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Sunday, January 27, 2008

Am I Dreaming?

This morning I got up with plenty of time in the hopes of achieving a zen-like mentality before leaving for the airport. Alright what I really told the Big Giraffe last night was I needed enough time to get up, have a minor nervous breakdown and then pull it together before we left. His response was that he was going to set his alarm clock to go off an hour after mine, so that he could miss the breakdown. I wasn't too amused.

I got up and went to make coffee only to find the permanent coffee filter had broken. I tried to use it anyway and ended up with coffee grinds all over the place. I was nowhere near the zen-like image I had envisioned for myself. The Big Giraffe hit Dunkin Donuts to get my coffee or perhaps to escape what he thought was sure to be an inevitable breakdown; maybe even both. During his absence I managed to get everything else together so that by the time he returned I was calm cool and collected. Hmm... maybe anxious, but trying to appear cool and collected would be a better description.

Despite the light snow which normally would have paralyzed MA, we got to TF Green Airport in Providence RI on time. Here's when it started to get dream-like for me. The ticket agent, at the Big Giraffe's request, gave him a pass to get through security so that he could escort the kids and me to the gate. I didn't think they did that anymore! I was really excited. I had two kids (one of whom just started walking and still likes to be carried a lot), one car seat, one computer backpack/diaper bag and one stroller. I was gladto have help carrying it all. Then the employee at the security check told me to take all the time I needed and not to feel rushed when throwing shoes, blankets, computer, strollers, and boys into the bins that go through the X-ray machine. Are you kidding me? Was this guy for real? The security agents never have patience! I couldn't believe my good luck. Yet, it got better!

We had gotten through security so quickly, that we were at the gate almost two hours before our flight. (The flight was then delayed which was obviously not better, but at least we weren't rushed.) We took the kids to the Dunkin Donuts right by our gate. We ended up boarding 25 minutes after the scheduled departure time.

I had visions of both of my sons sprinting away from me when boarding the plane (and in those visions my younger son (YS) was running the wrong way), but both kids actually listened and waited patiently for me to collapse the stroller right at the entrance to the plane so it could be gate checked. The other passengers were very pleasant and waited patiently for me to get situated with the stroller before boarding the plane. My older son (OS) went in first followed by YS, who actually walked, followed by me with the computer backpack and carseat. OS stopped a few rows in and wanted to sit down. I told him we were in row 16 and worried that he would stop to check at each row, but as we passed each row, the passengers shouted out "You're almost there OS! It's row 16!" I becamse absolutely convinced that I had drunk something really good last night and was still asleep.

We got to our seats and both boys waited patiently for me to install YS's carseat and then help OS, who had to sit in a single seat across the aisle from me (very small plane). After our flight was in the air, I realized that we had never eaten lunch and it was well past noon, but I had no hunger-related meltdown. I handed out the cereal bars that I had brought, and the boys were fine.

Lest you think everything was perfect, there were some rumblings that typically precede a double meltdown when I couldn't figure out how to get past the previews on the movie I was letting OS watch on my computer. Since he was upset, YS was upset and howling ensued. A lady ahead of us told OS to be quiet, and his meltdown was brief and (for him) pretty quiet. I headed it off by delivering some threats under my breath, mainly related to shutting down the computer. Calming YS took a bit of cuddling and singing. I hope that since I was sitting right next to the bathroom the combination of the constant flush of the toilet and the roar of the engines drowned out my singing voice. Seriously, I think the woman sitting in front of me with her son and my family were the only people on the plane who did not use the bathroom during the flight.

When I ordered the tickets, I had requested assistance from the airline upon landing. Despite the fact that I specified that I did not need a wheel chair, an airline employee showed up with one anyway. He admitted that he wasn't sure how I could have make it to baggage claim with boys, bags, and carseat without help. I told him that for a previous flight the airline had suggested putting in the request. His response was that it was totally fine and that solo parents had done it in the past, but usually people requesting wheelchairs really needed them. He was very nice and although it may sound like he was saying I was an idiot, he actually didn't come off like that. I'm sure he just kept that thought to himself.

We met up with my parents and finally got something to eat. It was there that we had the most predictable ending to a day where everything went much better than I could have imagined; YS threw up in the restaurant much to the horror of a couple of customers. Fortunately he's fine now, and hey, nothing's perfect!

A. Elliot's Lesson Learned: Usually people who request wheelchairs at an airport really need them.

Labels: ,

posted by Alex Elliot @ 8:53 PM   9 comments
9 Comments:

  • At 1/27/2008 9:41 PM, OpenID cablegirl said…

    Wow! It sounds like a practically perfect trip. The travel gods were with you today. lol

     

  • At 1/27/2008 10:32 PM, Blogger Jodi said…

    I almost didn't read this b/c I couldn't deal with any more airport stories after my horrible travel week.

    But, I'm glad all went well. I'm terrified to travel alone with one child.

     

  • At 1/27/2008 10:53 PM, Blogger Heather said…

    Wow. I don't think I've ever heard such a nice travel story with kids.

     

  • At 1/28/2008 10:34 AM, Blogger Whirlwind said…

    It's nice to hear such pleasant travel stories. We have yet to try to travel far with the kids. The thought scares us!

     

  • At 1/28/2008 12:02 PM, Blogger Kami said…

    What a pleasant trip - with kids anwyay ;-)

    I can't get past the lady telling OS to be quiet?! Was she being helpful?

    Have a great visit with your parents.

     

  • At 1/28/2008 12:29 PM, Blogger Jen of A2eatwrite said…

    Hey, you made it! Congrats!

     

  • At 1/28/2008 3:55 PM, Blogger Suzanne said…

    Glad that it went well. I was also wondering whether the lady was helping you by telling OS to be quiet or if she was being a nasty bitch. It sounds like maybe she was trying to help you out.

     

  • At 1/28/2008 7:04 PM, Blogger skiplovey said…

    That sounds almost unreal it went so well. Glad it was smooth sailing for you guys, have a safe trip back!

     

  • At 1/29/2008 8:09 PM, Blogger Patty said…

    Oh wow I am so jealous that you had such good luck on your flight! I am crossing my fingers that your luck holds out for the return

     
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Name:Alex Elliot
Home:MA, United States
About Me:Professional Mom of two cats, a dog, an ant farm, and oh yeah...two boys: a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Also found in my house is my husband who is known on this blog as The Big Giraffe.
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For those of us who didn't get an instruction manual with our babies and for whom parenting hasn't always gone as planned. On a more serious note this blog is about supporting a woman's ability to make her own choices about parenting including the choice, for whatever reason, to bottle feed her babies formula.

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