Solo Sojourn Survived

Two flights, 3,000 miles, a three-hour time change, one mom, two little boys, four checked bags, three backpacks, three days of missed naps and late bedtimes, two more flights, 3,000 more miles, and another three-hour time change -- all the makings for an epic drama!

The boys have visited CA several times before, but this trip was my first without any husbandly support, and I must admit I was a tad nervous about the undertaking. Not so much over the logistics, as many will attest, organization is one of my fortes, but more about how my nerves would handle it all with some modicum of grace.

I did all the recommended, modern-day pre-trip parental preparations -- all electronics were synced, updated and charged (an almost day-long endeavor), new movies were secretly loaded on iPods, new Leapster games stashed away, extra batteries, chargers, fresh sketch pads and twister crayons, a select group of small toys, snacks, blankies, etc. all loaded into wheeled backpacks. I carefully planned wardrobes to minimize potential over packing (something I've been accused of in the past), limiting us to one modest-sized rolling suitcase each, and a duffel bag for the boys' booster seats.

I must take a moment to share a quick kudos to Pottery Barn Kids on their Fairfax luggage collection. 

The rolling backpack and small rolling suitcase are virtually indestructible, have loads of nooks and crannies for organizing stuff, and are perfectly sized for a kindergartner and preschooler to maneuver through a baggage check-in line and airport terminal with minimal injury to unsuspecting bystanders.

I am happy to report our trio survived our first transcontinental adventure! And Mom's sanity survived too, though a few days at a spa would do me a world of good. All three of us adjusted easily to pacific standard time, but it has taken a good four days of short, power naps and early bedtimes to restock our sleep inventory and get back into our Boston routine.

I did come away from this experience with a few new-to-me insights...

1) Plan, plan, and then plan some more. I made myself several lists; things I, personally, needed to get done, things I needed to procure, and things and clothes I needed to pack.

 

2) Leaving myself LOTS of prep time (four full days) meant I wasn't up at 2 a.m. the night before our departure running around the house collecting necessities and cursing the multitude of things I'd run out of time or overlooked getting.

3) Making sure the boys were super rested gave me a little wiggle room when it came to time changes, naps & bedtimes, though I probably should have sent the boys to school with a note of apology to their teachers that first day back.

4) An indoor pool at your hotel is, as Ms. Stewart says, a GOOD thing, especially when visiting grandparents.

An apartment-like set up is pretty FAB, too. On this trip I discovered Marriott's Residence Inn. Though usually marketed to the extended-stay business traveler, this was a wonderful option for our families. The living/kitchen/dining room and separate bedrooms helped us all feel like it was home-sweet-home.

 

5) And finally, when you strip away the busyness of everyday life (laundry, vacuuming, grocery shopping, bill paying, blogs to write, newsletters to edit, etc.), it is so much easier to truly enjoy your childrens' company. You can really lose yourself in the pleasures of a swim when you're not thinking about the next thing on the day's agenda or the multitude of things you will not accomplished that day. And there's time to have some real conversations with your chatty three and five year olds, without your mind drifting off to "more important" topics. Once again, travel proves that stepping out of one's comfort zone can be good for the soul.

Now back to our regular wintery program! Boy do I miss those 70+ degree, sunshiny CA days!