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January 29, 2008
Home sweet home
Yay, we survived and we're back at home after 5 days in MA!
I am up to my eyeballs in suitcases and backpacks but am slowly getting unpacked. I've finished Andy's and my suitcase, if by finishing that means the suitcase is empty and the clothes are stacked on our bed. LOL
The girls had a great time at their Mema and Papa's and we had a great time playing in the snow. They got suited up every morning and stayed out roughly 30-45 minutes every morning. It was very cold, 18 degrees or colder on most days.
Lizzie eating snow!
The girls and I getting ready to go down. We went so fast one time I had to put the brakes on (dig my heals into the ground) and I sprayed snow in Julia's face and each time we went up after that she warned me- don't spray snow in my face mommy!
Traveling with 3 little kids is hard! There is no other way around it, it stunk! Part of me doesn't even want to write that because then it means I wasn't this supermom who could handle everything with ease and an easy going spirit but I'm turning over a new leaf and admitting- I am not that person. The reality is that I like to be at home, I am my best at home and I'm tired of beating myself up over trying to be someone I'm not. I still don't like to nurse in public, I'm not as relaxed and I'm sick of chanting in my head- just relax, just relax, JUST RELAX!! I want to be one of those moms who can just take her baby everywhere and whip it out whenever (why I don't know) but I'm not and she is certainly not that baby. Caroline likes being at home better as well. So from now on, I'm going to really think about situations and make decisions that are best for me and my family. Best for who I am at that moment and not who I think I can or should be so that I just end up giving myself a hard time when I haven't met my own expectations.
The flights themselves went fairly well. It was our morning in Atlanta flying out that was the worst. We stayed in Atlanta after a GREAT evening with the Goseys. We got to meet Truett which was so much fun!
(thank you for the new wooden play food, its helping me make it through this day!!)
That next morning after a horrible night sleep in the nastiest hotel I have ever stayed in, (lesson one- you get what you pay for. $69 for one night and parking for the week may sound good on paper but don't plan on sleep or walking around with bare foot!!) we shuttled to the airport at 7am. The girls had barely slept and were a bit out of sorts. We had SO MUCH STUFF (lesson two- take only what you absolutely need on the plane, because if you pack a cute little bag for each girl guess who ends up carrying it!). Before we went through security we tried to explain about taking shoes off and coats and Julia threw a fit over giving up her coat. So I bribed her with fruit snacks (lots of bribing went on that day). Going through security was crazy. Atlanta is super crowded and you know those tubs you put your stuff in- we must have filled almost 10 of them- no joke!! So they are rushing us through and Andy and I are quickly putting our shoes back on, while passing the baby back and forth. We're trying to get belts on, the girls coats back in the double stroller, their shoes on and a lap top put away and the security lady is saying, "let's go, move it along!" As stressed as this moment was, I did feel a sense of calm and tried to encourage Andy that we were doing the best we could and people could go around if they wanted. Did I mention how many stares we were getting and we got lots of "wow, you have your hands full" the whole trip! I placed Julia in the front of the stroller which is not where she wanted to be and she proceeded to throw a huge fit. I buckled her in and ignored her for the most part as she arched her back and loudly cried. I was sort of at the point where I was thinking, well she's lost it and we have to get out of the way and there is nothing more I can do. Lizzie just stood back and watched with her little back pack on trying to be a big help. Going through the airport and the noise and all that chaos has got to be a lot for little kids. It happens so fast and you have these parents dragging you from place to place doing things really quickly and telling you not to ask questions. lol UGH! I don't want to repeat it anytime soon. The flight wasn't so bad, luckily I had a row to myself which was nice and Caroline did well. Then we had a drive from Boston to Lenox, 2.5 more hours (lesson three- even though tickets are way cheaper when you fly from big cities to big cities, its worth it sometimes not to have a drive on both ends!)
It's our year to fly to WA for thanksgiving and I think I'll be doing things a little differently for that trip. The first being, flying out of Chattanooga or flying into our final destination city. And the second being to really think through the time a day our flights are. When we go on trip I base how long we stay on the fact that we rarely get to see those family members and I'm going to really try to remember to consider what all my kids and myself can handle. It's stressful for me to travel with them while they are so young, and hopefully it won't always be that way but for now it is. I'm not going to continue to give myself a hard time for being something that I'm not. I'm a stressed out, controlling, scheduled mother and its serves my kids well and sometimes has its disadvantages but that is who I am!
Unfortunately awaiting me at home is a ton of freelance and lots of cleaning (see how by blogging I'm making such good use of my time), but for today I will just try to unpack and check in with friends who I've missed talking to and face my freelance and cleaning another day. :)
For all the chaos and craziness, it was a great to be with family and we had many fun evenings bowling and playing tennis. . .on the wii of course!!
| By JennR | 12:08 PM
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Comments
I'm so glad you're back! I've been calling to chat and totally forgot that you were going out of town till yesterday.
Glad to hear everybody is in one piece. I remember taking trips in airports when I was little and trying to sleep on those chairs when we had long layovers. Very valuable lessons you've learned about flight times and drive times.
Anyway, give me a call when you guys have settled in!
Posted by: valerie at January 29, 2008 01:06 PM
I cannot believe the security guard said to the parents of 3 small children "move it along." She would have definitely gotten a reply from me.
There's no shame in admitting it's just plain easier at home, with everything you need right where you left it (note: I did not say where it belongs) and able to do what you need to when you need to do it. I only have one and spending the afternoon away from the house always causes some little problem or another.
Posted by: Lisa at January 29, 2008 05:49 PM
She would have gotten a comment from me, too!! I remember how hard it was just flying with Abbie, much less three children! Putting all that stuff in the little bins while holding her because you have to break the stroller down and run it through the machine, too...I can't imagine doing it with three kids! Yep, she definitely would have gotten a nasty comment from me. Kudos to you for making the decision to do what's best for you and your family, though. And Lisa's absolutely right, it is easier at home. Now that I have two, I believe that more than ever!!
Posted by: Tracy at January 30, 2008 08:58 AM
again, i am amazed at the things that people will say! wow, it sounds like it was a wild ride, but you managed and don't you ever feel bad about liking to be at home. it is easier (because now that i have a month old i'm an expert! haha!). i don't know if i could get used to the nursing in public thing......i would just plan around feedings. that is just me. be who you are jenn, don't try to overdo it, you have a lot to do with 3 girls, one being very small right now. you do a wonderful job! oh, and i want to see you soon and so does ian! i am actually a lot more together now then the last time you saw me...you know crying and freaking out! haha!! love ya!
Posted by: erin at January 30, 2008 08:17 PM