The Joys of Travel

Here I am, in the lounge at the JFK airport concluding my last day of this holiday. It is so amazing and after my very recent experience, very needed for mamas to lose touch of reality and mama-hood sometimes. Granted, I had my son with me, but so many of the mama-hood rituals are a lot easier on vacation. Bedtime routines don't need to be so strict; waking up for preschool and getting an argument over what to wear, brushing teeth, and leaving the house on time are all thrown out the window. And something about being out of the house most of the time has its own wonders of keeping the kids entertained during the day and exhausted during the night! For the first time in three years, I took a 12 day vacation, and during, I was a really fun and cool mama. But mama-hood, here I come again with preparations for the last days of Ramadan and the joys of eid coming up. Reality shall strike in 14 hours, thank god for both!

A Different World

It always fascinates me when I travel how different people, cultures, and worlds are on this planet. I am currently abroad for a vacation, and I realized that our lives cannot be more different. For one, EVERTHING and EVERYWHERE is accessible for individuals with specials needs. Children and teens are a lot more independent here than they are back home. You barely sees families with nannies; it's just the mom and dad with their kids, responsibilities divided. Children look a lot more active because they are all wearing their sneakers and walking with their parents to their destinations. The commercials on TV include more warnings about the product than the actual commercial itself. Customer service is the REAL DEAL. If something doesn't work, then it is their job to make you happy. On the other hand, food is a lot different, I gained so much weight because everywhere you go, there are vending machines, supermarkets with all kinds of junk, pre-packed sandwiches, super-sized desserts and drinks etc. Yousef (3) is refusing to speak English here for some reason, I think he is intimidated, so he just hides behind my leg. It is really amusing watching him stay quiet and try to show off in some other way! Vacations are so uplifting!!

1 Jacuzzi Suite Please!

Have you ever heard of the Jacuzzi Suite at the Kempinski Hotel, Ishtar Dead Sea? Well now, you not only have the chance to hear of it, but to actually win an overnight stay in this legendary accommodation.

Just prove to us that you are the cool couple we are looking for and the prize is yours! It can be anything you think sets you apart from other couples. An interesting mutual hobby, crazy dance moves,  fun outings, or anything else you can think of that makes you unique, can win you a night to remember at the luxury Kempinski hotel's Jacuzzi Suite.

Send in your picture to ourmailbag@familyflavours.com no later than July 22, 2013. Terms and conditions apply.

P.S if you think this is an amazing opportunity there is still one more surprise award to be revealed upon winning! Go for it, there is no couple in the world that can do without a night off like this one.

Berenice Beach Club

If you are looking for some fun in the sun and want to get away from the hustle and bustle of hotels and resorts, head down to Berenice Beach Club, located in Aqaba's South Beach among the Marine Park's Natural Aquarium.

Berenice beach club is ideal for sea-lovers and is home to some of the Red Sea's most beautiful diving and snorkelling spots, filled with coral and marine reefs. And if the beach alone is not enough, an array of activities such as water sports, cruises, snorkelling and diving are also available. With weeks of the summer vacation still ahead, planning a trip to Aqaba's Berenice Beach Club can be the perfect thing for you, your friends or family! 

What Would you do for a Job

Before I had kids, I knew that my passion was advertising. The first day I walked into my advertising agency, I remember telling myself, "this is it!" Of course, now that I have very young kids that demand a certain level of care and attention that I personally want to give, I have to kiss demanding jobs bye-bye. I am currently in the market for a part-time job. And while I don't have the luxury of being picky, my main dilemma is: do I look for a convenient job that might not necessarily be related to my experience or do I go for a more demanding job that surely fits my skills' profile? I feel like if I go after something I am not passionate about simply because it is convenient, that I am betraying myself; on the other hand, if I go for something more demanding I feel like I will be betraying my children. Someone please tell me there is a very simple answer to this!

Getting Too Comfortable

I can't believe how fast it can happen; one day you have plans to work hard, build a career etc. and the next you are attending play dates, planning birthdays and getting extremely busy in full-time mama land. I'm speaking for myself when I say that mama-hood can take over big time! I had always planned to go back to work, continue the career I so eagerly wanted and to always remember to keep a part of my life just for me. Today however, I realised that I got so sucked into my responsibilities that I may have become too comfortable in a lifestyle or routine I never thought I wanted. I had been planning for months now that I wanted to study a design course online. But, things kept on coming up. One day, it was my daughter's birthday. The next, we travelled on a family vacation, then my son went to summer camp, then another thing happened and another thing happened and I am still exactly where I began. I hear about other women who did both lives and I wonder how they managed! I envy them and I wonder if I can do it. Am I hiding behind the excuse of my kids because I think I am too tired to take on something new or is it just plain laziness?

The Old Outdoors

Today, my family went camping. Among us were three kids, aged nine and seven, and for entertainment, I took a ball and a bike. Assuming that they would be eager to play freely, I said optimistically, why don't you start by playing "monkey in the middle?". Five minutes later, no one had gotten up. Again, "why don't you go ride the bike?". Still nothing. And then I realised, these kids have almost never played like we did. Out of the three of them, not a single one could ride the bike smoothly; they had never had to. They hadn't been exposed to the neighbourhood like we did when we were their age. They had never had enough space or a "safe street" where they could ride the bike. On the other hand, give them a tablet and watch them download an application, compete for the highest score and share tips like they have been playing it for years. It made me sad, really, to think that all my summers were spent in the streets, roller-blading, running, playing tag, riding the bike and saving my half dinar daily allowance to buy chips and juice at the end of the day. And on other days, it would be ice cream! And now, these kids, are uncomfortable with the most basic entertainment options for their ages. I think with my son, I will push him towards the outdoors more. Wen is he supposed to be able to ride the bike wthout training wheels?