A Passing Fancy?

Every time we fly I hear:  

"We are NEVER EVER going anywhere again"

Every time we fly, I think it will be different.

Here's the thing. 

Flying with kids isn't so bad - I believe you have to have the right supplies and they have to be the right age

and you have to understand that it will be the most miserable flight of your life. 

E V E R Y T I M E

Set your expectations really really LOW and it *might* be OK.

You may loose a husband

Chalk it up to Collateral Damage

Here is what I have learned:

The perfect time: 0 - 9 months

They are stuck in a car seat, most likely still nursing or taking a bottle and not walking.

They sleep a lot.

You just might be able to sleep.

or read that book.

The worst time: 12 months - 2 1/2 years old

They do not listen, typically no longer in a their own car seat or strapped down.

This means YOU have to hold them down

have arms of steel

They want to go "outside", they want to climb, scream, walk, they have no attention span, and basically are a squirming ball of wet noodle for the duration of the flight

unless they happen to pass out from exhaustion.

or benadryl. shhhhh.

You need enormous amounts of patience

Forget any books or magazines

Ignore all those around you.

or bribe them, the other passengers, with treats before the flight

The next stage is around 21/2

They sort of understand reason and can sit through 30 minute TV Shows

Get an iPad and download kid friendly apps

however remember there will be moments when they NEED something you don't have

like the only toy you forgot to pack

So you still need the right supplies.

This past Christmas, we started off great - on time, lines were short, then we got to security

Nicky would not take off his shoes

So he started screaming

at 7 am in the airport

So I did what every Mother does

I acted on instinct 

and grabbed some blue latex security gloves

simple. done. No more crying.

Happiness.

We sailed through security, the flight, and for once we conquered the art of flying with kids.

what did I know.... 

The reason I tell you this story is that 3 months later

I thought the gloves would be a Passing Fancy 

Nope...not even close.

So....we actually have THOUSANDS of gloves in our house

The accompany Nicky to school, parties, car rides, bath time, bedtime, and playtime

They are Vinyl, latex, latex-free, powder free, blue, purple, and white ones

We have stopped at every gas station in Austin begging for gloves

every restaurant graciously heeds our request

we accept the strange looks

every box at Walgreens, Target, and Walmart  

have been scrutinized, smelled, 

and "Nicky Tested"

His favorite happen to be the ones from School

he asks for 2 every day

EVERY DAY

finally I asked for a box to keep in his cubby

They obliged. 

But they didn't stay in his cubby

It's. Not. A. Passing. Fancy.