Photo Caption Contest Over At Club Med Insider, Win a Graco Pack N Play, Dammit!

We're having a photo caption contest over at the home of Parentopia On Vacation. So head on over to Club Med Insider beginning June 2nd. You can enter as many times as you like between now and July 2nd.

The grand prize is a brand new Graco Pack N Play with Newborn Napper. The other prize is a signed copy of our book "Mommy Guilt" and along with it an hour of Family Vacation Consultation from us.

Essentially what this means is you get to have a 3-Way with us(We bet that got your attention. Didn't it?)OVER THE PHONE, AKA Conference call. We want to help you figure out any sort of vacation situation such as:

Tips to make sharing a room more enjoyable for your family and fart sharing less attractive to your children.

Flying, Driving or Riding the Rails: How to minimize crying, whining and tantruming in enclosed spaces. (no age limit, adults included.)

The In-Laws are coming! The In-Laws are coming! Avoiding Matricide and Patricide while away from home.

Of course this is a brief overview of possible issues, however we'll tailor your Hour of Power for what you need for your own family.

There are some conest rules, and they are explained over at Club Med, and yes you will have to register at the Insider, but we PROMISE you will NOT be spammed. They are very professional over there. Yo.

"No, we can't buy that right now!" or maybe we could wait a bit longer.

Spring Break and family travels are taking a hit this year because, well, the economy sucks right now. There are far more of us taking staycations or looking for ways to save money if we do decide to pack up and go. With the depth of the economic madness, it's no doubt parents are now placed in a position of changing the way money is spent. Who amongst us hasn't had to turn down a child's request for a new toy or refuse an impusle purchase at the grocery store? Sure, we're used to that kind of thing. But what if you have provide a "No!" to something you've usually met with a "Yes!"? Awkward!

Generally speaking, household finances usually do not spill over onto the playground, but we're living in pretty tough times right now. If your family isn't feeling it, I can bet you know someone who is. And I can also bet your kids are far more aware than you may realize. Kids aren't subscribing in droves so they can read what is written in the Wall Street Journal, but they are seeing the writing on the wall. Such as they aren't being invited to as many birthday parties or their exracurricular activities have been put on the economic chopping block. So how as parents are we supplying our children with economic information when the situation demands it while making sure we're not freaking our kids out by giving them adult financial statements?

1. Try not to mingle more into the conversation than what your child may be asking. If you aren't sure what their question is, ask them to explain it.

2. Prepare them for trips to the store by writing a list and explaining that until the economy improves, you'll won't be going "off list" while shopping.

3. If you are a family who uses "Wish Lists" for birthdays and holidays, consider explaining to your child that the Wish List is being used more often than before, so stuff they may want, needs to go on a new Wish List. As you save more money, you will consider what is on their wish list.

4. Watch how you approach a "need" or a "want." If you only have the resources to deal with "needs" than try to sit down with your kids and have a talk about the difference between "want" and "need."

5. Combine resources with other families or relatives. Maybe someone you know lives in a city you haven't visited and vice versa. See if they are open to swapping homes for a long weekend. Check with your local chamber of commerce, they may have a list of local discounts for businesses in your community.

6. This may be the perfect time to start a savings account for your child and WITH your child. Just like kids will eat better if they help select and prepare the meal, kids understand more about money if they are the ones who have to manage it.

7. If you dont' have the extra cash to open an account, you can role play saving and spending with items you have around your house. Or take your child to visit a bank or a mint.

8. While we live in a society which expect instant gratification, let your kids know you are also waiting on items you routinely used to buy. Maybe you aren't buying a new pair of sneakers when usually you buy a new pair every 6 months. Let your kids know your spending has also undergone some changes too.

9. Be honest, but don't overdo it. It's one thing to say "We don't have 25 extra dollars right now for a video game" and quite another to say "Your soccer team is very expensive and so I can't pay for anything extra. Don't ask me for a video game on top of what I'm already doing!"

10. Given this crappy economy, businesses themselves don't have the dollars to advertise like they used to, so there may be unadvertised specials just for the asking. So ask!

Here is a sampling of what can be found coast to coast for Spring Break and beyond:

How about hitting The City with your family? A New York Funcation.

Last weekend of Spring break finding you in Colorado? Spring Break in Breckinridge, CO.

Enjoy a three ring circus where you aren't the ringmaster. Ringling Bros is offering a family of 4 discount package if you go to ticketmaster and type in the code MOM.

Want to escape somewhere with your family? Consider Cape Cod.

Live and do things free in LA.

Got a favorite family excursion you've done on the cheap? What about your own childhood? Do you remember a particular family adventure you had that didn't cost a lot of money?