The House of Burks

Taking a trip can be fun and exciting. Sitting at the airport, watching planes, reading a book, watching in flight entertainment, just relaxing. Oh you have kids? Forget everything I just wrote. The trip is still fun and exciting. But the airport? It's close to my hell. The one thing that gets me through is knowing I can go to Chili's in our airport, snag a window seat and actually relax for 2.5 seconds. Until that point? Well, I'm surprised I haven't been found in the fetal position on the floor crying. For me, the hardest, most stressful part of going on a trip is going from the parking lot and getting through security.

Let me tell you about my first with child flight. For myself and my 2 1/2 year old son we had 2 large suitcases. He had his own rolly suitcase, (a Lightning McQueen one) I had a carry on suitcase, and my purse. There was also the monkey security blanket, a pillow to nap on the plane with (HA!!!) the stuffed monkey, and our coats. Oh, don't forget the stroller that wants to do anything but steer in the right direction when there is a kid in it and you're pushing with one hand. I will never know how we managed to make it from the truck at the curb to the desk to drop off our stuff. I was so strong willed that I told my friend I could do it and no, I didn't need help getting inside. Boy was I stupid. We did make it though. From the check in desk we head to security. It was fairly busy but because I had a child and stroller I got to go in the shorter line to basically cut in front of everyone else. When you go through security normally, there is a panic. A panic to get everything lined up in the buckets and through the metal detector because you don't want to be THAT person who holds up the line. It sucks doing it with a kid. I start loading the carry-ons. Then realize I have to take the laptop out. Dig out the laptop, grab a 3rd bucket. While in the middle of this I'm told that I need to fold the stroller up and send it through the machine too. Get the toddler out of the stroller. Every 2 seconds I'm reminding him that he can't just walk away. Then a fight to fold up the stroller and by this time I've broken out in a sweat, trying to make sure I'm not the jerk everyone is waiting for. I finally get ready to send my child through the metal detector. He goes and the detector goes off. Crap, forgot I gave in and let him wear a belt that morning because I just needed to get out the door. The belt comes off and he goes through again, then I go through. Security guard brings my purse out of the scanner and he needs to go through it. My mind starts to race because, damn, what sharp not-allowed object did I forget to take out of my bag. Security has a hard time finding it and I'm in a cold sweat about holding up the lineup with 4 bins and a stroller taking up all the space. Finally the offending item is found. A metal business card holder. Super fun. Get the go ahead to take our stuff and just start throwing it in my purse and into the stroller. This whole time I'm patiently reminding the 2 1/2 year old in a new environment with cool things to play with to stay beside me. We get everything together and it looks like I've just run a marathon at this point, and I'm feeling like it too. Not going to lie, there were moments I felt like just crying. The rest of the time was pretty un-eventful. Got to our seats and got everything settled. Had a great seat-mate with us. She was a school teacher on her way back to Toronto and was beyond nice when my son decided to tell her all about his monkey and his trip. She talked with him and asked him questions. It was awesome. Now, I was worried about having THAT kid on the plane. You know, the one who makes everyone hate air travel with kids. I came prepared to entertain him. I had sticker books, foam crafts, (that I painstakingly spent hours putting 2 way tape on all the pieces so I wouldn't have to bring glue) my iPod, and enough snacks to feed a small country. His backpack was full of stuff. And you know what? Air Canada had treehouse tv on their in seat entertainment so we really didn't use any of the stuff. Before the trip I had high hopes for sleep on the plane. It was after all during his nap time. Boy was I wrong. He fought me on the nap and didn't end up falling asleep......until the plane touched down. Then, he passed out exhausted. Trying to get off the plane was a joke. Here I had 2 carry on bags, a stuffed monkey, a blanket, coats, and a sleeping 40lb child who probably wouldn't have woken up for anything. I managed to make it work and start heading down the aisle. Then, his rubber boot falls off (because his shoes took up less space in the suitcase then the rubber boots) if I bend over to pick it up we're both going to fall and end up with our luggage everywhere. This is where the super nice teacher comes in, she offers to pick up the boot and take a bag. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers and being able to gate check a stroller. I was so worried about making everyone hate me on the flight. It turned out ok, and the very best part of the whole thing was when the teacher sitting beside us told me that she's worked with many kids but mine was so well behaved and a pleasure to be around. That made my day, week, month, and well, here I am a year later writing about it and smiling. If you're on a flight and see a well behaved kid, tell the parents they're doing a good job and I can guarantee you that will make their day. Since that first flight we've done this a few more times. I think every trip has something that throws you off, but, practice makes perfect. Now when we fly, I usually follow a few tips I've put together.

• Always pack snacks. - everything can be working against you and you will have a very hungry kid. (one flight had us stuck in traffic then a long check in. Security wasn't too bad then a bathroom trip. By this time we only had a few minutes before boarding so we couldn't get food. By the time the food cart got to us on the plane they only had one entree left and we had to share)
• If you are flying during lunch or dinner, pre-book your meal. See above.
• mentally be prepared for anything to happen. Roll with it when it does.
• If you have a potty training or trained kid, seats at the back of the plane are best, closer to the bathrooms (the flight attendants also hang out there if you have to pee and you don't feel like trying to cram a kid in the bathroom with you. They will keep an eye out for them.)
• If you forget to ask for the gate check tag when you check in they have some at the gate.
• If you've gate-checked anything, a seat at the back is also better, by the time they get your item up to the door almost everyone is off the plane. Trying to wrangle a kid while everyone is walking past you as you wait at the plane door is a pain.
• I have only flown domestically but have heard that if you fly internationally and you gate check anything it won't be delivered to the door, it will be in the special items pickup in the terminal.
• Bring an empty water bottle and fill it once you're past security. Sometimes the little cups they offer on a flight just won't keep you hydrated.
• Don't expect your kid to sleep on the plane. Just because they sleep in the car (mine can't stay awake in the car, much like myself as a child. I call it car narcolepsy) does not mean they will sleep on the plane. Believe me. Mine never does.
• If you have an infant, bring a wrap. (I use a Moby.) It will keep your arms free to do other things, you just can't wear them in the wrap during take off or landing. This is even more useful if you have 2 kids, you will have your hands free to help with drinks and snacks.

I'm gearing up for another flight this week. It will be my first flight with our two kids on my own. My husband flew to Ontario with us but only stayed for 4 days and went back to work. Thankfully our daughter (who was only 6 weeks old) did great, but I only had to focus on her because my husband dealt with our son (3.5 years old). I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty nervous, but if I survived our first ever child flight I think I can survive this. Fingers crossed for a smooth flight and happy children.