We're still enjoying a lazy summer, but I thought our readers might like to read my post about big and mega-big families--and other people's violent reactions to them--on my blog. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

If we had tons of money, where would we go? What hotels would we stay at? So, since we can't ask those questions, we just reserve a campsite.....the only years we didn't camp were when we were close to having a new baby, or when Ben got in one of his accidents...(one was fall-off-a-party-boat, hit the propeller, the other was smash into a tree on a 4 wheeler)....so basically every year for the last 24 summers, we have gone camping. This year our oldest will only join us for a few days, since she is a nurse....and Ben, the third oldest, probably can't come, as he is a pizza delivery boy....so, that leaves 16 of us. Our camper is made to sleep nine...so Paul and I and seven of the littler ones are lucky....the other seven will sleep in 3 tents...the camper is 35 ft. long, 15 years old, and we tow it behind the 15 passenger van....goodbye gas money. We also will bring the pickup truck loaded with bicycles....(we live on a busy road, so riding their bikes is a special part of camping for the younger ones.)

Obviously, our family hasn't always been so big...the children came one at a time. We used to be just a normal family, going camping. Now: we are synonomous with the circus pulling in....the kids are restless and excited when we get to the park, so we let them all get out of the van and sit on the picnic table as daddy backs that huge camper into the small spot, between the trees and fire-pit....it just adds to the fun when the neighbors, staring already at all the kids, come out to give him a few pointers...

We camp up in the Adirondack mountains. It is quiet up there. Most people like that. We try not to ruin that. One year, Paul, my husband, had to make the 3+hour ride back home to have a root-canal, then he came back up that night....I remember I had a new baby in the baby swing with a bug net, and 2 or 3 kids practicing their band instruments, the saxophone, trumpet, and clarinet....our neighbors either love us or they hate us. Naturally, I hope they love us. I try not to scream for the child I need to speak to, and I chew them out as softly as possible, when I remember to. I remind them to keep their voices down....but come on, we have 11 girls, and beleive me, they do their share of fighting.....the boys are much quieter. Just play their guitars....no electricity, though, so no amplifiers...

Everything about camping with so many is a challenge, from who sleeps where (everyone wants the "piggy-hole", which is the bottom bunk of the triple bunks), to the clean sock dilemma....if we pack clean socks for each person for each day, that is 144 pairs....ditto the underwear, but two wear diapers...and some wear pull-ups to bed...oh dear, we have to remember the can-opener, the grill to put on the fire-place, some pans, wipes,sand toys, pillows, matches, coffee, a hairbrush, sneakers and sandals for everyone, jackets, wind-pants, pajamas, a playpen, stroller, portable highchair, tableclothes, washclothes, ..... and food. I am tired already. I will be sure to write about this year's camping adventures on my blog..

http://www.16blessingsmom.blogspot.com/

If vacationing close to home — or “staycationing” — is the newest travel trend, I’m waaaaaay ahead of the curve.

We almost always stay home for the summer. I say “almost” because there have been two exceptions: In 2003 we drove to Niagara Falls because the kids were complaining that they’d never been to another country (hello, Canada!), and last week I had to research a couple of family travel stories and so we went to an old-fashioned amusement park and careened down a snow-less ski slope on a bobsled and spent a night in a tree house. It was way cool. All five of the kids loved it. My husband and I did, too, but I think that, while the kids came home re-energized after our little adventure, we parents were more exhausted after our “vacation” than we had been when we left.

With gas prices skyrocketing and airlines imposing new and bigger fees for everything from checked baggage to warm soda, “home” is becoming a hot travel destination. Hotels are marketing “getaway” packages to their local clientele. AAA offers “Drive Vacations” to make road tripping trendier (even with gas costing more than $4 a gallon, it’s still cheaper to drive than fly if you’re taking kids along). Camping and hiking have become popular again.

But for some of us, staycationing has always been the norm. Yes, gas prices are high, but stress levels are even higher when you cram five kids into a car and hit the road for hours at a time. Add in a handful of food allergies, which makes it impossible to indulge in fast food during the trip, and stress levels can reach a whole new high. And if any of your kids are still in diapers, it’s worth noting that hell hath no fury like that of a preteen stuck next to a toddler with a blow-out.

(That didn’t happen this trip, thank goodness.)

The biggest upside to staycationing, for me, at any rate, is that I know the territory. There was a point in my life where exploring a new city would have made my heart go pitter-pat; lately, though, just the chance to avoid the daily commute makes me giddy. I live near a big city — there are plenty of museums to visit and cultural events to attend; they’re close enough to do easily if I have a few days off, and far enough away to be impossible with my regular work schedule. Staycationing gives me a chance to take advantage of the things right in my own backyard… why deal with packing and plane fare, especially during one of the most crowded travel times of the year?

Do you have summer vacation plans? Or will you be staycationing this summer?

Lylah is a full-time editor, part-time writer, and mom and stepmom to five kids. She writes about work-life balance at The 36-Hour Day and blogs about writing at Write. Edit. Repeat. This post originally appeared on Work It, Mom!

It's July, which means many of our regular posters are on summer vacation! In the meanwhile, we'd love to hear abut your summer--going on vacation? Hanging around the house? Shuffling kids to camp and sports? Submit a post here. Don't forget to register first.

When we had four kids, we planned a vacation at Cedar Point. We booked a three day stay at the amusement park, spending two days at the park and one day at the water park next door.

Upon booking the hotel room, we were told that this was the last time we could stay in one room together at a hotel. Our youngest at that time was 1, so she could share a bed with us.

The third day schlepping the double stroller through the hot sticky park, something clicked for my husband and me—why were we at an amusement park with a double stroller? Our older kids didn’t like roller coasters, our younger children were too young to enjoy much of anything, the hotel room was too small—this was not the vacation for us.

A couple years later, we took a trip to Traverse City, Michigan. We stayed at Great Wolf Lodge. This was a much better vacation for us, now with five children. The hotel has rooms for up to 8 people, so our room, while large, was not the largest rooms available. The kids stayed in a loft area with bunk beds and their own TV. My husband and I had the baby with us, and there was a fireplace, couch and living room area in addition to our bedroom.

There was also a water park in the hotel, and we spent our first day in Traverse City in the water park. The next day, we took a leisurely sightseeing tour of the city and surrounding areas. We had a good time setting our own agenda and hanging out as a family.

This year we’re hoping to try camping for the first time. We’ll let you know how that turns out!

It goes without saying that those employed in the creative, motherly arts are at risk for burnout. Mothering can be a high stress occupation, even though it offers the best benefits, hands down.

Years ago I discovered Julia Cameron’s Artist Way and learned about Artist Dates. Cameron’s premise is simple: one hour of pure unadulterated “me” time per week will refill your well of creativity and bring clarity of purpose. Now for many mothers, finding ten uninterrupted minutes alone in the bathroom is a challenge. How on earth can you find sixty minutes just for fun? Well, it’s not going to be easy. In fact it will be nearly impossible unless you schedule and plan for it just like you do for your children’s activities and household errands. Yes, Mom Dates are just that important.

One of my most memorable Mom Dates was a wonderful gift, courtesy of a dear friend who took over my mothering responsibilities for six hours. During that time away, I engaged all my senses -- sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing -- and returned refreshed and rejuvenated. It was glorious!

However, most of my Mom Dates are not that spectacular. Solo parenting makes the logistics of even weekly, one hour Mom Dates a challenge, so while Julia may not approve, I have learned to modify them a bit for the sake of my peace of mind:

Yarn Shop Drive By -- My favorite yarn shops all have comfy couches and encourage patrons to sit and knit for awhile. Whenever I can, I pop in for a quick knit. You’d be surprised what even 20 minutes surrounded by beautiful yarn can do.

Brew a Pot of Chai -- Grinding the spices and slow brewing tea for chai can be a relaxing experience. I let the smell and taste take me away and for a few minutes, all is right with the world.

The Whisper Game --When all else fails, and I need some immediate “me” time, I engage my children in this fun-filled activity. Everyone (me included) has to whisper, and if you forget you are "out." The last person whispering wins. The first ten minutes of the game aren’t very quite, as there are lots of requests for "do overs," but soon everyone catches the competitive spirit and I’m guaranteed a good 45 minutes of peace while they scurry around whispering to each other.

Challenge yourself this week and plan an hour appointment alone for a Mom Date. No nursing babies, no quick errands on the side, no short cuts whatsoever, just pure adulterated alone time doing something just for you. And if you can’t squeeze it in, at least play a few rounds of the Whisper Game.

--Me is a solo parenting, unschooling, mild-mannered mother of 5 by day and an Internet maverick by night. Read her musings at WabiSabiMe.

This reader tip comes from Susan C at http://frangipanisaremyfavouriteflowers.blogspot.com Thanks, Susan!

I'm not that good at taking care of myself. I'm my own worst enemy when it comes to exercise...I am yet to meet anyone who can talk themselves OUT of planned exercise time as quickly as I can.
I am not proud of this and I AM working on it. I think exercise and the fitness that comes form it is vital, not only physically but mentally as well. So do as I say and not as I do!!

I go to the movies on Tuesday evening. Almost no matter what. For the longest time I have loved immersing myself at the cinema...it's dark, there's no talking, there is a friend for company if I need, or there is just me. I used to hate going to a movie alone, now I have more children; I crave not being responsible for anyone, just for about 2 hours!! then I'm back, refreshed and quiet in my mind. Sometimes I see total rubbish, sometimes it's a movie that really makes me think, but mostly it's just zone out time.
My husband, for as long as we've been together plays in a tennis comp every Wednesday night...he leaves me at 6.45pm regardless of what's going on (obviously he's not horrid and if there is a super crisis he will stay) but for the most part I am just left to deal with the screeching, or the bedtime stories or whatever...so now ... well I take great pleasure in saying "Goodnight Sweethearts" as I leave him to it...he's ok and so are they...but best of all I am too

oh and I will work on the exercise thing.... ;)

thanks susanc :)

So, I have all these kids. And, mostly, I'm here with them by myself. And, so, sometimes, I get, shall we say, overwhelmed a bit. You know that feeling, when your blood boils and your face gets hot and you are SO angry that you just need to get that frustration out somehow? Not that you have ever experienced it, being the calm, cool and collected type, but I'm Irish and German and that's kind of an explosive combination sometimes.

That's how I came to take Thai boxing.

See, there was the whole weight loss thing, and then I found out that taking the weight off was the EASY part. The maintenance part is insanely more difficult than I ever thought it'd be. I already take capoeira, which is a Brazilian martial art, and I saw all the punching bags, the gloves and the wild amounts of cardio that the class involved, and I decided that Thai boxing could only help me.

Those three hours a week? That's ME time. A time when I am no one's wife, no one's mother, I don't have to wipe bottoms, sign tests, break up fights or pull marbles from noses (don't ask). I can go into a smelly, sweaty gym, pull on my gloves, and knock the stuffing out of the mannequin. I leave feeling exhausted, and yet oddly at peace and tranquil. That translates into a more relaxed mother, one not inclined to scream and yell at every little thing.

I can't. I'm too tired.
______________________

Carmen can be found hiding from the laundry at Mom to the Screaming Masses and lifting weights at The Elff Diet.

I took my kids to swimming for years. I’d watch them going back and forth for hours, talking about things like negative splits, etc. With every swim practice, I’d salivate for my time in the pool. Finally, after four years, I got my time. It was pure bliss. Granted, I couldn’t swim a 100 (yards) at first (that’s down and back twice), but I was hooked, and I couldn’t wait for the next time I could get in the pool and improve my swimming skills.

At my peak, I was swimming 2000 yards. I got so into it at one point that I could even enjoy racing my fish (slash) children. I couldn’t breathe, but I didn’t care. Eventually, my kids quit the swim team. It remains to be seen whether they’ll return. But I’m a swimmer now; I don’t have to live vicariously through them anymore.

Our membership at the Y expired and we couldn’t afford to rejoin for awhile. I so missed the pool! During that time, I rode my bike, walked, even tried to run a bit, but nothing was as satisfying. When we rejoined the Y in October, I was four months pregnant, no longer able to swim over a mile. I started at 500 yards, with a goal to swim 1800 yards, a mile, by the time the baby was born.

I got away two days a week, anywhere in the 5-6:30 AM time range to swim. I was doing it pretty regularly until the baby was born in March. At nine months pregnant, I was up to 1300, 500 short of my goal, but the benefits were enormous! I didn’t gain much weigh in my pregnancy, and I feel wonderful postpartum. I don’t quite feel ready to get back in the pool, but I’m biding my time until then. The swim days help me to get through the non-swim days, and I am a more relaxed Mommy.

Angie blogs at http://graymattersonline.net/blogs/angie/

While I count motherhood as my greatest achievement and joy, I have come to understand over the last few years that in order to be great at the mom thing I need time alone. When my oldest son was a baby we were in a situation where I had little help with him and he and I were virtually alone. Once we were out of that situation and I was to a place where I could take time to myself I would leave him feeling guilty about doing things for myself. It felt selfish.

Skip ahead a few years and I have that balance of who I am as a mother and also who I am as a woman coming in to focus. Literally...

When I am behind the lens of my camera, even if it is taking pictures of my children, I feel like LaShawn, not just Mom. Time to myself some times consists of getting out of the house and being alone, but more often than not it is sitting on the computer during nap time and editing pictures or trying to figure out how to compose a shot better. Photography has given me a much needed escape from the monotony of being a stay at home mom. It gives me the ability to freeze time. It makes my heart race every time I upload my pictures and I see something that I did come to fruition. It makes me feel like more than *just* a mom. In fact, it makes me a BETTER mom.

LaShawn also blogs at Frazzled LaShawn