I really never thought it would happen. I refused to pack suitcases, I didn’t have a rental car booked - I was so sure that something would go wrong and we’d cancel again. I was having some major flashbacks to the last time too. When we had our paper chain countdown going, and I had to throw it away before we reached the end, and then sit my two year old down and tell him that we’d be staying home for a while.
So I guess this post is fitting to follow the last one. I wish I could say it’s a triumph over the pandemic, but it’s not. We still have a 60% unvaccinated household, although I hold out hope that will change by this summer. But maybe we’re slowly finding a way to live with this pandemic. To find a way to live but also be safe? I hope that’s the case.
This trip was redeeming, in many ways. What has felt unfinished for two years now, we were finally able to complete. (And use our airline credit that was expiring at the end of the month). I think we all worked through a lot of fears too. Just a few weeks ago walking into a CVS was giving me anxiety attacks. I had not been around large groups of people in two years. And so I wasn’t sure how I’d do getting on a plane.
Let alone doing it with three small children.
So we planned as much as we could. When I say we filled out workbooks to figure out the logistics, I am not exaggerating. But with planning and an extra adult (the real hero of the trip) we did it. I’ll get into details in another post, but for now this is a documentation that we survived. More than that even, I think we might have thrived?
There were very few meltdowns considering we have three children under five and we skipped naps for a week and introduced them to lots of new experiences. Only one of them had ever flown before, and he was too young to remember it.
In my mind we’d have children throwing themselves to the floor and refusing to walk. Crying on the plane, arms flailing and screaming to get off. I was expecting no one to sleep or eat or do anything. I always prepare for the worst, and so I’m almost shocked that none of it happened. Sure sleep was a little rough some nights, but overall I think they did amazing. So much so, I ordered them cheesecake to be delivered to our house as we pulled in from the airport so they could eat it before going to bed. (By the way, if you aren’t ordering delivery to arrive as you come home from a long trip, you’re doing it wrong. Best decision EVER).
I’m not sure if I have a favorite memory or part of the trip - overall it was something I just loved giving to them. Giving them these memories and the freedom to explore something new. Giving them all the relaxed rules that come with vacations like unlimited TV and snacks and later bedtimes. Last time I tried to ask E what he enjoyed the most, he said the van ride to the airport, so it’s not about big memories. We didn’t go to any theme parks or Red Sox games. I think what’s important is the small moments - eating at the table with your family, riding in a car with new people, seeing animals you don’t see at home.
So we’re home, we made it. Tom has unpacked his entire suitcase and is probably doing laundry while I have decided to sit and not move for a while. The kids are all back at daycare and getting back into their routines. I think I might plan a trip for daylight savings every year from now on, because I’m not sure anyone even noticed it. We were all so tired from traveling that we just went to bed at the “right” time and that was that.
I’ll share more as we slowly return to normal life, and I sort through all my photos and videos.
