6: Tips

Upon arriving to the accommodations, there is a brief amount of time in which to have a ghusl, get changed and possibly have a quick lie down. Kids are usually exhausted at this point, after the hours of travelling, but they quickly regain their energy once they know they no longer have to sit in a moving plane or bus.
Hotel Card 

Example of Hotel card

At each place of abode that you will be staying at, be sure to take a card with the address and phone number and give to each child to keep in a pouch/purse on themselves at all times. Decide on a meeting place, in case you get separated, and in the worst case scenario they can show the hotel card to an attendant and ask for directions.
Historical Background
The group proceeds to take everyone to visit the shrine Imam Ali(as), Hazrath Nuh(as) & Adam(as), who are all buried in one grave. The more historical background you have prepared your children with, as well as yourself, beforehand, the better they will connect with this spiritual experience.  At each stage, it is helpful to explain what is about to happen, what needs to be recited and why.
Meeting Points
Before entering the holy shrine, make sure your children know where to meet inside (for example- meet at this wooden door or under the archway facing the zaari- the more specific the better and actually physically take them to the location) in case you get separated.  This is a very congested area, with many people pushing, pulling and shoving. For small children it can be overwhelming, as they are being knocked around by towering adults from all sides. Their anxious minds can be reassured as you remind them that thousands of angels are guarding and protecting us in gratitude for visiting these holy personalities.
Approaching Zari

When taking your first steps towards the shrine with your child's hand firmly in yours, surrender to the Divine will of Allah by not trying to shove and force yourself towards the zaari. Recite salawat often and you will find yourself naturally pulled at the threshold of one of the most perfect human beings to have ever existed.  If possible, pick your child up so they don't get crushed and so they have more space.
Security 
There are several security check points which are separated by gender, if you are going to the haram with your sons who are older than 8 I would say, make sure you have a male caregiver with them so they can be

sign for females this way

supervised in the male only areas. Older boys will not be allowed to enter the women's side.
When going to the haram, make sure you only take the essentials with you, don't carry purses or bags filled with random things you don't need, they will stop you and check every single pocket-delays things for you and everyone behind you. Take only essentials- I had a passport pouch around my neck with my money- there have been instances where people have been robbed inside the haram, so do be careful how much you carry with you inside- I found the hotel room's quite safe, but its up to your discretion. I also carried my dua books either in my hands or in a sports drawstring bag, which is easy to open and show. Also remember that once inside, there is a tremendous amount of pilgrims and devotees all trying to do the same thing as you-rub your cheeks against the zari and pray 2 rakats under the dome. The more you carry the more of a burden it will be to accomplish this. There are Quran and ziarat books inside the haram, with basic dua. Phones will not be permitted inside- they will ask you to check cameras and phones into amanat (deposit cubicles)
Amanat & Shoes
There are stations positioned before you enter the haram for your shoes. There will be someone to take them (if you are entering with a group of people then group all your shoes together) and they will  hand you a token (put this safely in your passport pouch and zip it) If you plan on leaving before your group or after than get your own token so you can collect your shoes whenever you come out.
Amanat- phones and camera will have to be checked in here (I have heard of no issues with this)- you will also get a token and they will also take your name for extra security. Again- zip this token up safely with you.
Strollers
Strollers will also be checked in near the shoe deposit stalls, they will give you a token, just be sure not to leave any valuables inside your stroller, there is no guarantee that come back and find your stuff. 

1: Intention

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) narrates, 'Allah has appointed some angels at Imam Husain's grave. When a Shia makes the intention for Imam Husain's (a.s.) Ziarat, Allah forgives all his sins. When he takes a step to go for Ziarat, he erases his sins. His virtues multiply and they increase till the time he becomes worthy of Paradise’. 

(Wasailul Mohibbeen, pg. 280)

Our new year begins without the fireworks and celebration but with the same reflection of months past and resolutions for the coming ones.  Moharram 2011/2012 was a pivotal month for me, Allah(swt) opened my heart and eyes this year, opened my eyes to my wasteful and material lifestyle, made it clearer to me about the dangers of this world and false notions of what's important.  With each string I was breaking that held me to this world I felt I was being pulled closer to the calling of my Imams. With each description of pilgrims, that Sayed Ammar Nakshawani narrated, who flock to our beloved Imams and weep in their presence humbly rubbing their cheeks against the bars that keep them apart, I felt an increasing desire I hadn't really felt before other than when I was summoned on hajj in 2006. Its an insatiable voice, it stops at nothing, it has a mind of its own and will not be silenced until it is aim is met.  And that is when my Ziyarat began.

Initially, I was selfish, I only thought of myself going, to fulfill that burning desire I had inside, however, my kids would have none of it. I have a 13 yr old, a 9 yr. old, 4 yr. old, and a 3 yr old. Yes, a mother of 4. Of course, I had no intention whatsoever of taking my younger 2 because that would mean less ibadat for me, less focus, less time, less independence. I couldn't even imagine them coming with me. My initial vision was being completely lost in devotion in the very threshold of ahle Muhammad. That of course was not the case...