Four months ago, Adam and I booked our tickets. In celebration of five years of wedded bliss, we’d be taking a little getaway to the place we started on this wild journey… Austin, Texas. Adam and I loved Austin for countless reasons and having made several lifelong friendships there, we were ecstatic to return, if only for a brief stay. When we purchased our tickets, we immediately started daydreaming of the food coma that would likely occur the minute we landed in the capitol city… Trudy’s, Chuy’s, Rudy’s and more, would once again be ours. We were giddy with the thought of a night out “just like old times” at all of our favorite haunts. We were absolutely ecstatic over the prospect of warm weather after a long, dreary winter.
Having not been on a true getaway since having Barrett, the anticipation was great and as a full-time stay-at-home mom, I counted down the days until we’d take a break from our normal routine. The dates were set. The tickets were purchased. Only one detail to shore up… to take Barrett or not? We were torn. Flying wouldn’t be an issue … at 14 months, we wouldn’t drop any extra bones to bring B and we flew as a family last summer for the annual family vacay to Breck so we knew Barrett would be all good up in the air. Our friends were hopeful that we’d tote our tot, some having never met him and some wanting to spend extra time with our beloved little boy. Lugging additional luggage, luckily, would not put a damper on our arrangements as we were booked to fly the friendly skies with Southwest — today’s mile high savior, who still recognizes that bags should fly free. There was really no reason that we shouldn’t have packed Barrett’s bag that day… but there was a bit of non-mom in me feeling selfish and excited over the idea of 4 schedule- free days filled with sleeping in, eating on a whim and adult conversations. However, Adam, the better parent, stated his excitement over showing Barrett the best of the Lone Star State and I acquiesced.
We set sail for Austin on April 15th. On April 10th-ish, Barrett decided that the steps he’d been taking for months to get from one very short distance to another, would be more effective if he took more at a time and a teetoring, roaming toddler emerged. Although every first time parent watches gleefully as their wee one starts a-walkin’, it had me a bit frazzled. Of any time to get fancy feet, Barrett chose the week prior to having to be held captive in the skies for 3 hours. Add to that nuance, the logistics of traveling with a toddler — naps, snacks, lunch and lullaby time all had to be configured into our days. What to pack, what to leave, all of these things had my mind a flurry prior to our vacay and I was stressing myself out with every scenario. Why on earth did we think this was a good idea?
Packed and ready to go, the morning of April 15th came and went without much ta-doo. We got to the airport on time, checked in without issue and were met with happy smiles from accommodating flight attendants. I feared that, not if, but when, Barrett’s attention span dissipated in-flight, we’d surely be met with looks of disapproval from fellow flyers and be labeled “those people” who brought their bratty kid on a flight. But the fear was for not, Barrett was an absolute peach on the flights and charmed passengers and pilots alike. The trip was taking off terrifically but I wasn’t going to hold my breath.
Much to my surprise, the entire trip was much like the flight; each day, I felt a little anxiety about Barrett’s schedule and making sure that everything was perfect for him, and each day, he pretty much rolled with the punches… the meals out, the napping and sleeping in the pack n play and a good chunk of car trips, seemed to phase Barrett very little. His happy-go-lucky ‘tude was most likely attributed to the our gracious hosts, Barrett’s godfather Anuj and his fabulous wife, Sapna, who jumped in just like family does, entertaining B and working around his schedule with ease. Of course, there were times that his whining and fussing that he’s recently been perfecting made me question why we decided to bring our favorite firstborn on our romantic retreat but all in all, it was a blast.
We stuffed ourselves silly, visited old favorites and explored some new ones, carted Barrett to and fro and made some memories that we will surely cite until we’re old and gray. We got to see most of our favorite faces and introduce Barrett to our former life. Without even knowing it, the trip with Barrett was exactly what we needed.
A few takeaways from our travels included the realization that there’s no need for nerves when trying something new with your kiddos because unlike adult-sized humans, kids adapt quite well. Additionally, I have decided that staying up until 3:00 in the morning when your child will wake up at 7:00 regardless may be an error in judgment. I decided that staples for traveling with toddlers include disposable bibs, table toppers, and a plastic bottle with a few coins inside (better in a jam than any toy known to man). And finally, when you schedule a getaway with your babes, it’s called a trip …when it’s just a couple thing, it’s truly a vacation.
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