The Mom Weekly Volume 101: July 15, 2025
You can read this, or any other previous Mom Weeklies, by going to the home page here.
Never Take the First Room
Someone online, years ago, said that her mother has this rule when visiting hotels—usually luxury hotels, in her case. She would go up to the first room, and then realize she wanted to be closer to the elevator, or further away, or have a better view. So she would go back down and ask nicely for a different room.
I have done this occasionally, especially if there is something really wrong with the location. When I haven’t done it, but I wanted to, because I think, “Oh, this is fine” more often than you would think, it is a mistake.
But recently, I was able to change rooms and it made me consider making this my own rule.
Earlier this month, when I was checking us into a room at the beach, I went to the first room assigned to us. First of all, it was really from the elevator. Then, when I opened the door, there was a noticeable smell. Not awful, but just … a smell. I remember the experience Dad & F had in London at the airport hotel, and I thought, heck no! So I went back down and asked nicely to change rooms.
The clerk said, “Could I go smell the room?” That is making me laugh now, but at the time I was shocked. And I said, “You can, and I’m not even sure how bad it is, but since my family members just had a bad experience, I don’t want to get all unpacked and then have to change rooms. And also, can I have one closer to the elevator?”
She looked around on her computer, and said, “well, we are sold out of the two queens, but I can give you a room with a King bed and a pullout sofa. But it’s on the same floor and still far away from the elevator.” I assured her this would be better, unless somehow the room also smelled, so I said, okay. But: could I have a different room on a different floor maybe? She looked around and gave me a room on a different floor, very close (but not too close!) to the elevator.
I was nervous to go to the room, but as soon as I did, the room smelled fine and even good! I was so relieved. Then, I made sure I could find the sheets for the pullout couch and make that bed (they were sparkling clean, and in a dresser drawer). Then I went down to thank the clerk profusely (! I was really effusive) and ask for extra towels. Problem solved!
As I said before, this may become a semi-rule when traveling: never take the first room. Or at least, check in as early as possible, and then make sure the room and location is to your liking before you commit to it.
What are some other rules that you have about travel?
Remember how much I love you (and traveling! but I’m really glad to be home now),
Mom
Interesting/Notable
The Mass Trauma of Porn
Again, a writer I know nothing about, but she writes for/about young women. This is a guest post on Jonathan Haidt’s website. If he sounds familiar, he wrote The Anxious Generation. I appreciate so much when younger writers and people make the case about the harms of sexually explicit content, especially online.
The Open Secret to Health and Well-Being—Doctoring Unpacked
This is so you have something else and practical to read about the importance of staying active!