescue her and nurse her back to health.After they left we went straight back inside to buy stuff for our new puppy.This was the moment I realized something.I just adopted a dog.I just adopted a dog while my husband was at work.I now have to tell my husband we have a new dog coming home.I sent him a picture and let him in on our family's big news. He thought I was kidding. The moment he realized I wasn't he called me.Are you serious?All I could hear was his coworkers behind him laughing. I thank them for getting him in an agreeable mood! He laughed and asked for pictures asap!He was happy she was the kind we wanted and I heard him shoosh his coworkers saying he would bring her to visit!Then he went back to the meeting he was in before I happily interrupted him. He called me the moment work was done for the day and asked me again if I was serious.He wasn't sure if he should believe me until he got home and saw our kitchen table full of puppy stuff. About 4 weeks later, we drove to the couple's home and picked up our newest addition. Our whole family is infatuated with her. Even though my husband likes to call her "your dog" I secretly find him cuddling her. He's already a push over with her. All she has to do is whine and he immediately makes us get her and snuggle her!The moral of the story....It's okay to adopt a puppy while your husband is at work because he will fall head over heals for her!

How To Survive A Long Distance Relationship

Nothing can beat the feelings you have when you first fall in love with your partner. Everything's new and you start to realize what true love really feels like. You wonder how you ever survived without this person in your life and start to picture your lives together.Then you wake up one morning and realize you've ended up in a long distance relationship.Long distance relationships are no secret to interracial couples. Many of us have fallen in love across states and different countries. The distance seems scary at first, but we want to make it work. We know we found the person we want to spend the rest of our lives with and we want to fight for it.The love you have for each other can conquer the distance between you.I'm not going to sugar coat anything for you today. It's hard. Relationships on their own require hard work, but add in a few hundred miles in between you and it's catapulted into a new level of chaos.I've been asking couples in my Multiracial Motherhood Facebook Group for some advice. I wanted to hear from all of them and find out how they made their long distance relationship work. Here are the tips they wanted to share with all of you!

Talk Regularly

Find time to talk every day. Schedules get complicated, but it's important to always make time for each other.

 Schedule Date Nights

Even though you're apart, you still need date nights. Schedule a time to FaceTime over dinner and make it special.

Send Each Other Care Packages

Write each other letters and fill up little boxes to send to each other. Nothing beats getting a package from your loved one.

Remember To Talk About The Little Things

When you're far apart, it's easy to fill your phone calls with the big things. You want to make sure they know what's going on in your life, but it's easy to leave the small stuff out. Find time to talk about what you had for lunch, what you did with your friends, and the little moments of your day.

Have Fun Together

It's okay to be silly! Send funny messages, lip sync battle together, and keep your relationship fun!

Don't Keep Score

Don't make your relationship a competition by keeping track of who calls the most, who visits the most, or who does things more often. All you can do is the best you can.

Trust Each Other

Trust is huge in a long distance relationship. Keep the lines of communication open and don't let yourself constantly second guess your partner.

Start Your Day By Saying Good Morning And End It With Goodnight

Start and end every day by sending a quick message to say good morning and goodnight.

Try To Keep Your Times Together Simple

When you visit each other, you'll want to fill it with everything you miss doing together. Try not to overload your schedules for the few days you get to see each other. Try and keep it simple.

Let Yourself Feel All The Emotions

Long distance relationships are hard and it's important to allow each other to go through the emotions.

Make Trips Happen

Save as much as possible, even if it means cutting things out. Then take trips when possible.

Prepare Yourself For Criticism

People are going to make comments about your relationship and try to get you to second guess your partner. You know your partner and your relationship. That's all that matters.

Stay Positive

Your long distance relationship will be full of good moments and rough days. At the end of it all, you need to stay positive. You can make this work because you love each other.

Multiracial Family Guide: Hosting Your In-Laws

As a new couple, one of the scariest moments is having your in-laws over to your house for the first time. Most likely, you've already met them before, but it was on their turf. Now you're welcoming them into your own home.Your natural habitat.The place you can relax and be the raw, unfiltered you. You know the place you eat take out directly out of the container. The place you walk around without a bra because they're all dirty. The place you don't bother keeping spick and span because you're too busy.The place you're terrified to let your in-laws into.Before you start hyperventilating, take a deep breath. It doesn't have to be as bad as you're imagining in your head.In reality, having them over to your house can be easier. You're the most comfortable at home, so it can help with your nerves. Not to mention, you are in control of your environment. You can tidy up, hide the Game of Thrones contraband, and set out a vase of flowers.The scariest part is not knowing exactly what they're expecting when they arrive. As an interracial couple, you know things will be a bit different and you'll have to figure out what is culturally expected as the host.This is one of the things I've struggled with over the years. When I have people over to my house, I do what I was raised to do. I do what my family taught me was expected as the host, but over the years I've learned just how different it can be in different cultures.I finally sat down with my mother in law and simply asked her.What should I do as the host when Indian family members come to visit?

Everything Starts With A Cup Of Chai

Chai can make everything better. Truly. Somehow it has a magical effect when people enjoy it together.Whip up a batch of masala chai before your guests arrive. After they walk in the door and the greetings are finished, offer everyone a cup.This is going to give you huge Indian points with your family. You're showing them that you're going out of your way to bring them a little comfort from their own home.Try this simple masala chai recipe for your guests.

Food Is Your Best Friend

When you get your Indian relatives together, they're expecting food. I used to try and do little appetizers or plan to go out and get food soon after, but it's not the same. They want Indian food. Who doesn't? I can't even blame them because Indian food is delicious and it's a great way to bring people together.It doesn't matter if they're coming at lunch, in between lunch and dinner, or late at night... Prepare a few Indian dishes for them. Worse case scenario they say no thank you and you reheat it for the next meal.It means a lot to them when they see all the hard work you put in for them.You could prepare a simple keema curry, almond chicken curry, or even my favorite pav bhaji. Serve it with a big plate of rice and you're ahead of the game.

Shower Them With Gifts

If this is your first time meeting your in-laws, get them a gift. It doesn't have to be anything huge, but gifts are expected. They may not ever tell you this, but it's an unwritten rule in Indian families.You could get them a little container of loose leaf tea, a scarf, a piece of jewelry, or truly anything. It's not the cost that matters, it's the thought.

Be Yourself

At the end of the day, be yourself. The reason you're meeting your in-laws or hosting them at your house is that your partner loves you. They love you so much they want to bring you into their family.All you have to do is be yourself.Share about your first time hosting the in-laws in the comments!

Avoid The Potty Training Backslide This Summer!

Is The Potty Training Backslide Worth It?

When a parent thinks about potty training their child, they're usually filled with a sense of dread. All they can see is accidents on their couch, pulling over dozens of times during their 20 minute drive, and endless loads of laundry to wash the pee stained big kid underwear.Then if you're "smart" like me, you attempt to potty train them before you go on vacation. You convince yourself, it's going to be fine. They will just keep working on it there.Wrong.Instead of improving on their potty training skills, they end up backsliding. All of your hard work goes down the drain as vacation goes on. It may even feel worth the backsliding while you're out laying in the sun.The problem settles in when you get back home. Instead of an eager child, you end up with a disinterested toddler with no desire to potty train again.It's not worth it!I have potty trained 2 1/2 children in my nearly six years as a parent.My four year old practically potty trained himself. He wanted to be like his big brother and made it all happen. He motivated himself to get it done!My five year old was a different story. He was my first child and I basically had no idea what I was doing. He was an early talker and I just assumed he was ready to be potty trained. Shortly after we "potty trained" him, we went on vacation to Chicago. He completely gave up on potty training there and I ended up in an 8 month potty training battle with him when I got home.I definitely learned my lesson with my two oldest boys. Now, I'm using everything we've learned with my toddler this summer.Today, I'm partnering with Huggies to help prevent the potty training backlide this summer.

Ways To Avoid The Summer Backslide

If you haven't started potty training before your vacation, I would suggest you wait. You want to potty train when you know you'll be home for a while. I usually schedule a full week at home and then slowly venture out. Take a look at your schedule and plan to start your potty training adventure after you get home from vacation.If you've already completed potty training your child, summer time doesn't have to be a disaster. You can help your child to stay potty trained with a few simple steps.Make It Fun AgainWhen a toddler is on vacation, everything seems more fun than working hard to pee in the potty. Why do something that takes work when you can just go in your pants and let your parents do all the hard work?If you see your child starting to loose interest with remaining potty trained while on vacation, make it fun again. Take a small step backwards and reinforce them every time they use the potty. You could grab a set of stickers or small candy to give them as a reward.Model By ExampleYou can only tell your kids to use the potty so many times. At a certain point, they start to tune you out. This is when it's important to go back to the age old saying, actions speak louder than words.If your child has siblings, let them see how they use the potty. Kids look up to their siblings and they are a huge source of motivation for them. Make sure to point out how they use the potty like a big kid.BackstepIf you notice your child beginning to backslide, take a step backwards. Instead of letting them tell you when they need to go potty, you can set a timer. Put in a simple timer to your phone and use that as a reminder to have your child try and go potty.While on vacation, it's easy for your toddler to miss their body's cues telling them to go potty. They end up waiting way too long and have an accident. Step in and stop the chain by reminding them yourself.

Let Huggies Help You This Summer

I've used Huggies diapers and wipes since my kids were little. I love to see their passion for kids and their parents. They don't just sell diapers, they want to help parents hold onto special memories with your little ones. Whether it's your child's first step or the first time they use the potty like a big kid, they are there for you.Are you ready to avoid the potty training backslide?If so, head over to your local Sam's Club and pick up a box of pull ups and wet wipes! With a big family, I'm always looking for a good deal. By shopping at Sam's Club, I know I can stock up on my pull ups and wet wipes without destroying my monthly budget.Head over today and save $10 off any two, or $18 off any three diapers, wipes, and pants today! 

People You'll Meet While On Vacation

My family and I just got home from vacation! Our week was full of late nights, early morning, friends, hysterical laughter, games, and new friends.It’s been a while since I’ve gone on vacation with so many people. Originally, I was going to go to Orlando alone attend BlogHer. The more my husband and I talked about it, the more we realized it would be more fun to turn it into our family vacation for the year!Who doesn’t want to take their whole family to Orlando!?We ended up traveling with a total of 5 adults and 5 kids. As you can imagine things got crazy and we made some beautiful memories that I hope my kids have forever.It didn’t take long for us to realize we all like to vacation differently.

People You’ll Meet While On Vacation

The Lazy VacationerThis person likes to relax during vacation. They don’t see the point in filling up their whole trip with dozens of activities. Instead, they sleep in, enjoy a nice cup of coffee on the balcony, and soak it all in.Every day is an opportunity to savor new memories.The Cram It All In VacationerThis person has an idea of their perfect vacation and crams in every activity on that list. Exhaustion is the last thing on their mind. The biggest concern for them is missing something.You won’t miss anything either because they’ll take enough pictures to last a lifetime.The Couch Bound VacationerThis person likes the idea of vacation rather than the vacation itself. All their itinerary includes are the couch, snacks, and binging the latest show on Netflix.Don’t bother trying to get them to do anything on vacation. You’ll hardly see them leave the room, much less get them to check out the tourist spots.The Dare Devil VacationerThis person likes to chase the thrill during their vacation. As soon as you get to your destination, immediately find the closest hospital. Some of their crazy adventures end in broken limbs. They have no fear because their broken bone is their souvenir from their latest thrill.Your vacation won’t be boring if they come along.The Indecisive TravelerThis person is always up for fun! They just want to be there for the experience of it all. The only problem is getting this person to make any decision is like pulling teeth!You better hope you’re not alone on vacation with one of these vacationers or you’ll end up in your room the whole time trying to figure out where to go.The good thing is they’re up for anything!The Early Bird VacationerThis sums up just about any child you go on vacation with. They don’t care what time everyone goes to sleep the night before, they’re still up at the break of dawn!They’re so excited for the vacation that they wake up before everyone else to make sure they don’t miss anything. If you’re really lucky, they’ll even wake everyone up with a Smurf song like my little boy!While they’re full of energy, no one wants to room with them in fear of losing all sleep while on vacation!

What type of vacationers do you have in your family?

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