Mike Smith:
My guest this week is Melissa Morgan, co-author of the book Educational Travel on a Shoestring: Frugal Family Fun & Living Away from Home. Thank you so much for joining us this week, Melissa.

Melissa Morgan:
Glad to be here.

Mike:
Melissa, when the kids ask, “are we there yet?” for the 200th time, what benefits of traveling together as a family should parents remind themselves of?

Melissa:
“Are we there yet?” is a major concern for families traveling with small children, or moody teens, or workaholic adults. You can learn as you drive: try playing foreign language tapes, listening to books on disk, and memorizing Bible verses and famous speeches. Keep little hands busy making crafts with free materials. Prepare ahead for adventure—you’ll seldom hear that question, “are we there yet?” when traveling. Remember the Four Rules of the Road: R-O-A-D. R is for respect. Respect the needs of each family member. Travel can help a family to concentrate on what really matters, such as learning to consider one another’s needs before oneself. O is for offer. Offer clear consequences for those who break the rules. That should include adults because even we can get cranky. A is for avoid. Avoid a frenetic pace, slow down. Not just your driving, but your trip. D is for do. Do, don’t just see. When you slow down the pace, you can find time to really experience a trip.

Mike:
Thank you for your helpful advice, Melissa. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.