I find it easier to travel now he’s older

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.