We also laughed at the memories of three young kids in the car – all in car seats – and the creative ways we used to entertain them. This is twelve years ago, and not everyone had all the electronic gadgets. Instead we played “I Spy”, or who could find a license plate of an out-of-state car, and the name game. Those times were so special and the car time was a family time together.

Now it was not all perfect harmony, of course – there were the moments of meltdowns, and arguments over what music to have on, but it was all part of the vacation experience. The new Family Road Trip Box of Questions provides that experience for any family today. We are going to do a road trip with our kids to a national park, and I am going to ban the electronics from the car. That way the drive is part of the family experience and it can be a lot of fun!

Hope you all have great summer vacations. Please share any stories you have about your family car trips and ways you make it fun. Have fun this summer with your family and friends!

Cece Feiler

Those times of calling her, and other mothers through the the last seventeen years  still go on.  And the calls, e-mails include discussions about kids, spouses, the economy,  why do I feel tired all the time,  didn’t I used to be fun?   We women need each other and support each other in a unique way.  In today’s world we do not always live next door to each other, nor is the telephone always the way to reach each other, but our life line can be the computer.  So when I looked on the web page True Mom Confessions and read the other women’s blogs, I realized I had found a home, a community I could turn to any time of the day or night no judgment.  Other mothers who I could have conversations with about my children, my husband, the swine flu, and not feel alone.  I know as a mother this web site offers me and other mother’s a place to go with all our normal angst about who we are, how we are a mother’s and some sense of feeling we are not crazy because we are sending our kids with bottles of purell to school……. just normal moms trying our best.  So if you have not visited this web page I encourage you to visit True Mom Confessions….you will feel better and have some laughs.

Right now with finals about to start, sports, and my oldest daughter having all those exams to apply for college, dinner recently has been more hectic and short. So Monday night when my son and I were watching 24 together and it led to discussions on the roles of parents, we were debating the lead character’s choice in profession, putting his children’s lives at risk to save the country (very dramatic), and is that being a responsible parent.

We then talked about what it means to be a parent, why parents need to be around to set rules and limits, and my son thanking me for caring so much. Any of you with teenagers know it is a rare occasion your child will thank you for being around. What a great moment for both of us. I realized that watching TV with your child can be a very meaningful experience. There have been other times in our life as a family when a movie or TV show has sparked a great discussion between all of us.

So if you allow you kids to watch TV, watch with them as there is always some message or theme worth discussing. And for kids or teenagers, what an opportunity to discuss topics that may be hard to introduce yourself (sex, drugs, violence, what kind of humor is OK). Again, I am reminded of how important it is to have conversations with each other and make the most of any opportunity. Be creative.

Use the box of questions in the car, at dinner, parties, and use them at other times to engage with kids, friends or spouse. We all feel great afterwards. Before my son went to sleep that night we again had a conversation about how great the show 24 is to watch together because there is always something for us to talk about.

Please share with us any great conversations you have had lately.

Cece Feiler

We have started to host each other’s birthday lunches at our houses vs. going to a restaurant. My husband and I have been invited over for dinner at people’s houses vs. going out somewhere. I have actually noticed as a result we are having more conversations with each other and connecting.

It makes me realize how great conversations are the best entertainment, the most fun, and bring us all the most meaning. So out of these difficult times we are all learning what matters: relationships. I have found when I bring any of our box of questions as a hostess gift, people are really excited to play the game. I guess we all are looking for new creative ways to make our dinners or parties fun, and we all like to have conversations.

So in these challenging economic times let’s still have fun. One way is to bring the gift of conversation to your next party. I recently was at a store in Los Angeles, Kitson, and overheard two teenage girls talking. One said her mother brought the Sex Box of Questions home as a way to start a conversation with her about sex. I thought that was a new use of the box and the girl was telling her friend they only did two cards but wound up talking about sex for over an hour.

There are so many different ways we can use these boxes for important conversations. Please share any stories you have.

Cece Feiler