3.02.2006

Travel quirks

We are planning a trip to visit my Mom at the end of this month. This will be the first time we have flown on an airplane as a family of four. I'm not too worried about it, since in my former life I was a Gold Elite frequent flier, but I am already dreading the logistics of getting us onto the plane. I am one of those people who always packs way too much, and recognizes that fact. However, I know I will be running around the night before we leave trying to get everything ready for our trip. We will arrive at my Moms and I will not wear even 50% of the clothes I will bring. I will be tempted to pack things for my kids that they have never used to date, "just in case." I will bring back-up outfits for the kids for each day, completely forgetting the fact that my Mom does in fact own a washing machine. DH will also be a nervous wreck, since he hasn't flown more than a handful of times in his life, so he will be basically useless at offseting my anxiety.

I'm sure we will have a good time on the trip, Toddler will be awestruck by the experience since he likely doesn't remember his last plane trip (a year and a half ago), and Infant will not really know what is going on. I just hate the stress I allow myself to feel in the getting ready to go stage. It is not as though we are leaving the country, but yet I will feel compelled to pack three tubes of Desitin despite the fact that even with a really nasty diaper rash we couldn't use that much in 3 months. Why is it that I know all of this about myself, but still let it happen? I used to travel weekly for work, had it down to a science, could pack in less than 10 minutes, never brought extra things because there wasn't room for them in my carry-on. Leisure travel is much more stressful for me than business travel ever was. I will pack so much for this trip that we will risk being charged for oversized luggage. Oh well, at least I recognize the fact that I am crazy, that must count for something right?

1 comment:

Jennifer said...

I know you probably read about my adventures in packing when we went to the Dominican Republic last year. Susan still bugs me about the size of the suitcases and how much I overpacked. Yes, I know we were on the beach and my kids would be wearing bathing suits for 80% of the time but hey, I needed to make sure they had at least 2 outfits a day just in case.

I understand exactly.