A Line in the Sand

  Traveling with three kids 4 and under expands one’s capacity just a little bit more. Sure you are outnumbered, you now have one more body than you are able to carry…but it is the variables, friends, the variables.

  If all of the children are on their best behavior- listening when you ask, staying close, smiling when strangers interact , not throwing fits, not darting off,  than you are running a full-on operation. But just one small hitch and it feels like the world stops and strangers everywhere are muttering under their breath…about your kid. Sigh.

  And honestly it is not the 8 hour flight where you are strapped in with your 4, 2, and 5 month old being served food and refreshments… this is not where the worst moments happen….the moments that initiate you into legit-travelers-with-children…

It is the loading onto the plane, Mama with Hope strapped on, holding diaper bag and Sophia’s carry on…Layla trying to pull her carry on with our hitting peoples feet, Drew pushing and pulling two different carry ons, with his brief case swung around his shoulders awkwardly trying to corral us to the right seats.  I watch fellow passengers hold their breath as we pass by, hoping, praying we are not sitting next to them.  When we arrive at our row, some sighs, some fidgeting, some eye contact avoidance and most of the time the sense of “ oh God, have mercy on me sitting by this circus”.

   And this is the line in the sand.

  The people, complete strangers that flash smiles and offer to help. Who look knowingly or lovingly at the kids and start talking to us.  There are ones who fear, avoid, and resent this traveling fam…and others that choose to be entertained by us. 

Traveling with children can’t help but bring real laughable moments:

1) When you have to deplane on a steep stair case, while everyone around you feels like they are in a frantic rush…your jet lagged two year old can’t walk down fast enough and you are worried she might just be overlooked and accidently pushed.

2) from steep stair case to hot, bright sun searching for a stroller, pulling all our carry ons, girls not catching the “rush” of things and having to pile onto completely packed shuttles.

3) security. Oooooof. Shoes off, sleeping babe that has been fussy now taken out of baby carrier, folding up the stroller, corralling the girls, pulling out computers, opening up sippy cups to be tested, explaining diaper rash creams, and trying to convince your children to place their beloved doll onto a strange looking conveyer belt that then disappears.

4) Rushing to each gate, as a circus. Our first flight out was late, therefore we missed all of our original flights, and found ourselves running through three different airports. Lots and lots of lines. Lots and lots of waiting only to pack it up and rush again.

 5) the large, somewhat explosive stool that happens to sweet Babe as you start to land…being so strategic in how you hold your little bundle of cuteness…having to wait for landing, delays on the way into the gate, gate not being ready, de planeing and looking everywhere for a place to change this tooter…it’s all you are thinking about.  Trying to Salvaging at least your shirt…

 

6) Meal times.  The piping hot food and beverages being just one little small kick from dropping on their laps is…concerning. As you, the parent, tries to stuff their face quickly, you are doing a visual scan every 5 seconds to make sure your two daughters are not accidently bumping their tray and having dangerously hot food fall on them.  Then add in 5 month old. On your lap.  It is nuts.

 One of my favorite layla quotes was when they brought out this very weird looking chicken dish and she said to drew “ baba, when I look at this, I throw up”. Honestly, it was exactly how I felt.

  Thankful for arrival and home. For family across the ocean that makes this crazy ordeal worth it. And for people that land on our side, who smile and help and laugh at this family circus.