Introducing: In the Parenthood!

My new column for the Boston Globe, "In the Parenthood," had its soft launch today, in the pages of our living/arts section (a.k.a. "g"). Starting sometime next month, it'll be live online at Boston.com/Moms and in the printed edition as well.

The first installment is just in time for school vacation week, which starts Monday in Massachusetts. Here it is!

Plan more than just the route before your family road trip

By Lylah M. Alphonse, Globe Staff

A couple of months ago, my husband and I piled our youngest kids and the dog into the car and drove 1,500 miles to Florida to spend time with the rest of our blended family - our big kids, who were with their mom and stepdad.

That’s 1,500 miles each way.

I’ll be honest with you: I was really worried about the trip. I’m not big on camping, or on long drives, and knew that this trip would be a little of both. But kenneling the dog and flying the four of us there would cost more than a mortgage payment, so in
spite of my misgivings, driving seemed to be the best way to go.

The trip started ominously. Intended departure time: 4 a.m. Amended departure time: 10 a.m. Actual departure time: 1:51 p.m. Time of first “Are we there yet?’’:
1:57 p.m. ...

Read the rest online at Boston.com (I offer up 5 tips for making it to your destination with your sanity mostly intact) or pick up a copy of today's Boston Globe. Got an idea that would be perfect for "In the Parenthood"? Drop me a line! WriteEditRepeat at gmail dot com.