We did it. Well I did it. I travelled solo from Dubai (well Abu Dhabi) to Manchester on my own.
And survived. So here is my tale, in stages, of how I coped when travelling with my children…did I mention that I was alone?
The Week Before
Think about packing. Dismiss the idea as you don’t fly for agggges.
Contemplate washing everything you need. Then decide you need to wear it all and it’s best to do it closer to when you fly.
Three Days Before
Finally tackle the washing pile and wish you’d been more organised and started sooner. Vow that next trip you will start sooner.
Two Days Before
Realise in a mad panic that the toddler has outgrown all his clothes and you can only find half of the baby’s 3-6 month (I know my tiny 6lbs3oz born baby has turned into Giganta-baby by 10 weeks old weighing in at nearly 14lbs!) clothes.
Run to the shops to purchase some last minute impulse buys.
Come away with 4 new mum tops for yourself and not much else.
Lay out all of the clothes you’re taking on the floor and marvel at how much stuff you have for such little people.
Husband comes home and you get him to drag the cases out. Then decide that’s enough of that for one day and leave them empty on the floor.
The Morning Before
The Toddler is in nursery, decide to use the time to pack.
Get caught up in blogging.
Admonish yourself for blogging and quickly check Twitter before you go up to pack.
Lose an hour to Twitter and realise that you need to head out to pick up the KenziBox “On the Go” with all your travel crafts. Strap baby boy into the car seat and go off to collect it.
Well collection is right by a friends it would be rude not to drop in for a catch up and coffee before you leave.
Realise it’s time to pick up toddler from his last nursery session at his current nursery. Stifle sobs as you leave the classroom.
Run back to the car with the toddler after a bird attacked you the day before. Toddler still finds this hysterical and reminds you of it all the way to the car
The birdie got your hair mummy
Have I ever mentioned I’m terrified of birds?
The Afternoon Before
Persuade the toddler to nap and throw all the clothes from the floor into the bags whilst frantically waving Freddie The Firefly at Baby Boy.
Get everything in and shut the case. Decide as long as I have passports and credit cards nothing else matters.
Considering nothing else matters I realise I have a lot of stuff.
A LOT of stuff.
The Night Before
6:00pm
Decide that McDonald’s is the appropriate final meal together.
Eat and enjoy for approximately 30 seconds. Feel hideous for the rest of the evening and realise your errors as the toddler begins running laps in your living room.
6:30pm
Strip the toddler ready for the bath. Endure a naked toddler running round singing on the suitcase.
6:45pm
Wrestle said toddler into the bath, let him convince you to get in with him and spend the next 20 minutes protecting yourself from boats being rammed where boats shouldn’t be rammed.
7:30pm
Put the toddler to bed and keep fingers crossed. Feed baby boy to sleep and do the sleep dance shuffle to put him down.
8:00pm
Shove everything into hand luggage and apply same passport/credit card principle.
Realise that husband will kill me if the credit card bill comes in too high.
Re-think credit card strategy.
9:00pm
Decide can’t be bothered to re-think strategy and the credit card bill can just be high.
9:30pm
Finally convince the toddler that it would be a good idea to sleep having to get up at 5:30am to leave for the airport.
10:00pm
Crawl into bed and go to sleep.
2:00am
Wake up and feed the baby. Try and go back to sleep.
Muse on whether I packed the passports and the credit cards……
Laura
My children are a little older than yours and I’m not sure whether you’ll find comfort or not in the fact that my packing system is very similar to the one you describe, except I have a complex series of lists tailored to the age of the children, length of trip, anticipated weather etc!! Its still always last minute though. Guess we’re just designed that way. Lovely post
Jane
Author
It’s wonderful to know that I’m not alone and that even if I promise myself next time will be better it will actually be just the same!
Yep…machine…as per previous comment. Lol. Love it.
Author
Thank you lovely lady x
Hahaha, before children I would make lists and prepare. now I have two people to think for it all gets chucked in the bag the morning we leave! Favourite quote ” spend the next 20 minutes protecting yourself from boats being rammed where boats shouldn’t be rammed.” brilliant!
Author
Haha well no boat should go where this boat was headed!!!
Lol – well done on surviving . I have a system of lists that promptly gets abandoned when I question and re-question if I ACTUALLY packed stuff or just ticked in error #effitfriday
Author
I love a good list x
This is so funny! I’m one of those dreadful people who makes lists of lists of lists and still manages to forget something vital!
Author
But lists are essential! My husband HATES lists so I’m getting more relaxed….
I hate packing to go anywhere, even without the added pressure of flying! #effitfriday
Author
Ahh credit cards are all you need 🙂
This is exactly how I pack! Is this not how we are supposed to pack? I hope the credit card bill wasn’t too high! #EFFITFriday
Author
Haha glad I’m not the only one. Nope there’s definitely an organised way to do it
It’s been several years since I have traveled with little ones but the last time I did, I drove from Massachusetts to Maryland, which isn’t that long of a drive for someone who loves road trips. However, when you have two little ones in the back seat, the trip seems like forever. The packing everything and realizing that I have way too much stuff and trying to cram everything, including what I ended up bringing back with me, in the trunk. Trying to get the kids to sleep before the trip. I think we all go through this when traveling with small children. I remember I tried to be as organized as possible but that turned out to be disastrous:) You’re not alone. Visiting from #effitfriday
Author
I think I’d be worse if I had a car stuffing it full of stuff I didn’t need!
This doesn’t sound fun at all! My idea of packing is done on the day I fly so add kids to the mix and I would be in utter panic lol. Thanks for hosting #effitfriday
Debbie
Author
Debbie you’ll be pleased to know that’s exactly what we did on our last trip closing the last bag 10 minutes before the taxi arrived!
This made me laugh! Sounds just like packing in my house!!
#EffitFriday
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Woo #unorganizedpackers unite