gruezi - what I love most about traveling with children, is that I end up doing things I wouldn't otherwise do. Such as, a hop-on/off bus. I agree - it's an easy way to get the layout of a new city. And Ada is still talking about it.

Thanks lowcountryIslander. I'm working on Day 3 now. It was a doozy. :-)

Really enjoying the continuing saga of this family trip!

Hi, mebe. Really enjoying your report and photos.

Your telling of going out to the store brought back such wonderful memories of time spent one-on-one with my youngest (young adult) in Paris. We had gone out lugging a huge suitcase to the nearest laundromat.

It turned into quite the adventure as it was several blocks away and not easy to find, and then while we waited for the clothes to finish, we sat across the street at an outside an
pizzeria having great pizza, a beer and a wine, and enjoying each others company.

We also shared the "quiet" conspiracy...we couldn't let on to DH and DS#1, who were at the hotel starving when we got back, that we really were no longer hungry, so off to dinner we went, and boy, were we stuffed!

Enjoyed day 2 and your photos. I'm not a parent and DH left scheduling to me, so don't have any idea what I'd do with someone more childish than I!

Come on, day 3!

Thanks ellenem!

Klondiketoo - cute story. I think you deserved that pizza and beer if you're doing the laundry!

TDudette - the childish part is okay, until the whining begins. That's more obnoxious than a tantrum! Who knew a 6yo could me more of a pain than a toddler. ;)

Love your reports and especially the image of you pretending to be in the airport with your kids in the house! Great idea!

mebe,
I'm enjoying your report so much and I'm waiting eagerly for day 3!
I really appreciate your good humor and your sharing of both the good and the not-so-pleasant times. And your pictures are great- your family is just adorable!

My husband and I are hoping to take our grandkids to Paris, and I'm finding your report helpful for planning things they'll enjoy as well as for anticipating pitfalls.

The part about homesickness was really interesting. I'd considered the possibility that the grandkids might get homesick, but I'd never thought about the possibility of that they might get homesick even with their parents! I think there must be a degree of culture shock even for young kids.

Thanks for sharing your report!

Hi Marcy

I'm glad you're enjoying my report, even though I'm including the not-so-pretty parts of traveling with kids.

Homesickness baffled me because I didn't hear other parents write about it. And for the first few days, I took it personally, as if I was doing something wrong as a parent.

And I wish I had a "cure" for it to recommend, but I don't. At least you'll know that if your grand kids start missing home, you're not the only one. :)

~M

My third day in Paris, Part 1.

-- promises made after too much wine
-- L'Orangerie Muesum
-- a knock on the apartment door...

<b> My Date with Monet </b>

http://www.restlesstoroam.com/2011/0...te-with-monet/

ooh, mebe, that knocked the gilt off the gingerbread!

if the owners take bookings for children, surely they must know that children run up and down?

looking forward to finding out more!

Thank you for sharing your candid and wonderfully written adventures. As a parent about to cart my children to Europe for the first time (April), I will keep reminding myself to be prepared to toss my own agenda if we hit some wall - realistically, kids just like adults, have their good moments and not so good. I know we'll respond better as parents when we're mentally and otherwise prepared for it. . . looking forward to reading more of your adventure.

annhig -- yes the agency did know we had three children and their ages. Plus, I read reviews from other parents who stayed with the agency, so I knew they were used to children. But my mind still goes a bit berserk when worried.

michele - traveling with kids is like being a parent at home, just a bit more intense, since you're out of your normal surroundings. Most importantly - despite all the hardships, disappointments - we can say we would do it all again. Well worth the work! My kids constantly talk about the trip and remember funny stories that I had forgotten.

Thanks for reading. Working on Part 2 now; will hopefully be done in a few days :)

~M

It was still our third day in Paris. My mood had traveled from elation after seeing Monet’s Waterlilies alone, to despair once I returned home and heard about the knock on the apartment door. After getting the kids outside to play in the rain, Aaron and I came up with a plan: exhaust the kids. Our first stop was the Louvre....

The rest of the story (with pictures!) is here:

<b> Museum Mayhem: Taking the Kids to the Louvre </b>

http://tinyurl.com/468w6gw

You may be shocked, but it actually has a happy ending. :) Thanks for reading. More coming soon!

~Myra

More soon please. I wrote a message on your personal website.

What an eyeopener and I am a little exhausted just reading this LOL. Kudos to you for pulling this off and what wonderful memories.
That's a beautiful apartment and I love the location!

My children are now 20 and 13 so although we travelled with them since birth we never experienced travel with more than one baby or one toddler at any one time.
It was easy for us and I never really considered the dynamics of travelling with lots of small children of my own.

We did travel with friends who also had children of similar ages but the ratio of 4 adults : 2 children or later 4 adults : 3/4/5 children seemed to ease the burden as we always traded 'date nights' with the other couple.

I'm reassuring myself that all will be well this summer when I'm off to Europe with three 14 year old girls plus my DH, my son and his girlfriend. Preparation is key... I'll keep the hop on, hop off bus in mind!

Reading this with great interest as we are taking our oldest granddaughter -- 6 years old -- to Paris this spring.

Sandy

Really enjoying this Myra, do keep going with it. In 10,12,15 years time you will re-read this and wonder how on earth you all did it - and survived! It will become something to treasure and be the subject of much discussion of shared yet different memories.

I loved the day we met and just sat in several parks watching your delightful children play.

Looking forward to more.

Sorry it has taken me a few days to respond, I'm recovering from the flu. :(

MaryAnne - thanks for the comment on my blog. It made my day. :)

Sassycat - I don't think DH and I had any idea how hard it was traveling with three young kids, until we were doing it. An extra adult would've made a huge difference. But - despite the hardships, it was a successful trip. Just this morning we were talking about Sacre Coeur and Parisian children on the car ride to school.

Sandpaw -- with preparation, patience (I need more of this) and a sense of humor, you'll have a great trip.

Julia - I owe you an email! Spending that day in Marais with you, talking while watching the kids play, was one of my favorite days. I'm so glad we met up.

Working on new post...
I truly appreciate your comments, and thanks for reading.
~Myra

Myra,

Great blog!
I'm sure the next trip with your children will be easier not only because they'll be older but more importantly you will have already instilled in them 'travel experience'.

Thanks Sassy cat. Believe it or not, we almost took to kids to Paris when they were 4,2,2. Ha! Thankfully reason took over before I booked those tickets. ;-)

Before my next post, here's an example of free entertainment in Paris that my kids loved.

<b> Breaking Bubbles </b>
http://tinyurl.com/4lfbv9t