Tips for Travel with Toddlers & Preschoolers

We have done our fare share of car traveling with kids, but transatlantic travel with kids is MUCH DIFFERENT than a long car ride. Here are some of the things I learned along the way about traveling with a 2 and 4 year old. 

A pull up on the plane is always a good idea. Just to be safe, I threw a pull up on Isla before we boarded the plane. I was SO GLAD I did. When we were taxiing out, she said she had to go the bathroom and we couldn't get up. Before you knew it, she was in hysterics. I was telling her to pee in the pull up (which she isn't used to wearing) and she was crying, "I want to use the potty!" Finally, she just went in the pull up and all was well again. 

Ditch the car seat. I brought a car seat along with us for Isla to use on the plane because I thought since she is such a good car traveler, it would help on the plane. Not only was that theory NOT TRUE, one airliner flat out refused to let us use it on the plane. It was also a pain in the butt lugging around with us. 

Just say yes to a stroller...and a carrier. The more the merrier, I say. We ended up using the stroller as a luggage trolly in train stations and airport and I would wear Isla. Also, on heavy walking days, Connor could sit in the stroller while I would wear Isla. Lastly, with the time change, the kids were all messed up. Isla (even at almost 3 years old) took naps easily in the carrier, but resisted them in the stroller. 

Less is more. I know I just said to bring more, but this time I am referring to entertainment for kids. I packed both the kids backpacks for the plane with toys and a change of clothes. Really, those toys weren't used much on the trip and more became another thing to lug around in our travels. If I were to do it all over again, I would pack one backpack for the two of them. Long haul airplanes have built in tvs, which was all the entertainment my kids needed. And, on trains and other travel days, one carefully selected toy, a favorite book and an iphone was all they needed. 

Headphones for kids! I bought the kids special kid headphones for the trip. Not only are they cute, but they have volume limiters for their sensitive ears. The stayed on the kids heads well and they both loved them. Also, they could use their own headphones on the plane rather than the garbage ones the airlines provide. 

Always have a change of clothes handy. Peeing in a airplane bathroom with some turbulence can be hard for a kid. So can not spilling your drink...not just from turbulence, but from general kid-ness. A change of clothes on an airplane is ALWAYS a good idea. 

Pack in zip lock bags. I packed both the kids outfits for the plane and the ones in normal luggage in zip lock bags. It made it so easy having everything for one outfit (top, bottom, undies, socks) in one place. Plus, if soiled clothes are involved, the bag pulls double duty as an instant wet bag. 

Snacks, snacks and more snacks. The child's meals provided on airplanes are laughable. They have no nutrition and really, for a 10+ hour flight, were not enough food for my kids. We brought tons of snacks - apples, bananas, fruit leathers, granola bars, etc. - on the plane with us and it all was eaten. If you bring produce on, just remember it all has to be gone or will end up in the trash when you arrive in your next country, as it can't go through customs. 

People kept telling us we were so brave for taking the kids on a trip like this. Honestly, there were some stressful times. All involved airplane travel and a toddler freaking out. But really, she freaks out on a daily basis...but being trapped in cramped quarters with 100's of people makes it much more stressful! That being said, we had an awesome trip and I would do it all over again. 

Ok traveling mamas, what are your best traveling tips?

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I Have a Confession

I HATE playdoh. Like with a passion. I loathe the stuff. It is just so messy. It gets everywhere and is such a pain in the butt to clean up. Because of this, we never have it in the house. Ever. Last year, Connor got some in his stocking and I made it stay at my inlaw's house.

There has been a playdoh set hiding in our house for a year and a half because I have never wanted to get it out. The other day was just one of those days and I needed something to save it. For some reason, I got out the playdoh. The kids LOVED it. Connor sat there for an hour and a half and just played with it. He was so entertained. Of course, it practically took me as long to clean it all up. That night, he begged to play with it again. I waited until the next day and set it up outside and let the kids go to town. It was still super messy, but at least the mess was all over the porch and not my dining room table.

I'm not sure I would say I have a love-hate relationship with playdoh yet. The love part just still isn't there. But, watching my kids, Connor especially, love something so much, does maybe...possibly...open the window for me to allow playdoh in my house...every once in a while...maybe once a year.

And, please, someone tell me, am I supposed to spell it playdoh or playdough? I get that the brand is playdoh, but it just looks better as playdough. It reminds me of the whole kleenex or tissue thing...

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Isla's First Haircut

^^ This is actually an after picture. 

Isla had her first haircut yesterday. It was such a different experience that any of Connor's haircuts. Isla acted like a seasoned pro and loved the attention that was lavished on her. She even had conversations with her hairdresser. The part that really caught me off guard is that she was totally ok with having her hair blow dried. Girlfriend will barely let me get her hair in a ponytail half the time! I was so proud of her, yet a little taken aback by how grown up she seemed.

And sorry, not sorry, about all the pictures. Isla just looked so dang cute. I still can't get over the adorableness.

 ^^ The first cut. 

 

All in all, Isla had about three inches taken off. She still has some of the baby layers left (it would have to be about shoulder length to not have any layers). But at least now her hair is all healthy. And now it has truly been proven that she is ALL GIRL and loves being pampered on at the salon. I am equally smitten with this and nervous for her teenage years. 


In case you care, here is the post from when Connor got his first haircut...at 7 months old. 

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Connor: This boy loves getting dirty, and playing with others. He feeds off being around other people. I was so proud watching him and a friend work TOGETHER to stack tires...even if they did fight over Connor wanting to be in the middle of the stack!  

Isla: Isla and a cat. Need I say more?! It really is her personal heaven. 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

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Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from my little astronaut and fluttershy (my little pony) to you! It's supposed to rain here today, so I am not sure how much of halloween we will be enjoying. But, if the weather is good, we will be headed out to a fall fair at the church where the kids go to preschool. We haven't been successful with trick-or-treating in our area...it's really busy with bigger kids and they literally pushed our kids out of the way to get to the door first...so we are sticking to church fairs until the kids are old enough to fight back. I kid, kind of.

It's getting more and more fun the older my kids get to have them actively participate in what they want to be for halloween. It started last year with Connor wanting to be a minion. And this year, both kids actively participated in what they wanted to be. Connor's astronaut costume is actually a dress up costume, rather than halloween, so it is more quality and has already endured lots of play! I may or may not have gotten it a few months ago. And Isla wanted to be her favorite My Little Pony character. I searched pinterest for inspiration, then made her costume at a craft night with friends one night. Her face mask is an etsy find. 

What about you, got any plans for halloween? 

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Conversations with Connor

 

The other day, while driving, there was a homeless man walking in the middle of the road with all of his worldly possessions in a shopping cart he was pushing. From the back seat, Connor said, "Mom, did you see that man? He really shouldn't be picking up trash in the middle of the road because a car could hit him." I am guessing Connor thought the man was picking up trash, because that really looked like what his cart was full of. This encounter opened the door for Connor and I to have a conversation about homeless people. At first, he couldn't grasp the concept...he probably still doesn't fully get it. He asked why the man would sleep on the street instead of in a "cozy bed". After I told him the man couldn't afford a home, he suggested the man stay in a hotel. Once I explained that hotels cost more than a home, he suggested that "he go to Lowes and buy the stuff and an oven and build his own house." Then I explained that stuff at Lowes costs money and the man just doesn't have any. Then Connor said, "I will build a house with an over and a bunch of food in the refrigerator and will say, "This house is free." Then the man can find a mom to live with him and they can have a sweet baby boy."

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Scotland & Thoughts on Early Motherhood

Being pregnant away from your home base is a different experience. Our families never saw me pregnant in person. They never touched my belly and felt Connor kick. Baby products are different in Scotland, so I couldn't ask friends in America for advice. And, well, the same goes for the medical system. My coworkers at Starbucks loved talking about my pregnancy though and enjoyed feeling Connor kick. I was like a live science experiment to them. They even threw me a surprise baby shower. But, when I went on maternity leave, we moved 2.5 hours north of Edinburgh to Aberdeen.

My first year of motherhood was pretty much the same way. Once, Connor had a cold and I asked a random lady with a baby at church for advice. Our small group leaders helped a ton. The wife always invited me places and made sure I got out of the house, both with and without Connor. She would offer me advice and encourage me when Connor just didn't want to be in the church nursery.

When I was tired, I had no one to call and ask to take Connor for a little while. I just put my big girl panties on and dealt with it...of course, it helped that I was just dealing with one kid! I didn't drive. I went for a walk with Connor every day, despite the weather...sunshine, rain or snow. I would walk to Starbucks, sit down and drink a cup of coffee. I would wonder around book stores and shops. I made a weekly trip to the movies for "cine-babaies"...they showed movies at lower volumes and only moms with babies were allowed in the theater.

I realize my experience as a first time mom probably would have been vastly different had we lived in California. Sure, it still would have been special. But it probably wouldn't have taught me to be so strong. It probably wouldn't have eased me into the world, into the rat race, of motherhood as easily. I really do appreciate all our time in Scotland. But the time of me transitioning into motherhood will always be the most special.

^^ Standing in the exact same spot as my maternity picture taken 5 years earlier

^^ The hospital Connor was born in (it was pouring down rain when I made Connor get out of the car to take this picture) and the house we lived in.

^^These are the winter gardens (a HUGE enclosed garden) at a park that was just by our house. I spent a lot of time with Connor at that park and when the weather was bad, I walked through these gardens with him. 

I really didn't expect being back in Scotland to bring up so many emotions in me. Good emotions. It was fun going back and remembering what that transition to motherhood was like. And remembering all the places we used to take Connor. Scotland will always hold a special place in my heart...and, well, Connor will always have a birth certificate (and passport) from there. 

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