The Three-Martini Family Vacation
A Field Guide to Intrepid Parenting
By Christie Mellor (Chronicle, $12.95 paper)
Whether you’re going cross-country this summer or sticking with local adventures, vacation will be more pleasant for all if you’ve got well-behaved, responsible children, says writer/actress Christie Mellor, in this snarky follow-up to “The Three-Martini Playdate.”
1. Don’t be the parents who pretend not to notice that their child is running around, bothering people in public places. Take your child aside and explain that it’s bad manners to irritate others.
2. Have a layover in the airport? Don’t spread your stuff and your kids all over the place, and don’t let them have free rein at the gate.
3. Teach your kids the joy of reading and solitary play. A child occupied with coloring pencils and a sketch pad makes car and airline trips a lot more pleasant for everyone.
4. If you use an adult tone and treat your older child like a responsible individual, he’s more likely to act properly.
5. Don’t expect automatic admiration for your child just because he’s a child. It must be earned, and then other adults will want to spend more time with you and/or your considerate, well-behaved children.
