Travel time
As always I feel like it has been a while since I last got chance to sit down and write - and even now this is a rushed post between bedtime and allowing my hubby his time on the computer...we really must get a laptop!
Much of my time recently has been spent travelling, a most interesting experience... so I thought I would spent this post by giving you an insight into what it means to travel with 3 kids by yourself, and with 3 kids and a husband!
1. Always pay the money to check in a bag! When I had initially booked my tickets to take the 3 children alone to England, to do the necessary family visits and introduce Jonah into our past life, I tried to do the save money, living on a budget thing and agree to only take hand luggage. No problem right.... 3 children, 1 buggy, 3 hand luggage bags a nappy bag and 2 kids backpacks.... WHAT was I thinking! It was worth every cent of my £30 to put a bag in hold and ditch a couple of hand luggage bags.
2. Bring activity books! When on a budget and you book a late night flight (bedtime for your children) only to find it is delayed over a hour - nothing beats an empty floor space in the airport and a couple of dot-to-dot books! There may have been a coffee for Mummy added in there as well.
3. Ignore the frowns! When your 7 month old wakes up at 10:30pm, just as your plane is beginning it's descent and the end of the journey is in sight, and starts roaring...Being out of bottles and snacks due to the delay mentioned above and you do all you can to sooth him, but hunger, tiredness and popping eardrums are all too much for his little body to cope with... ignore that glands from the woman 2 rows up, who turns every now and then to give a "not so subtle" frown at your attempts to keep the peace.
4. Coffee Breaks are needed! When driving a 5 hour journey alone with 3 children, a coffee and cake break is needed, even if the traffic starts building outside the café before your very eyes.... hungry children do not travel well. However, 30 mins from the final destination and the baby starts to let lose, just drive! Drive like never before, get home!
5. Be Logical! When planning a lovely breakfast together before the plane journey home, only to be stuck in security queues for too long... scrap the coffee!!! I warn you parents it is almost impossible to push a buggy, pull a carry on case, direct 2 children and hold a steaming hot latte.... (I learned the hard way!)
6. Be on time! When the husband joins you ladies, allow him enough time to get through airport security without getting stressed. There is nothing harder than managing 3 children, bags, buggies and a stressed out man!
7. Don't do Airport Shopping! If you've had your holiday and it was lovely and you have a few coins to spend - don't run around the airport trying to agree on something to buy with them. You want gin, he wants whiskey, you wants pretty plates, he wants keying's... Save them, come back on another holiday - pass them on to a friend! Last minute airport shopping only leads to "heated discussions" and miscommunication.
8. Sleeping babies...dream on! Don't bother walking up and down the airport lobbies trying to get your baby to sleep. The air hostess, in the required bid to follow safety procedures, will only ask you to wake him in order to fit the seat belt correctly! (at least I walked off a little of my holiday waistline)
9. Pick your seats wisely! When one of your child's favourite part of the journey is talking through the said safety procedures, and if we really will get to wear our life jackets this time and jump out of the plane onto the yellow slide...it's probably best to warn you fellow passengers, who may not be so keen to see who exactly would pick them up if we landed in the sea...
10. Enjoy! There really is nothing like travelling with 3 children, either by yourself or with your partner... so enjoy it, in the midst of all the madness, bag handling, security checks and buggy manoeuvring, find some giggles! Enjoy the help from the kind families who wait to assist you on and off the plane, ignore the looks from those whose peaceful flight you have disrupted (you're doing your best) and don't hurt the check-in guy who says the airport doesn't accept buggies that fold into 2 parts at the plane door (THANK YOU, to whoever invented the baby sling)!!!
Happy Travelling Dear Readers,
Speak Soon
Much of my time recently has been spent travelling, a most interesting experience... so I thought I would spent this post by giving you an insight into what it means to travel with 3 kids by yourself, and with 3 kids and a husband!
1. Always pay the money to check in a bag! When I had initially booked my tickets to take the 3 children alone to England, to do the necessary family visits and introduce Jonah into our past life, I tried to do the save money, living on a budget thing and agree to only take hand luggage. No problem right.... 3 children, 1 buggy, 3 hand luggage bags a nappy bag and 2 kids backpacks.... WHAT was I thinking! It was worth every cent of my £30 to put a bag in hold and ditch a couple of hand luggage bags.2. Bring activity books! When on a budget and you book a late night flight (bedtime for your children) only to find it is delayed over a hour - nothing beats an empty floor space in the airport and a couple of dot-to-dot books! There may have been a coffee for Mummy added in there as well.
3. Ignore the frowns! When your 7 month old wakes up at 10:30pm, just as your plane is beginning it's descent and the end of the journey is in sight, and starts roaring...Being out of bottles and snacks due to the delay mentioned above and you do all you can to sooth him, but hunger, tiredness and popping eardrums are all too much for his little body to cope with... ignore that glands from the woman 2 rows up, who turns every now and then to give a "not so subtle" frown at your attempts to keep the peace.
4. Coffee Breaks are needed! When driving a 5 hour journey alone with 3 children, a coffee and cake break is needed, even if the traffic starts building outside the café before your very eyes.... hungry children do not travel well. However, 30 mins from the final destination and the baby starts to let lose, just drive! Drive like never before, get home!
5. Be Logical! When planning a lovely breakfast together before the plane journey home, only to be stuck in security queues for too long... scrap the coffee!!! I warn you parents it is almost impossible to push a buggy, pull a carry on case, direct 2 children and hold a steaming hot latte.... (I learned the hard way!)
6. Be on time! When the husband joins you ladies, allow him enough time to get through airport security without getting stressed. There is nothing harder than managing 3 children, bags, buggies and a stressed out man!
7. Don't do Airport Shopping! If you've had your holiday and it was lovely and you have a few coins to spend - don't run around the airport trying to agree on something to buy with them. You want gin, he wants whiskey, you wants pretty plates, he wants keying's... Save them, come back on another holiday - pass them on to a friend! Last minute airport shopping only leads to "heated discussions" and miscommunication.
8. Sleeping babies...dream on! Don't bother walking up and down the airport lobbies trying to get your baby to sleep. The air hostess, in the required bid to follow safety procedures, will only ask you to wake him in order to fit the seat belt correctly! (at least I walked off a little of my holiday waistline)
9. Pick your seats wisely! When one of your child's favourite part of the journey is talking through the said safety procedures, and if we really will get to wear our life jackets this time and jump out of the plane onto the yellow slide...it's probably best to warn you fellow passengers, who may not be so keen to see who exactly would pick them up if we landed in the sea...
10. Enjoy! There really is nothing like travelling with 3 children, either by yourself or with your partner... so enjoy it, in the midst of all the madness, bag handling, security checks and buggy manoeuvring, find some giggles! Enjoy the help from the kind families who wait to assist you on and off the plane, ignore the looks from those whose peaceful flight you have disrupted (you're doing your best) and don't hurt the check-in guy who says the airport doesn't accept buggies that fold into 2 parts at the plane door (THANK YOU, to whoever invented the baby sling)!!!
Happy Travelling Dear Readers,
Speak Soon
Comments
Post a Comment