I’m guessing it’s the same for most people, that it’s easier to travel with your offspring when they are a bit older and more self-sufficient. It certainly is for me.
Last time we went on a plane JJ was just over one-year-old and he couldn’t even walk. This meant I had to lug a stroller with me, organise a port-a-cot and carseat for our destination and it felt like I had to pack a heap more stuff so long as I could lug it on my back because I had JJ to lug on my hip once we offloaded the stroller at check-in. They wanted him to walk through and probably didn’t believe me that he couldn’t walk yet as he was a big boy and looked like he could walk.
This time he had his own little case that we took on the plane as his carry-on luggage. I had my checked-in bag and a smaller bag for carry-on. We even caught the bus to the airport. Actually it was two buses. Five years ago I didn’t contemplate this, but the catching the bus this time added to the adventure for him, and saved me some money.
We had two days with a girlfriend and her family consisting of husband and four children. Luckily she is a good friend because she drove out to Avalon airport to collect me (from near Frankston – over an hour trip) and then we drove back through Melbourne in the tailend of peak hour traffic. She even had a cold beer to give me for the cartrip. They also took us back to the airport on Saturday night. This made it so much easier for us, but we would have managed if they couldn’t do it.
Their four children all play sport so I saw more games of basketball in two days than I’ve seen in my entire life. And I missed the football and tennis. When we weren’t driving to or watching their sport, we were eating and drinking and doing more talking. Despite the sport thing, it was a relaxing weekend and something I should do more of, especially now JJ is older and so much easier to handle.
Some more differences between now and five years ago. He slept in until about 7am but five years ago I was lucky if he slept past 6am. He could play with the other kids this time but last time he was too young. The next one up in age to him is three years older but they got on really well in spite of their age and gender difference. The three boys were a little bit too old to be hanging around with a six year old but they all spent some time with him and tolerated him quite well.
JJ had problems coming home with the airplane descent. He’d been okay on the way over, just complaining a little bit about his ears, but on the way back it was late evening and he fell asleep not long after takeoff. When we started the descent the pain in his ears woke him up and he started crying. I gave him something to eat but that didn’t ease things at all. We just had to put up with it until we landed.
Overall JJ was amazingly easygoing, apart from a couple of behavioural hiccups, and was a joy to be around. I can’t wait to do some more travelling (that involves flights) with him.
I’ve submitted this for this week’s All women blogging carnival.
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I’ve extended the deadline for the offer for one person a chance at getting a new webblog banner.
jeanie says
Congratulations!!! Isn’t it grand when they have their OWN luggage and feel so grown up.
Wonderful that you had a nice weekend with your friends in the bargain.
Joy says
So glad you and JJ had such good time Jen. What a nice trip for the two of you.
SingForHim@RealLife says
Hi there, I’m here from All for Women. JJ is just adorable, and I love the picture at the top of the post!! It just gets easier as they grow up!
Snoskred says
I have one word for you. Brenclear. It is like magic for a kid with ear pain on a plane. It clears the ear passages pretty much instantly.
http://www.brendow.com.au/
I have to say it deeply offends me that the airlines DO NOT tell people about this, they DO NOT supply them to their crews (crews have to purchase them with their own money if they want to use them) and worst of all they let kids suffer excruciating pain when there is an easy and simple solution.
No parent should be travelling without a few brenclears in their pocket. It really is that simple.
Get the word out to other parents you know. 😉 The airlines and the media won’t tell them. 🙁
Snoskred
http://www.snoskred.org/
Leigh says
Glad you guys had a good time 🙂
Thanks Snosk for the tip, we are off on our first family plane trip in a few months. My boys (DH+DS) have ears problems so will certainly look into that product.