We are heading on a weekend trip soon, via airplane. I've been on dozens and dozens of flights before, and was once a master packer. I packed efficiently, I packed light, I cruised through crowded terminals with confidence, primly settled into my oft-upgraded seat with a ginger-ale and a good book, and courteously kept my tidy carry-on bag at my feet. Traveling with a child, I've discovered, is an entirely different dimension involving maximum numbers of carry on bags per person, an entire overhead bin for just our stuff, Ziploc bags and anti-bacterial wipes in excess and plenty of quarters for a SmarteCarte, which may or may not be available.
Our first plane trip with M occurred just before he started crawling. He was an angel. Not a single grouchy peep from Salt Lake to Orlando and back; other passengers gushed over his perfection. We beamed proudly. Those days, alas, are behind us, and I'm terrified at the prospect of air travel given his active and determined nature. After the travel nightmares last winter in Denver, I am paranoid about being stranded in an airport for 3 days without absolutely everything I might possibly--even in the rarest circumstance--need. By compulsion I've been making lists for weeks already: The "Items for Mommy Bag" list, the "Snacks for M" list, the "Activities for M" list. the "My Packing List" list, the "Things I need to purchase before the trip" list, and so on.
I've been frantically quizzing friends who have done this: What toys should I bring? How many snacks? Do I need a Portable DVD Player? The consensus thus far is that the DVD player is a MUST. I am so uncool that I don't have one but am now seriously considering the purchase. $100 isn't too high a price to pay for M's happiness, my own sanity and the comfort of 150 passengers, is it? At this point I've gathered the following little goodies to entertain M during our trip which is only 1 state away, mind you:
- miniature magna-doodle
- board books
- new chubby miniature trucks
- crayons and paper
- musical toy my-pod (he loves to have it in the car)
- soft snuggle toy
- giggle bug (okay, not a toy, but I'm dying to give it a try)
- assorted Happy Meal toys (I'm a tad bit ashamed)
I also have an arsenal of crackers & fruit snacks that would make any tote bag envious. Still, I ask myself: Is it enough? Is it too much? Will it all fit in my bag? Am I being sucked in by the "keep your baby safe" marketing of over-priced baby travel gadgets? This all might turn out to be a piece of cake, but M might also turn out to be that kid on the airplane. Saying prayers now for quick and un-eventful, non-delayed, non-stuck-on-the-tarmack-for-6 hours flights. I still can't believe that this chick flew from Arizona to Idaho with 2 toddlers while 7 months prego with #3. Without her husband. (She swears by the DVD player). If only I were that cool. Or brave. Or just a little more of both!
5 comments:
I love plane passengers that just don't understand the parenting trials of travel with infants/toddlers. Crying is almost inevitable and sheer boredom a reality. The DVD thing is definitely helpful though I wouldn't say a must.
Rebecca had all 4 children when she traveled from SEA to DFW just after I moved the house over land. Our youngest was 4 months old and the oldest was 8. She swore she'd never do it again. Wrong. She does did it again by herself this last summer while I was in Argentina.
One trip a boozer in the back of the plane actually complained to the flight attendant about our crying child and the attendant, after glaring at us for being so inconsiderate as to have our child cry, offered the already totally inebriated ingrate another drink, on the house. No respect. No respect.
Oh how much I empathize! Neil actually watched the girls for a few days this summer while I went to visit my best friend (in Utah), because I couldn't bear the thought of traveling with them at their current stage of, ahem, development.
If bothering other passengers really worries you, buy about half a dozen packs of ear plugs and offer them out to anyone who looks annoyed. Grin while you do so. It might even be fun.
Brave Rebecca...or crazy Rebecca? Some people just don't get the travelling is uncomfortable for kids, and seem to assume that the parents don't give a flying rat. The drunk ones are always the worst.
Earplugs...that's clever!
Oh...the best part of the trip: we are flying standby. We could get a direct flight first thing in the morning, or we could be roaming the [tiny] airport all day. Or get stuck waiting in Boise. Or it could just be the first option. I'll dwell on that one.
Mmmm...If baby M so happens to be feeling a bit of a cold or allergies coming on, say right about the time the flight leaves, I've heard there are some OTC items that might make him feel a little sleepy. I will not admit to heeding or not heeding this advice myself...though it was unofficially given to me by our pediatrician.
May I also recommend smarties and lolly pops. Candy does wonders to bribe the tears away.
As one who has done this many times, don't worry about anyone else and don't stress out about it. Just make sure he is happy as can be. If he cries the entire trip, which he won't, I'm sure there will be plenty of seasoned parents on board that know just what you're going through.
Have fun...don't forget to take some chocolate to soothe yourself. ;)
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