I just realized that in all of my posts this week I never posted my weekly list. When I travel, which I have been doing all week, my brain gets a bit fuzzy and my posts get a little out of wack. That's especially the case when I have to fly-- deal with all of the hotel arrangements, rental cars, etc.. But, as I've been traveling this week, and as my travels for the past week have been with my mother, (and only my mother--ahh!) my list today will be...

five things to consider when traveling with your mother.

1. Don't assume she's going to pay. Though you are traveling with a parent, you are also an adult (or at least approaching adulthood). It is very easy to fall into your childhood habit of sitting back and anticipating how good your ice cream is going to taste, while she pulls out her credit card. But want to know how to really impress her? Pull out your credit card to pay for the ice cream.

2. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. If you're going to be spending any long period of time with your mother (or anyone really), you want to stay on her good side. Yelling at her because she woke you up late will not create an environment conducive to happy travels. Just keep your mouth shut

3. Be a good co-pilot. When you're traveling uncharted territories, and no one knows where you're going except for the GPS system in front of you, do the woman a favor and play go-between for the technology. If your mom's anything like mine, then she ignores the GPS completely and will only get you where you need to be if the directions come from a human being. Make that human being you.

4. Generously employ improv rule number one--"yes and..." Back in the day when I was a theater geek who was on the stage instead of in front of it, I was taught that in any improvisation acting situation (planned or unplanned) when somene asks you a question, you should always respond "yes and..." because it keeps conversation going and doesn't make the other character/actor mad (watching annoyed improv is no fun). Annoyed mothers are no fun either, so use improv rule number one at all times.

5. Thank her profusely for her efforts in traveling with you and for all of the things she pays for. Throw some tears in for good meaure and by the end of the trip she'll be telling you how she loves to help you pay for things because you don't take it for granted like your siblings.

Keep on thinking,

Josie