Learning to fly...

Sophia and I took a trip home to Kentucky to visit my side of the family. My natural instinct is to pack at the last minute and stress out about making sure that I have everything. Then I worry about the airport and all the security checks. Then I worry about making my connection and being stranded in the airport. I can't help myself! All the worrying creates a sense of dread and I can't look forward to the trip until I am already there.



I used to like to fly. Norm and I spent all of our dating time flying back and forth. It was so easy by myself or with another adult. Since then, the airline industry has changed a lot and I have added extra people and checked baggage to my life too. During this last trip I discovered that I have to relearn how to fly in our post 9/11, depressed economy world with kids. So perhaps this post is really a pep talk for me that I need to go back to the next time that I fly.

For the first time ever, I was treated rudely at the Manchester Airport. My flight was completely booked and Sophia and I were assigned seats apart. Sophia is two so that arrangement was unacceptable to me and to anyone that would be in earshot of my wailing child. The ticket agents were really upset that I needed them to switch our seats. I was a little mad about that but then, when the ticket clerk asked for people to switch so that we could sit together, I was amazed at how rude and difficult people were about offering to change! Well, I just stood there until they worked it out. Thank you to the family that offered to change around because they saw a two year old that needed to sit with her mom!!! The clerk then handed me boarding passes without looking at me and said, "Here." curtly. I said thank you to which she did not respond so I repeated myself and she acknowledged me. I found out later, on my trip back that they should have handled all of this at baggage check by computer and there are blocks of seats set aside just for these kinds of situations. LESSON #1: Always make sure that they let you check in at the baggage check and that your seats are set. LESSON#2: Always be willing to switch your seats for a small child.

Well, because I put up such a fuss and my travelling companions were so rude, we left late and I had a tight connection in Detroit. Sophia was a trooper, but she had decided that she did not escalators or moving sidewalks. She would stop short and howl to be picked up. I finally had to pick her up and try to run across the airport. Halfway there, she started asking, "Where's Daddy?" to which I am gasping,"Daddy's not here!!!" Amazingly enough, we made it, although, I thought I might pass out. LESSON #3: Two hour + layovers are a good thing.

In the midst of it all, we had a happy vacation and time with family. I will always make the effort for family time.

A final lesson on our trip emerged when we got delayed in Detroit for 5 hours on our way home. We got to our connection and already had a long layover. I wanted to make it fun. We ate dinner together and we practiced on the escalators and moving sidewalks. She can do it now! We then discovered that we were going to be there until 11pm so we just had to wait. She sat sideways on her seat and colored and was happy. Amazing. LESSON #4: My child is a great traveller regardless of the situation and I will take her with me again. Don't sweat it. We can do it!