To travel with a 2 ½ year old . . .

>If you have ever traveled with a toddler, you must know the feeling of anxiety before the trip. Will they throw a tantrum while everyone is sleeping? Will they blow our their diaper during a long stretch of turbulance? Will they requre their barf bag as well as the barf bags of everyone in your row and the row behind you? Those of you that know me well know that I make up stuff to worry about, so I had my make-believe anxiety on top of the “I'm traveling with a 2 ½ year old by myself” anxiety.

So our journey began with a trip to the airport. We were later than scheduled due to a stop at the bank to deposit the check for our sold Escape. The bank couldn't help so that was a small glitch, not a good start. But, not to let this stop us, I came up with a back-up plan and we got to the airport.

The two large vehicles pulled into short term parking and we all piled out – me, Lilly, my brother and sister-in-law and their six week old twins, my cousin E and her two little girls plus seven pieces of luggage, an umbrella stroller and a car seat.

In to check-in which I couldn't figure out the computerized system. Someone came to help and when I told him I was going to Australia he told me to skip the computer and he would help me out. He then proceeded to tell me my luggage would go through all the way to Melbourne – he had quickly become my best friend!

Next were the good-byes which were tearful and dramatic. Not to mention the strange older couple who dodged cousin E to get a closer look at the babies. The family waved as I tried to get through security. I am sure they were standing there laughing as I tried to fit all my carry-ons, blankie, Mr. Lammy and shoes through the scanning machine. Lilly really didn't want to take off her shoes, she fought me every time.

Off to St. Louis – on a commuter plane so one carry-on coulnd't go with us. No biggie, it was only and hour and a half long flight. I don't remember anything exciting, just that Lilly was ready to land after about ten minutes in the air and then fell asleep 5 minutes before landing.

St. Louis terminal – my kid was hungry and the only snacks you get on planes these days are the ones you pay for. So I stopped at the only vendor I saw – Starbucks and got a muffin and a banana.

Off to San Fran – 4 hour flight. An employee saw me with Lilly and brought me up to check in earlier than my allotted check in group (much to the dismay of some passengers). As I was trying to board the plane the check in person stopped me and said my carry-on was too big and it would have to go under the plane. Ok, there was plenty of stuff in the other bag for Lilly to do. Get in, get settled and a very large man sits next to me. Not too big of a deal until we start to taxi and he plops his arm across the arm rest and falls asleep complete with snoring. Inquisitive Lilly - “What's he doing? What's that noise?” Both of these questions are asked about 7 times. Lilly wasn't interested in the movie Horton Hears a Who and was content to watch the Wiggles for the 100

San Fran terminal – up to this point getting everything around was a struggle but we made it and weren't too stressed. Then came San Fran. I was unsure where the international terminal was located so I asked. The guy told me to just go to the deadend and turn right, that would take me right where I needed to go and it isn't too far. Sigh, not too far but FAR!! I couldn't tell you how far it was, but I was pushing Lilly and pulling a suitcase with a car seat attached not to mention the heavy piece of luggage over my shoulder. Get to the desk to check in and I'm the only one there, which is odd. I ask if I am late but I'm told that it's fine. They weighed my carry-on and told me it was too heavy, it would have to be checked (apparently the weight limit is 7 kg, mine was 14.4 kg, I was not about to let her weigh the bag over my shoulder!!). So now I still had the storller but I was somehow going to have to carry the car seat. As I stepped away from the desk, the lady said I would need to proceed directly to the gate, I said sure. I heard some frantic communication – not in English and the lady whisked by and said she would have to help me – they were boarding. The lady pushed the stroller while I carried everything else and we rushed off to security. Throw everything onto the belt, take off Lilly's shoes, my shoes, fold the stroller, push the car seat through, take off my belt (I still set off the alarm because I had a piece of metal from the car seat in my pocket), gather everything from the belt, put on Lilly's shoes, open the stroller, throw Lilly into the stroller (she was not ahppy that I was not the one pushing) and run down the terminal. Weh we finally got to the gate, which was the last one in the terminal, most people still had not boarded but I was herded up to the front and showed through the door. Some guy called me back so I could fold the stroller and then I was pushed back through. Was all that really necessary?

Onto the plane where we were in row 62 out of 66ish. Yeah me, as I was close to the bathrooms. This flight had awesome entertainments – I totally recommend flying Air New Zealand. We had individual screens and everything was on demand. There were even games that I didn't even look at although I saw other people playing several different card games. Lilly fell asleep about an hour into the flight and she slept a long time, most of it was even in her car seat. I watched a couple of movies and ate Lillly's meal and part of mine. Fell asleep for a bit and then Lilly wanted to sleep on my lap which she did and was fine. Lilly woke up for breakfast and watched a couple videos but overall was pretty quite. Did I mention this leg of the journey was almost 13 hours? It was difficult on my bum but not too stressful.

>Now Auckland. I asked a guy what I would have to do if I was continueing on to Melbourne. He gave me all sorts of directions. I just hoped I would remember them. There was no stroller when I got off the plane, I asked about it and they said it would be in baggage claim, my look of panic had no effect on the worker and I said I was continuing on and she just said maybe it was put with the other luggage. We got off the plane and looked for the correct signs (I didn't have any idea of how long it would be until the next flight, my boarding pass didn't have another time). So I asked questions, followed directions, went this way and that, up and down stairs, through more security and ended up at a gate of passengers about to board a plane going to Melbourne. I asked the lady at the desk if I needed another boarding pass and she looked at my other one and said I was in the wrong place and my plane wasn't listed on the board because it was too early. I would have to go back through where I had just come from and I don't know what she said after that, I was sweating and really mad that no one knew what I was supposed to do. I talked to two other people before someone finally told me that I would be boarding the same plane I had just gotten off, at the same gate in another hour and a half.

Lilly and I went and sat at the gate since I didn't have any of the correct currency to buy anything to eat and ate M&M's and teddy grahams. We played some games and finally got on the air plane, I was allowed to board first since I had a young child with me. The entire plane was loaded and they made the announcement that we would be delayed an hour so they could replace the brakes. Awesome! Poor Lilly was starving and they came around with some cookies that I could tell she didn't like but she ate them anyway.

In order to finally end this entry, I'll just say that customs and immigration was a breeze. My stroller was at the end of the journey, all my luggage made it. No one questioned me and I was finally able to see Seth. There was a very good reunion with Lilly and Seth and she even let him pick her up. We briefly lost Mr. Lammy on the way to the car but I made Seth go back and find him and all was well again.

So all my fears at the beginning of the journey turned out to be silly. Lilly was a wonderful traveler and we had many compliments on how well she behaved. I was very happy with that and I wish that the everything had run that smoothly. Overall, I shouldn't complain but I am VERY happy that part of the journey is over!

Have a good one!!