Perhaps it’s because I’m a new mother. Or perhaps it’s because I never travel—especially long distances. But I learned my lesson. And I learned it good.
It’s 2am and I am up. And my toddler is up. And I don’t foresee sleep in either of our futures. At least sleep at night.
This is why I write this warning.
Don’t travel with toddlers. Ever!
***
Now, on the facetious side of it all—
I am not a new mother. I have 3 kids, and my oldest (now 9 years of age) was lugged on an airplane crossing state lines at 3 weeks and crossing an entire continent and ocean and half another continent at 6 weeks. She has since then been on 4 continents (which is 1 more than I have been to as her 39-year-old mother).
My middle—the current toddler that is wide eyed and not so cute at 2am (smile and wink) has been in 4 countries in his 3 years and 2 months of life. 3 of those countries he has traveled to via plane. Only one via car—and that was to be whisked to an emergency room in Germany.
My youngest—my baby—she’s traveled a couple cross-Atlantic flights with me since 5 months of age.
And my recommendation stands: Don’t travel with toddlers. Ever.
Seriously.
Sleeping solutions used to pour down his throat?
Nope. No good.
Keeping the devil (I mean angel) up all day so he’ll sleep all night?
Fail.
Bribery?
Threatening?
TV?
Nothing puts the kid to sleep.
Not even mommy’s weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And so I lug on—sleepless. Wild-eyed. Crying.
Worse than the toddler.
Leaving my husband to pick up all pieces of the house—and the three kids. And the three dogs. And the water turtle. And the chameleon.
And the dishes. And the laundry. And the mess the little toddler tornados make every other second.
Wait.
Perhaps this isn’t so bad after all—for me?
A little late night TV to myself. A little late-night snacking. A little mid-morning nap. A little no-cleaning????
And a hubby that runs ragged after everything appreciating me more and more with each passing moment.
I was wrong. I take it back.
Travel with toddlers.
And then use them as your excuse to stay up late. Sleep in. And do nothing!
It’s like living the Mother’s Day Every Day dream, my friends!
Bon voyage! And don’t forget the baby!
And 2 Makes Crazy 