Long flight…a lot of fun: How to keep the sanity while traveling with babies/kids

I just read an article regarding a family journey and experiences while flying across the country with two young kids, the husband and wife team reveal the high and lows. And really this article make me reflects on my own traveling experiences.

Well, we have been married for nearly 6 years; we have a great life and a wonderful marriage. We do just about everything together. We are raising our baby boy which is nearly 3 year old and we are expecting our second baby boy this coming February 14, 2011.  Our son is getting used to traveling a lot, he is traveling since he was newborn / 6 month old.

But like many married couples, we sometimes seem like we are living in two different realities. Every year shortly after beginning the Spring and Fall seasons we packed up the family, left our Kentucky home, and headed to visit my parents at my country in Puerto Rico. We have to cross Atlantic Ocean to reach the Caribbean Sea, seems like a cross country trip marathon. Even though each same traveling experience has been very different and very hectic we always managed to get there alive.

Traveling through the airports with little kids during the holidays is a nightmare. Joe and I have to cover each other. Our little man is unreliable at best and his mood can turn on a dime.

Up until now we’ve always flown first thing in the morning. This has its own problems, such as delirium, nausea and crankiness on all of our parts. But it’s also over before you realize what’s happening. We always try to leaving at 6:00 a.m. – a nice morning flight.  My husband hate to pack, he waits until the last minute and then goes crazy asking me where is this or where is that, exclusively when I’m at my busiest. It’s a big job, so why not start earlier? It’s a simple idea.

My husband can feel when I am starting to get anxious. I am always annoyingly punctual. I’m running around doing my husband last minute packing, cleaning and trying to dress up and pacify the little man.  I’m the planner. I have to be. If not, we miss our flights, end up in traffic and shortly thereafter, divorce court. I normally check with the airline before leaving the house and normally our flights are on time. 

Joe always is very good and extremely particular with our house dog “Regalo” care and house care arrangements. He always does an excellent job!  We left our dog in our house and he go in and out through the doggy door at the basement. Regalo is the king of the house for two weeks and he might feel like he is in heaven.  A lot of food and water with several areas of sleeping and napping rugs; which he loves. So, right before we leave the house, Joe takes Regalo and left him out and close the gates form our deck.

Joe starts the car, he is out and loading the car before I’ve even filled the sippy cups and pack the snacks. I am always felling we are late; I always want to be 20 minutes early for everything. Let see, two giant luggage, carseat, carseat cover/carry on, four pieces of carry on, a giant bag of snacks, a lunch box for the milk/juices and the laptop the baby’s entertainment. . It’s my hubby’s job to get it all into the car as I buzz around the house one last time doing God knows what with my little boy chasing me around like a doggy. Then he goes inside the house again, whatever he is doing it takes an extra five minutes and he’s out of breath.

The road trip to the airport begins and the Caribbean adventures is on schedule so far...

To be continued…

My Quote of the day:  When you’re a mom, it’s easy to overlook your own needs.