Anyone with kids realizes that travel takes a lot of preparation.
Especially if you have kids.
Prep prep prep
Parents also have to have a certain amount of resilience and tons of patience.
I have traveled with my kids for the last 14 years and as challenging as it could have been, I consider myself organized and proactive. I anticipate almost every obstacle before it even thinks about popping up. I pride myself on being prepared for any kid challenge that might show up. I realize that my priorities are in line with my children being happy, but I don't over think preparing because my kids need it so much, as I also have the thought of other travelers in mind. If my kids are whining everyone suffers.
So, needless to say after successfully carting kids around the world for years and nurturing proficient young travelers of my own, I was shocked yesterday to see (not a single mom, but a mom and dad team) a family with 2 small children (ages 4 and 7) completely out of control.
Dad had mistakenly (giving him the benefit of the doubt) booked his ticket for the day they were traveling and booked the mom and the two children on the following day's flight.
Hahaha haaa
You will indeed think this is funny when the details follow.
The mom brings the two children to the waiting area to wait for dad to work out the details. Can they be re-booked for today? Can dad wait until tomorrow? Will the children be able to sit for 8-10 minutes without setting the airport afire and stabbing each other in their constant display of inability to behave for any length of time whatsoever.
The smaller child continually taunts the older child until the older child moves seat...to which the small child follows to taunt further. The mom at this point grabs the arm of the smaller child and shoves him into the seat from which he just arrived. The older child begins to whine, "what will we do, how will we get home, I wanna go home", to which the mom responds, in a similar whiny tone, "I don't know what we're gonna do", as if they were stranded on a desert island with no food, covered in zsi zsi flies, and cannibals were hot on their trail.
The father saunters over with their caravan of baggage from their 1 week vacation, 2 states over, and states the facts, "it will cost $205 dollars to change their tickets, or they will have to wait until tomorrow". $205 dollars? cha ching, this sounds like nothing for a family of four, and I'm broke.
On the other hand, big deal, wait until tomorrow. A hotel room is $50 bucks, suck it up - these kids don't have to be anywhere.
But, these are things rational people think. What happened is this:
The mom puts her head in her hands and begins to weep. One seat over mind you. I'm almost in her purse, we're so close. She begins to cry out, "I can't travel with the kids alone". To which dad responds, "I have to go to work". To which the kids begin to torture one another relentlessly, while the businessman on the other side of them begins to wriggle in his seat.
Now, I'm thinking, "what the hell is going on here"?
Then, one of the kids wanders about 5 feet from where they are sitting and the mom leaps up grabs him by he arm, marches him back to the seat, and he begins to scream. At which point dad, pinches, pokes, something physical quietly, and tells him to be quiet. Then the kids starts wailing even more. Now mom holds her hand over the mouth of the child demanding he be silent.
The entire family is an emotional mess.
The whole while, the older child making comments on the behavior of the younger one as if he was so above the antics he was, in fact, participating in passively.
The older child starts shouting, "what are we gonna do, what are we gonna do".
Dad makes a phone call to have the family picked up by grandparents...yes, they have family...still in the airport area. Then quietly says to mom, "can you travel alone with the kids"? To which she gets a stiff upper chin and says in the most passive aggressive voice I have ever actually heard outloud, "I will travel alone with them, you have to work, and we can't do without". Imagine Eeyore.
I could have vomited on the spot. It was the worst piece of drama I've ever seen - from tears to stiff upper lip in 45 seconds, with a spot of violent outrage sandwiched in between.
And from such an average looking family.
They didn't look like drama.
I caught the glance of the businessman on the other side of this theatrical mess looking at me, and I refused to make eye contact for fear of my reaction. This wasn't funny, it was pathetic and crazy, but so outrageous, it was difficult to have a rational reaction.
After they moseyed away it occurred to me this was probably a well oiled plot by dad to ditch this craziness and escape.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
3 Angels
Today was the beginning of the last vacation before the beginning of the new school year.
I try and take the kids somewhere every year so we can bond and touch base before the school year starts and time gets away from us again. It is an opportunity to talk about everything they are anticipating as well as the summer events thus far.
Catchup time and new beginnings.
It's also an opportunity to capture memories of childhood and the good things we all remembered as kids - the chance to pass it down. Beaches and bike rides, summers end, and road trips...the good things that we remembered about being a kid and of our parents.
This trip held a little more depth for me because I knew I had some lingering personal issues that were hanging like an emotional brooch around my neck. I wanted to keep everything separate yet get the closure I so desperately need.
The flight to Los Angeles was full but we were told there were enough seats for all three of us. Super! One more stress off my back. We boarded and sweet, I got an exit aisle seat with one child seated behind me, and the other in the row ahead of me. No worries.
Then I noticed a commotion and realized someone did not have a seat. I volunteered to ride Fourth Jumpseat (with the fight attendants) so no one would have to exit the aircraft, and the flight commenced.
The Flight attendants - the 3 Angels who were sent to me, in my like form (as God has indicated they would be), were funny, and sweet, and all strong in faith.
Their similar demeanor's to mine engaged me.
One was extremely funny and used colloquialisms that I used and had an edge about her. One took her job very seriously, yet was quiet and thoughtful. The last was strong and serious, but worked to maintain her sense of self in the light of others. They all spoke to my personality, yet all three together pulled me into
Their lightness of being held my attention. Their words moved me and spoke to my heart and my faith and I realized I was lucky enough to be acutely aware of one of those moments when the Universe is speaking to you. And I listened.
This is what they told me:
"You are strong"
"Trust your instincts"
"We can't pick a man for ourselves, we have to let God show us who He has picked for us"
"All that glitters is not gold"
"When you find "the one", he will tell you, he will pursue you. You will know."
I left with my heart feeling lifted and knowing how to get through one more day because someone sent me 3 angels to help me on my journey.
Today, I needed that.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life there is
only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you most
you would leave me."
The Lord replied "My precious, precious child,
I love you and would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints in the sand,
it was then that I carried you."
I try and take the kids somewhere every year so we can bond and touch base before the school year starts and time gets away from us again. It is an opportunity to talk about everything they are anticipating as well as the summer events thus far.
Catchup time and new beginnings.
It's also an opportunity to capture memories of childhood and the good things we all remembered as kids - the chance to pass it down. Beaches and bike rides, summers end, and road trips...the good things that we remembered about being a kid and of our parents.
This trip held a little more depth for me because I knew I had some lingering personal issues that were hanging like an emotional brooch around my neck. I wanted to keep everything separate yet get the closure I so desperately need.
The flight to Los Angeles was full but we were told there were enough seats for all three of us. Super! One more stress off my back. We boarded and sweet, I got an exit aisle seat with one child seated behind me, and the other in the row ahead of me. No worries.
Then I noticed a commotion and realized someone did not have a seat. I volunteered to ride Fourth Jumpseat (with the fight attendants) so no one would have to exit the aircraft, and the flight commenced.
The Flight attendants - the 3 Angels who were sent to me, in my like form (as God has indicated they would be), were funny, and sweet, and all strong in faith.
One was extremely funny and used colloquialisms that I used and had an edge about her. One took her job very seriously, yet was quiet and thoughtful. The last was strong and serious, but worked to maintain her sense of self in the light of others. They all spoke to my personality, yet all three together pulled me into
Their lightness of being held my attention. Their words moved me and spoke to my heart and my faith and I realized I was lucky enough to be acutely aware of one of those moments when the Universe is speaking to you. And I listened.
This is what they told me:
"You are strong"
"Trust your instincts"
"We can't pick a man for ourselves, we have to let God show us who He has picked for us"
"All that glitters is not gold"
"When you find "the one", he will tell you, he will pursue you. You will know."
I left with my heart feeling lifted and knowing how to get through one more day because someone sent me 3 angels to help me on my journey.
Today, I needed that.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life there is
only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you most
you would leave me."
The Lord replied "My precious, precious child,
I love you and would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints in the sand,
it was then that I carried you."
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