06 May 2012

my fear of flying


We are getting ready for a big vacation.  We'll be flying to New York to spend four days before taking a flight cross country to spend three weeks in Seattle.  Needless to say that I am beyond excited. I can't wait to visit NYC, spend time with  family and friends in the wonderful PNW, discover some fun new places with Félix, and visit old favorites. I am happy to get to show off Clover, a lot of  my family hasn't seen him since he was six months old. But...


But, I am fearful for the flights. Not for me mind you, I've flown all over the world for work, for vacations. I love settling in for a long haul, watching the in-flight movies, flipping through magazines or plowing through a novel. I've even flown solo with Clover but it was when he was a little baby. He did great. He was happy checking everyone out, smiling at the ladies around us. He didn't sleep during the 11-hour flight save for a 20 minute nap so we were both toast by the time we got to our destination but we made it with relatively minimal crying...for either one of us. The flight attendants were so helpful and everyone wants to hold a sweet, cooing baby.

But not many people want to hold a wriggling 20-month old toddler, and not many 20 month old toddlers want to be held. My sweet cooing baby has become a running, jumping, climbing, kicking, wonderful little boy. Which is great, of course I wouldn't have it any other way. He's the best.  Of course, this time Félix is with us. And we have new toys, old favorites, snacks, stickers, iphone apps.  But, the closer we get to this flight the greater my fear grows.  I know parents and kids fly all the time, sometimes to the chagrin of the other passengers sometimes not but my fear still remains.  Any good tips? War stories? Tales of happy babies and happy passengers?

3 comments:

  1. 20 months is a hard age. however i think he will do great! be realistic but think positive. best of luck. i have found that it only gets easier as they get older. if you make it to portland while in PNW, let me know - would love to meet up.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous8/5/12 05:43

    b was 18 month when we we last came your way. she did well.....new books, new activities, new snacks, and a lot of running around the airport made the trip manageable. even if the 24 hours of travel wind up being semi-miserable, it's worth it in the end. get seats in the bulk head if at all possible!

    -e

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...