Are you on vacation (or are you parenting in another place)?

Hey there, {{first_name | friend}},

I'm on vacation this week! When my 3 girls were little(r), vacation felt like parenting in a different zip code, just as much work and way more sunscreen. Now that they can buckle their own seatbelts, sleep through the night, and handle the bathroom on their own, the trip feels lighter. 

That's only part of the story, though. AI has taken some of the mental load off my plate too, from meal planning to packing lists to the notes I used to keep in my head all year long. This week, it’s helped me with tech support (I can’t be the only one who travels with my Apple TV, can I?), planning our Disney route, and creating a tidepooling scavenger hunt.

Are you traveling this summer, {{first_name | friend}}? Here are 3 prompts to help lighten your load too.

Try these in your favorite AI tool and let me know how it goes!

Prompt 1: Meal Planning on the Road

Act as a personal chef who specializes in family meals on the road. Suggest a weekly menu I can make while away from home, using minimal ingredients without losing flavor. Format the output as a simple day-by-day list for my feedback before generating a grocery list and a bring-from-home list.

Mom Tip: Include details about your accommodations (e.g., Airbnb, family cabin, camping trip) and what cooking items you’ll have access to in order to further personalize.

Prompt 2: A Packing List Kids Can Use
Act as a home organizer. Create a packing list for a [insert number] day trip to [insert location] that kids ages [insert ages] can use to pack themselves. Ask me a few questions about our trip before creating the list. Format the output as a checklist.

Mom Tip: Let the AI ask you questions first. The more it knows about your plans, like a pool day or a hike, the more useful the checklist will be. Here’s what Claude created for my kids to pack for Orange County, CA.

Prompt 3: A Debrief After a Trip to Remember
Act as a personal assistant who helps prepare for an annual trip. Interview me about my most recent trip like a post-mortem. Ask what went well, what could have gone better, and what I want to do differently next time. Format the output as a draft I can save or upload to my personal AI travel project.

Mom Tip: Capture your thinking while it's still fresh. “Future you” will thank “current you” when it's time to book next year's trip.

I'm on the road this week, so it felt like the right time to bring back this episode with my sister, Dr. Caitlin Sutton. We talk about using AI to plan smarter trips, cut down on decision fatigue, and actually enjoy the vacation instead of just managing it.

Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer your podcasts.

Most of my speaking events and workshops are private, but this one is open to the public which is why I am thrilled to share! Want to bring an event like this to your town or organization? Book a 15-minute call with me here to discuss!

I post our vacation pictures after we get home, because #safetyfirst (here’s why). Follow along on Instagram for the recap once we're back.

Until next time,

Sarah

P.S. Living my values means being transparent about my AI use. For this edition, Claude turned my outline into a first draft for review.

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