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It’s one thing to like your mother-in-law. It’s quite another to want to stay with her on a family vacation. A couple of years ago, iVillage ran a poll about mothers-in-law (MILs). The results were unfortunate, if not surprising: 51 percent of respondents would rather clean than spend time with their MILs, while 76 percent never ask MILs for parenting advice.
Before I married my husband, we had our own travel CD with a bunch of mixed songs. Still to this day that CD brings back so many good memories. We would roll down the windows, pop open the sunroof, grab our snacks and soda from the gas station, and enjoy the beautiful scenery around us. Obviously that was pre-“Are we there yet” questions. Pre-“I need to go to the bathroom” whines. And pre-“I want candy” tantrums. Gone are the days of Eminem and Tenacious D on our mixed road trip CD. My toddlers are sponges and eventually, I don’t want them repeating lyrics out of either of those band’s songs.
Just because you have a toddler doesn’t mean you have to be limited to Walt Disney World or Seuss Landing in Universal Studios. In fact, save that fun vacation for when they’re a little older and they can remember it. Toddlers are born curious. Give them a little room to explore and they’ll be satisfied wherever you choose to go.
Does packing for a family trip make you ferklempt (Yiddish for "All worked up, on the verge of a breakdown.") Do you start the process days before your trip so you make sure you have everything days in advance? Or are you a procrastinator and wait until the last minute, guaranteeing that you'll forget important items?
Traveling around the world is just another day 'at the office' for Marcia Miller, the CEO of Mud Pie, a clothing and gift line. She is a world traveler who knows what it takes to get where she’s going, despite obstacles thrown in her way at every direction. A few years ago she survived an accident that would have sidelined others for good. She was run over by a dump truck. 
When you are planning your next family vacation, how do you plan? Do you pour over guidebooks, scour the Internet and ask your pals for advice? Do you pack as many activities into your trip as possible or do you plan some downtime?
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