Jet Set Mom: May 2012

Monday, May 14, 2012

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

Talking his way through the Jurassic period, Alex shared his paleontologist know-how at the National History Museum of Los Angeles. As his sister "roared" with at each dino, Alex explained the distinctions between triceratops, stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

National Train Day

National Train Day celebrates the anniversary of the nation's transcontinental railway -- 143 years!

"On May 10, 1869, in Promontory Summit, Utah, the 'golden spike' was driven into the final tie that joined 1,776 miles of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways, forever transforming the face and character of America. National Train Day is an annual celebration of train travel and the ways trains touch the lives of people across America. Train stations and other venues across the country host activities and exhibits that highlight the past, present and future of trains and travel."

In cities across America, children drag their parents to long lines at train stations to celebrate trains. At Union Station in Los Angeles, Alex and Serene toured trains, played on interactive exhibits, gawked at model train displays.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Wings of Freedom

The Wings of Freedom Tour brings B-17 and B-24 World War II bomber aircraft to small airports around the country. Spectators can climb aboard and tour the aircraft from cockpit to tail. The devoted can even pay for a flight in a jumpseat. Alex and Serene crawled repeatedly through the bombers and tried the gunners.

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Shame on you United Airlines

United Airlines Customer Service. Is BAD.
Shame on you United Airlines.

United Airlines Check in. Is BAD.
Shame on you United Airlines.

United Airlines Gate Agents. Are BAD.
Shame on you United Airlines.

United Airlines Flight Attendants. Are BAD.
Shame on you United Airlines.

I'm a platinum card holder on United Airlines. That means I fly hundreds of thousands of miles on this airline. I've been stuck in bad weather, delayed by mechnical problems, pushed off of flights when they are overbooked, stuck on runways for hours. Missed meetings. Had vacations cut short. Missed my children's activities. AND I NEVER COMPLAINED. I accepted it as the cost of travel.

But, when I flew this summer from Chicago O'Hare to LAX with my two small children alone, I tried to book our seats together online. (The system wouldn't allow it). I called reservations a month in advance to get seat assignments. (The online ticket agent couldn't help me). I checked in online 24 hours in advance. (Again the system couldn't handle seating me together with my children.) I called again the day prior to the flight. (Nope - I need to ask at check-in.) I asked for seating at check-in. (I was re-directed to the gate agent.) I stood in line with two tugging children at the gate. (The gate agent couldn't possibly help me, but did tell me that its an FAA requirement for parents to be seated next to their small children.) I asked the flight attendant. (She was too busy). Helpless...I tried to take over a row. The other passengers complained. Desperate...I strapped my children (age 6 and age 1) into their middle seats in separate rows and went to take my seat in another row. And...waited for the tears and screams.

As passengers looked around for the crazy mother who abandoned her children, finally...help. But NOT from United employees. No -- another mom with teenage children gave up her seats, re-arranged her family and made it possible for me to sit together with my little kids.

Shame on you United Airlines.

Moms Going Back to School

No one ever said getting a PhD was easy, but for working moms with children at home, it only requires a few superhero powers. Nevertheless, moms seeking a degree should not give up.

Five Reasons Why You Can be a Mother
and Get a Degree

Anyone can become a student, but not everyone can exceed at it the way moms can. With everything moms juggle in their work, family and personal lives, you may think they are too busy to take on course material, but that is just not true. Often the busier someone is the better they do, they just don't have any room to slack off.

In fact, the skills that help moms succeed at this everyday juggling act are the same skills that help them excel as students. The experts at eLearners.com, sponsor of "Project Working Mom", share some of the reasons moms make great students.

For the the tips, check out:
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/ara_fivereasonswhyyo

I'll add a few of my own:
* Focus
* Organization
* Skip some more sleep
* Take it one class at a time
* And, don't give up!

Mom arrested, jailed for disciplining kids on plane

Calling all Moms!

Whatever you do -- don't spank your kids on a plane no matter how unruly they become, how many glares and rude glances you receive and how much chaos they create. If you do, you'll likely get arrested, jailed for three months, have your children taken from you to a different state to live in foster care, and since you'll end up on probation, you won't be allowed to see them for at least a year.

Once again -- flight attendants who think they have superpowers are out to destroy the lives of mothers jetting around the world.

Check it out here:
Mom arrested, jailed for disciplining kids on plane (OneNewsNow.com)

Daddies pay attention!

Taking care of baby means lots of cool high tech gadgets! Beanie babies have been uploaded with web connections. There’s a LoJack that you can attach to your baby so if they try to escape the crib an alarm will sound. And, if you want to test your kids’ language skills, there’s a new techy device that records the child’s words, and after another upload, you can compete with other dad’s across the country to see how your kid is doing against others his/her age.

For more about the robotic diaper changer, you’ll have to check out this article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/technology/personaltech/28basics.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Keep Your Laws, Hands and Alarms Off My Body

Here's one that I wish I had written....

Stop Setting Alarms on My Biological Clock
If I'm ever going to fulfill my dream of becoming a mother, I'm going to need some better role models.

By Carrie Friedman

Newsweek, July 23, 2007 issue - I am at a party chatting with a woman I know slightly. As her young son squirms out of her embrace, she slips her hand under my shirt. She's not getting fresh with me. She's touching my tummy with her cold hand and asking me, in a concerned voice, "Why aren't you pregnant yet?" I smile, break free from her touch, and head to the food table to fill said empty belly with her brat's birthday cake.

I love children and definitely plan on having them. Maternal instinct is oozing out of my pores: I've infantilized my dogs; I've gotten down on my hands and knees at the park with babies I barely know. My marriage is wonderful and solid, and we are both blessed with good health. I've been a nanny, a teacher, a youth-group leader. I've taken childhood-development courses solely for the purpose of someday raising happy, balanced children. I have always looked forward to becoming a mother.

So why don't I have kids or even the inkling right now? It's because of you. Yes, you: the fanatical mothers of the world. It may seem like ages ago now, but you weren't always like this. You, too, were sneering at the obnoxious parents who brought their infants to fancy, adult, nighttime restaurants or R-rated movies and let them carry on, ruining things for other patrons. You've been terrible advertising for the club that you so desperately need others to join.

If you want me to join your ranks—and you've made it clear with your cold, clammy hands on my stomach that recruiting my uterus is of paramount importance to you—I need to set some ground rules.

First, please stop asking me when I'm going to get pregnant.

Read on at...http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19762056/site/newsweek/

Tips for the Jet Set Mom

Plan Ahead! Make a list even if you are not one of those list-making kind of women. If you make a list, you're less likely to forget what you need.

When traveling internationally, bring plenty of diapers. In the US, you can plan on stopping at any 24 hour market when you run out of pampers or huggies, but don't count on that abroad.

Don't forget the snacks -- lots of them. Plan for the unexpected. The plane will be delayed, the car will get a flat tire, the weather will send you off the beaten track. You'll get through the change in plans much easier if tummies (yours too!) are full.

When flying, know the TSA 3-1-1 for carry-on luggage. Check it out at: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm

Don't be afraid to accept a little help. Let the stranger open the door for you or allow the attendant to carry your luggage. You already know you are superwoman, so let others alleviate every little bit when you can.

Tips for Tempering Tantrums

“Good Morning America" parenting contributor Anne Pleshette Murphy offered tips on how to calm a crying child.

Focus on Your Child
When in public, every parent's mantra should be this: "I don't know any of these people, and I'm never going to see them again." Just focus on your child, not on the other people around you who are giving you dirty looks. Your goal is to be your child's advocate, to be there for your child.

Don't Scream, Don't Threaten
Screaming at and threatening your child is a bad idea. Do the opposite. Your child is out of control, and the point is to try to help them physically collect themselves.

Hold the Child on Your Lap and Talk Softly
This strategy is very simple but can be very effective. Put the child on your lap, hold him or her tightly, and talk very softly. You should say you understand that they're upset and really sound as if you mean it. You can go on talking about almost anything, as long as you're speaking in a soft, soothing voice. If your child is really thrashing about, you're going to have to restrain him or her. Often, however, this technique of holding and talking softly will calm a child down in a few minutes.

Try to Distract Child
Another way to diffuse tantrums is to distract the child. Come armed with a toy they've never seen, a familiar object like a security blanket, or a candy to suck on. But frankly, when a child is out of control, this may not work.

Jet Set Mom