My time of meltdown (email to Krista from London - she had left her prized ipad with me to entertain the boys on the journey - subject line of the email is "Oh. My. Gosh."):
I'm considering not going back to Kenya with the children at the end of December.
Elijah cried for about a quarter of the flight because he wanted out of his seat. The poor guy sitting right in front of him kept turning around with the evil eye. He cried because he wanted out of his seat. He cried because he saw Josiah playing with the tray table (no one was sitting in front of Josiah) and Elijah wasn't allowed to (the poor evil-eye guy was sitting in front of him). He cried because he couldn't reach the screen when he was buckled in and because someone was sitting in front of him when Josiah could both reach the screen to poke it and was allowed to because no one was in front of him. I'm dying carrying all this stuff - Elijah wears his little backpack for about 5 minutes before giving up and won't walk down the aisle to get to our seats so I have to carry him, the diaper bag, my backpack, his backpack, and the carseat. I lost your iPad - discovered it missing when it wasn't in its place as I went through security in London. I lost my wallet while I was trying to pay for the Starbucks breakfast. I lost Elijah's shoes because they had to take his shoes off at security in London because Josiah refused to walk through the metal detector by himself or not touch the sides so I had to walk through the metal detector with both of them which set off when they both reached out for the sides. So we had to be searched. Josiah refused to take off his shoes to run them through the X-ray but we pulled Elijah's shoes off. Which meant, of course, that by the time we got back on our way I forgot Elijah's shoes because they were sent through after our stuff. I got all the way downstairs to report that I'd lost your iPad in the seatback pocket of our first flight, standing in line, before I realized Elijah's shoes were gone. So I got out of line, back up the elevator, back to security, ask for the shoes, put them on him, all the way back down the elevator to customer service to report your iPad, then to starbucks where the kids BOTH started melting down. Ordered Elijah and Josiah a glass of milk that I forgot to pick up because it was a last-minute addition to the order so I lost that too. Found my wallet after stepping aside to search EVERY bag for it so I could pay for breakfast. Kids both crying straining to get out of the stroller, finally got to the play area where I unbuckled them and they both jumped out… So the stroller tipped over backwards because of the carseat and bag hanging on the back and nuts, raisins, bananas, and muffins flew everywhere. Oh, and I have a headache and Elijah still has a temp. I finally got medicine for my headache when I got water at Starbucks. Hit Elijah with another dose of Advil before coming through London security. Elijah cried for half an hour solid at the end of the flight - from the moment he had to be buckled in for the seatbelt sign to the moment the fasten seatbelt sign was finally turned off at the gate. My phone DOESN'T work here. And Elijah has lost his socks somewhere in the play area. I think. Unless he took them off and threw them between the play area, Customer Service, Starbucks, and returning to the play area.
ARGH.
Okay. I "lost" my wallet but found it - it had slipped down in my backpack behind the backup clothes. I lost Elijah's shoes at security but found them. I lost your iPad but got it back from Customer Service (whew). I lost the milk but got it when they called for me to come to Customer Service to pick up the iPad. I DIDN'T lose my mocha when the stroller tipped over because I was carrying it (no hot beverages in the cup-holders on the back, you know - says right on it). I DIDN'T lose my cool. I DIDN'T cry (although very close several times). I DIDN'T give up (this flight). And I DID get one lady sitting right in front of me say at the end of the flight, "You did really good." Then she and all the other passengers sitting around us stared wide-eyed when I said I'm half-way done. And it was kinda cool to hear Passenger Trump enroute to Chicago paged over the intercom. 'Cause, you know, like Donald Trump is from Chicago or something, isn't he? It made sense a couple minutes ago. But I'm pretty much delirious, so never mind. Elijah stopped fussing on the flight when I built him a bed on the floor out of pillows and blankets. He slept at least 3 hours, very nicely, on the floor while Josiah slept on the middle seat. I even got a few hours sleep myself. Not good sleep, of course. But it was sleep. There's a handicap bathroom within sight of the play area. Josiah asked before punching the HUGE red emergency help button in the handicapped bathroom so that was also good. And these Starbucks muffins are amazing.
So, I'm alive. I'm surviving. I feel better right now with a little food and half a Mocha in me. The only thing I've actually lost is Elijah's socks and I haven't looked for them yet. Not too bad if I may say so myself. I'm off to make some laps around the play area while the kids play inside. I love you. But I'm still never flying with them again. Elijah is at the absolute worst age to fly. We will not fly voluntarily with children under the age of 3. I have spoken. Oh, and Josiah just found Elijah's socks for me in the play area. He's supposed to wear them in the play area but I'm going to let it slide this time.
-Shauen
Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at 2:31PM