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So my wife and I are thinking of flying to New York over Thanksgiving break to visit with friends and family.
That, and we want to be reminded what it’s like to experience sub-90 degree temperatures and live in homes without scorpions.
The broken cog in this whole plan is our daughter. She’s 16 months old and has vocalized her hatred for car seats since the day we first pulled away from the hospital with her.
All is well for a little while, but then we leave the driveway. And from that point forward, her displeasure is made known in the form of kicks, screams, yells and thrown objects.
Remember how ticked Linda Blair got in the Exorcist when she was strapped to a bed? Take away the scars and vulgarity (keep the priests) and you have a fairly good idea of what we have to deal with.
Long trips, short trips, it doesn’t matter.
We’ve found that the only thing that keeps her quiet is a box of french fries but this isn’t a practical solution. While the silence would be wonderful, I hear french fries can be kind of fattening, and it wouldn’t be long before we’d be unable to squeeze her into a diaper.
Unless, of course, we upgraded to Baboon diapers. I think I’ll move this option to the “Viable, But Last Resort” column.
The problem with flying to New York is two-fold.
First, we prefer not to fly with Kamryn on our laps so this means she’d be strapped into a car seat for the duration of the flight.
And second, I’m worried about flying with her because I’m unsure what the TSA’s policy is on airlines ejecting passengers in mid-air. Perhaps there is no precedent but there’s a first time for everything, right? And I’m convinced we’d be that precedent.
Heather’s thought was to drive to New York but I’d have to dot the map with psych wards, instead of hotels, along the route if we did this. On the plus side, it’d be a 28-hour lesson in birth control for our 14-year old. I’ll place this option in the “Punishment for the Greater Good” column.
While driving to New York would spare airline passengers about 4 hours of Kamryn’s antics, I’m not sure it’s worth it. After all, we’ll never see these people again, and even if we did see them in the terminal for the return flight, most would probably pay the $150 change fee to get on another plane.
Traveling alone might be nice.
Round trip we’re looking at 56 hours of driving with Little Miss Fussybritches or 8 hours on a plane with a death stare-attracting ball of tears.
What would you do in this situation?
1. Spend a bazillion dollars on fuel, Xanax, and ear plugs to make the drive from Texas to New York.
2. Shelve concern for others and pray she sleeps on the flight. Lace her Juicy Juice with downers.
3. Have a staycation and explain it away by saying that Thanksgiving is meant to be enjoyed at home.
4. ????
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
This is definitely a conundrum that we have found ourselves in a few times (going to NY in fact). I would definitely chance the flight because well, just because of the time. I could deal with a few strangers stares over 8 hours in a car with a screaming child. If she has never been on a plane, you may actually be surprised by her reaction. Even if she flips out, those people will just have to get over it. I promise that they won't eject you for that… and if they do then you might have a nice lawsuit so that could be a plus. LOL (just joking) If you decide to do the plane, definitely go late at night (less people flying) and she may actually fall asleep. You can always take her out of her car seat and walk around with her to calm her down if she gets too rowdy. I wish you lots of luck because it can be stressful traveling with children that small.
HHMMm Yeah if Lacing the juicy juice with downers wasn't completely and totally wrong I would soo vote that way. I hate missing out on seeing family especially when I was in NC. As is stands now with my 2yr old I would make the best of an intimate at home Thanksgiving!
I say go for the flight. Pick her usual nap time or even a late night flight…and bring a carton of fries.
.-= Cat @ 3 Kids and Us´s last blog ..Spotlight Sunday Giveaway Listings – 24 hrs to enter =-.
Honestly I would go for the flight myself. Bring a portable DVD player and lots of movies, or a whole bag of small toys that are new to her. You might be surprised.
.-= Trish´s last blog ..Play Tryouts =-.
I say go for the flight! Check her seat and be done with it!
.-= Gena Morris´s last blog ..Wow this is craziness*ADULT CONTENT* =-.
We only have airplanes….or a two week ship ride…so there's no choice, which is nice.
But I say do the flight. Bring DVD player, snacks snacks snacks. Try to do an over night one or during what would be her nap time. And just know, that the plane ride WILL end. You will never see those people again and all will be ok!
Oh and bring lots of diapers…and a change of clothes for both you and baby.
It's safer to fly than to drive, anyways.
Good luck!
.-= Sarah, Ohana Mama´s last blog ..Movie Under the Stars at Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort =-.
hmmmmm, that picture sure looks familiar! My son has always been a breeze when it came to traveling in the car. Now we have little miss feisty pants who I think is around the same age as your daughter (15 months). She does not like car rides, at all. So, if it were me I'd go for the flight. Like you said, you'll never see these people again and it's waaaaayyyyyyyy shorter-giving you that much more time to spend with friends and family!
.-= Tara´s last blog ..The Shred Sled =-.
After the 6 hour car trip we took in June with our 2 boys for my sister's wedding, I say flight. At least if you get food poisoning on the way home like I did, the bathroom on a plane is MUCH closer than when you drive.
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..He's Only 2! =-.
Oh, the plane, boss, the plane! Our parents used paragoric on our gums, and I'm pretty sure that's how Michael Jackson started on his sorry path to addiction… No drugs, except for you and your wife! Xanax is a good one, or just order up the gin and tonics, but don't mix the two. This medical advice provided free of charge– no copayment required, and it will not apply to your annual out-of-pocket maximum. What?
.-= Leah Rubin´s last blog ..Sex & Daniel Schorr =-.
Fly at night so she sleeps
.-= Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting´s last blog ..Drunk By Chocolate =-.
I Just spent 17+ hours (one way) in a car with my husband (aka 28 year old baby. kidding), 2.5 year old and 11 month old. Our problem was that Jillian is still rear facing and got VERY angry if someone was not in her face ALL.THE.FREAKING.TIME. I seriously almost lost my mind. We did end up breaking it up over 2 days (both trips) so it was a little bit easier. I would vote for fly though.
GOOD LUCK!
.-= Cheryl´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
Invest in Benedryl! Sleeping for hours and through everything is a good thing. My youngest was the best baby Jesus our church Christmas play had ever seen thanks to this magical elixer. Trust me on this sometimes it is a good thing for the sanity of everyone on the plane to have this as your strategy
.-= Christine´s last blog ..Texas Instruments TI-Nspire Review =-.
Ugh, we took Angry Toddler on a plane ride when he was 20 months old. We went from Orange County, Ca to Phoenix, AZ. That was the longest plane ride of my life. We had him strapped into his carseat, a Britax Marathon. We had the toys, snacks, noise makers, you name it…
The air pressure was awful for his ears. It basically ruined our weekend. After the trip he refused to sit in the carseat for at least a month. We literally took him nowhere in the car for one month. BAD, AWFUL, HORRIBLE memory.
He's almost 4.5 now. We still have not taken him on a plane since. Oh, and the carseat issue, we fight daily. He asks when he has to stop sitting in them. "Am I six yet", he asks…
.-= Julie @ Angry Julie Monday´s last blog ..Theme Park Week =-.
Ok, so I say fly! I agree with everyone, bring lots of movies and seriously give a little Benadryl for the ear popping because she won't be chewing gum to help with that. It worked when my kids were little. Good Luck!
.-= Kitty´s last blog ..Crayola Creativity Prize Pack Winners =-.
I would go for the flight
and fries and toys LOL
.-= Firefly´s last blog ..Long Weekend =-.
Fly, late at night, lots of treats and new toys. Get a seat in the back of the plane and ask the doctor what you can do about her ears popping. I think I had to give my daughter a decongestant before we flew. If she is stilling taking a bottle, that can help with the ear popping.
I agree with flying and bring a portable DVD player. Good luck!
.-= Marianna @ Green Mama's Pad´s last blog ..Make it Monday: Pasta with Sausage & Peppers =-.
Most Doctors will prescribe benedryl.. enjoy!
.-= Carissa´s last blog ..GoodNCrazy Book Review: Sex Ed Discussion =-.
Snacks and books and toys and THROW OUT YOUR RULES! That was the best advice I got for our 8+ hour trek (through Denver) to Wyoming last spring. Best idea ever. Lollipops are horribly messy – but they take a long time to eat. Bring new and old books and toys. Remember the carry-on that used to have the laptop and magazines? Pack it with stuff for her instead and have a great trip!
.-= RobMonroe´s last blog ..Why I Am Glad Summer Is Over =-.
The answer is so obvious. You arrive at the airport early with your daughter strapped into the car seat, propped up on a luggage trolley, and tirading. Plant yourselves at the gate for your flight. Then, strongly suggest that if the other passengers can collect enough funding, you'll take a different flight. Pull this move a couple times until you have sufficient money to hire a private plane.
Bingo. Everybody wins.
.-= feefifoto´s last blog ..I'm Back To Twittering =-.
My sister in law just took a flight from Palau to DC (27 hours) with a 4 year old and a 2 year old – Benadryl is how they all got through it! Her Dr. even gave her the proper dosage for each kid to get her from point A to point B!
Ok..Having just flown back from Florida where a kid shrieked for no less than 25 minutes because he didn't want to put his seatbelt back on for our "final dissent" I have a very strong opinion on screaming children in enclosed places! That being said I think that if you time the flights just right you could be lucky enough to get her to sleep..maybe some baby benedryl would help(lol) Don't forget about the ear popping issues too! Honestly it is nice to know that youare even remotely concerned about your fellow passengers feelings, the many, many parents I say on my honeymoon were thinking of noone but themselves…not even their kids!