High Maintenance Mom

It's that time of year again! I know we have posted about traveling with kids before but I am asked about it a lot and thought it was relevant with just a week until Thanksgiving. Traveling can be so much fun but add energy filled kids, traffic and long lines and it can be (as I like to say) like a root canal with no novocaine. I think after all of these years of flying to and from my in laws twice a year I have it down to a science. With my organization & packing skills and my husbands flying expertise, we seem to make these trips relatively unscathed.... My first task it to make a list (I am going to start my list this weekend). I start with the things we just cant live without and may not be able to get where we are going. Our white noise machines are always at the top of this list along with my kids sleep sacks and favorite stuffed animals, any medications and favorite snacks. The night before we leave I lay out the clothes to be packed on our bed so I can see what I have forgotten. Then I pack my carry on bag filled with snacks and things the kids haven't seen before (new coloring books, Wikki sticks, etc). My 4 year old now knows this trick and as already started reminding me to get these surprises. When my husband checks us in through the airline the day before, he always tells them we have a lap child so they can try to save an open seat next to us but even if you dont it is good to remind them you have wild crazy kids for the best seats (we always sit as close to the front as possible to get the attention of the flight attendants, bottles of water, etc). This way the lap child can hang out in the empty seat once the plane is up to altitude. In the terminal we make sure the kids get a chance to stretch their legs. Finally, we are honest. We tell the kids it will be a long day and quickly run through the events of the day. I often have to remind them of this. All in all, with a ton of patience and some humor, we get through it. Also, check out www.flyingwithkids.com for tips!