Airplanes and Toddlers

At the Airport About to Check-in

As we prepared for our trip to Colombia, the Husband and I have had nightmares about how we will manage a long travel day with the 18 month old cub. We immediately started securing everything possible that we thought my placate him throughout the day or hold his attention for a spell. I got over "being that parent" quite some time ago. You know "that parent". It´s the parent that all other non parents look at with shrewd eyes and judge and question why they can´t control their child. Early on I spent too much of my precious time trying not to be "that parent". Then it hit me one day; parenting is difficult enough without me trying to please people that honestly don´t matter. When it comes to parenting the only beings that I need to please are God, my children, and my husband. Now, I could care less about being "that parent". So yes that was me at Babies R Us the other day thumbing through swim wear while my son ran up and down the aisle singing and saying hello to everyone that passed by. Yes that was me at the Walmart who continued to check the label on a pack of snacks ignoring her son while he threw himself to floor, kicked, and screamed. I ignore this behaviour, so should you.This brings me to all the preparation for the travel plans. We packed everything possible that would help us prevent any tantrums. The reason being tantrums are downright draining. Travelling is draining enough; add hours of toddler tantrums and you have officially entered the sixth circle of hell. Needless to say we came with an arsenal of things prepared to entertain and calm our son.

We left our house at 6:30 am to go to the airport. This is an hour earlier that my son is accustomed to getting out of bed. I was prepared though for....nothing. He wasn´t cranky or irritable. Next was the long line to check-in. My son hates being held when there is an opportunity for him to chart new grounds and explore new surroundings. Still nothing. He patiently stayed in our arms and we successfully checked in all our bags. By now I´m thinking it´s just early. He will be in full mode soon. We made it through security and still no fussing, demanding to get down an run around, or tantrums when told no. We had a little wait before our plane departed so we ate breakfast and toured the wonderful Hartsfield Airport. The cub was allowed to roam around now. He had so much fun. It´s like all the airport staff, including security, were there to assist him with whatever he wanted. One security woman even flashed her lights and let the cub play with her little scooter bike ( I don´t know what those things are called). He got all the attention he could want plus extra. Now it´s time to board the plane. I´m nervous. A toddler, and my toddler at that, sit still for two hours in the same space. Oh and the ear popping thing. How do you handle that with toddlers. He sat in the lap of his uncle by the window. The plane took off and he loved it. He absolutely loved watching the plane take off and he looked out the window with great amazement. We were finally in the air with nothing but clouds to see and what does my cub do. GO TO SLEEP. He slept through the entire flight. So to all you non parents out there that looked at me with judgement and inwardly cursed the fact that you would be stuck in a confined space for two hours with a toddler shame on you. I know what you thought. I could see it in your glances as we sat at the gate and you listened as my son spoke with his outdoor voice. I saw the fear as you watched me chase him around the lounge area while he squealed with delight. You thought all this would happen on the plane too. Well shame on you! Who am I kidding....me too. I had those same thoughts and fear. So ignore the DVD player, headphones, games, music, junk food, books, toys, and Benadryl in my carry on. So sad, I was prepared to take the cub down by any means necessary. The layover and second flight into Cali, Colombia was just as amazing and smooth. He went to sleep AGAIN. The woman that had the fortune of sharing our aisle said my cub is the most tamed and wonderful child she has met. Proud mommy dance time. Who knew the cub would love to fly.