In the last five years, this mama has had her fair share of flying with kids. With our relatives split between California and Texas, we make the nearly cross country trek at least twice annually.
My family has experienced mechanical delays, weather delays, cancelled flights, overweight luggage, red-eye flights, and yes, the ever-feared crying child, just to name a few of the thousands of ways airline travel can be stressful on both parents and kiddos.
There are tons of must-have items and tips; fellow DMB contributor Cassidy has written a fantastic post for parents, hoping to make the experience as pain-free as possible.
This is the post dealing with the emotional baggage that’s gotta get packed in along with the treats, the toys, the games, the baby gear and all the other must-haves for friendly flying.
This is the post (I hope!) that just might help some moms and dads out there get mentally pumped up for a family flying adventure. A guide to staying sane, if you will, while cruising at altitude and dealing with a wriggler or a screamer or some bickering siblings, and yup, maybe even some of those dirty looks from other passengers.
Pack Your Patience
It’s pretty important, practicing patience while flying with little ones. Because your gonna need it. From the piles of luggage collapsing on the sidewalk to the long security lines, binkies going missing under the body scanners, waiting to board the plane (why is it we always end up in the last boarding group?!) Or how about the diapers being changed in the aisle seat or the kid who has absolutely got to go to the bathroom while the captain is preparing for landing. Everyone will need something and time is always of the essence. So being patient is going to make the experience much smoother, because calm begets calm, it’s like spreading good vibes.
Stowaway Some Empathy
How many other people on the plane, kids included really want to be there? Unless you be rollin’ in First Class, an experience worth an entirely separate post, by the way, I’m guessing, not many. It’s can be hot or cold, there can an overload of luggage, and lots and lots of strangers are squeezed next to one another for any number of hours. They are, or will be or have been in your shoes at some point and it’s important to remember those sideways looks can be coming for any number of reasons, many of which have nothing to do with your kid. Because sometimes kids on planes are perfect little globetrotters and sometimes they scream. For legit reasons and, which feels like more often, many reasons unbeknownst to parents. If you can’t keep it under control, do what you can and just know it will all be over and in the past fairly soon.
Bring a Sense of Humor
Seriously, it’s a flight from point A to point B, how terrible is it really? You and your family could be flying somewhere fabulous or going to visit loved ones or heading home after a long and hopefully fantastic vacation. Either way, the end destination is desired and it makes the travel that much more rewarding when done with a smile and some laughter. Yes it’s exhausting, and no it’s not as easy as we’d like it to be but use your time as an opportunity to show fellow flyers, family members or friends that travel by way of plane can be a memorable experience, if not always smooth, with just a little effort. Inspire them to bring laughter into the mix next time they face the task of flying with kiddos.
Stash Some Organization in the Carry-On
Make sure it’s possible to find all those awesome new toys and treats packed especially for the trip. If they aren’t in the bag stuffed under the seat, chances are you won’t see it for the whole trip. Get your gear in order! Be fully charged, fully stocked, fully watered, bladders fully empty, before strapping yourself and those bundles of energy into a seat for several hours. Stock the arts and crafts kit, pack in clear baggies. Just organize and the results will be worth the effort. Because how happy will the kids be when you can whip out that Ipad from under the seat while simultaneously doling out snacks? Super-duper happy. You’ll be the envy of your fellow family travelers.
If you’re looking for other great posts on travel, try these from Dallas Moms Blog’s archive:
City Moms Blog Network: A Parent’s Travel Guide at Your Fingertips
Don’t Lose Sleep over Holiday Travel
