What can I say about mother’s that has not been said already? Mother’s Day is the day we express loving sentiments to mothers for their unconditional love, tireless devotion and loving care of their offspring. I, with the rest of my siblings, and like millions of other families celebrated the joy of being blessed with a super Mom who is special, beautiful, wonderful, and just downright amazing. This date is single-handedly the most important day on the calendar even though it is not a public holiday. It should be. Mothers would say that every day is Mother’s Day and I agree with that too. After all, the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
My blog concentrates mostly on vacations, itinerary planning, lifestyle, and travel, but I want to recount an article I read recently of a young mother traveling with two small children. Her account caused me to reflect and ask myself serious questions about a traveling mother’s dilemna. The well-presented article rebuked me in several ways, mostly for my lack of empathy and patience. Read a full account of the incident here.
After reading the harried mother’s account, I saw myself not as the protagonist who deserves to be celebrated for his courage, but as the irritated traveler who invariably finds herself seated next to, in front of, or behind a screaming infant who would not be pacified in the ensuing meltdown. What has my attitude been towards frantic mothers in situations like these? Do I keep my distance? Do I reach out and offer to help? Or, do I wish they were seated nearer to first class than where I usually sit in economy? These questions may sound selfish and empathetic, but they are honest, true and are for my own introspection.
The trepidation mothers experience when flying with young children in such a confined space is a real concern that is often overlooked by fellow passengers. We put on our noise cancelling head phones, plug our ears or pretend to fall asleep the minute we are seated. We try to shut out everyone around us. My awareness to the distresses of overtaxed mothers has been heightened, and even though there may be little to nothing that I can do, a knowing smile and an offer to help an anxious and overwhelmed mother could be a welcomed relief for her or may be a polite rejection for me. To do nothing is not an option. Not to reinvent the wheel, a couple of links below provide helpful tips to traveling moms with young ones.
15 Tips for Stress-free Traveling with Little Children
Traveling with Kids – Tips and Tricks
Finally, I want to wish all mothers in my blog community, email and readership a blessed Mother’s Day. May the experience of wonderful blessings be shared and received every day for the rest of your lives. You deserve the best.
Community Peeps, it is always a pleasure sharing my thoughts and keeping it real with you. What has been your experience on the subject? Tell me what worked for you and your family which can help someone else. Comment in the box below. Select follow to receive immediate postings and become a part of my community. Click like to show your love and support. Go ahead and share my blog on your own social media site. Thank you for reading, I appreciate it.
More times,
Itinerary Planner
location like Barbados, Bora Bora, Maui, Santorini, Tahiti, or some other island that wreaks romance. You want this vacation to be indelibly written on her mind and be remembered as the best everrr for the rest of your lives. So, I propose you spend this vacation with the girl of your dreams discovering what love language she speaks. You can practice a motivator each day to see which one(s) she responds to the best. Don’t know what to do? Here are some easy suggestions to start you off. Bear in mind, you can practice all the love languages in one day, but if you are on a five-day holiday why not assimilate one each day.
chocolates, or a beautiful piece of jewelry in the signature baby-blue colored box you know she has been eyeing for a long time. She may squeal with delight, I would, and by this reaction or even the lack there of, you may know whether you are on to discovering gifts as one of her love languages. Giving her a gift when she least expects it may warrant a reaction that is priceless. After all, everyone loves a good gift and if it is given in a unique way, the story will be retold for weeks, months and years to come.
the back or on the shoulder may be interpreted to mean, I support you, or we are connected. These physical touches transmit a sense of loving appreciation. Show her you are attentive by occasionally holding her hand, recline against her shoulder, or lay your head on her lap.
making it sound trite. If you express sentiment grudgingly you may come across as cold and your words forced. Therefore, choosing your words, delivery and timing are key to making sure your person feels loved and respected. Use a candlelight dinner in a cozy restaurant to talk of all the qualities that you find fascinating about her. You don’t have to be untruthful, you only need to be sincere. Let her know you appreciate the little things she may think are mundane but that means the world to you. Let her know how well she does them and because of that you have learned to stay in your lane when it comes to certain areas where, in your book, she’s the expert.
lapping in the ebb and flow, feel the gentle breezes as they rustle through the palm trees, enjoy the glow of the evening’s sunset, or you can set an appointment to receive a full body massage for two and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the deep kneading that often lulls you to sleep. No words are necessary. Being there and quietly sharing the moment is the perfect finale to a five-day trip.
would too, that the supreme preference would be a window seat in first class. Well, only those who could afford these pricey seats on the passenger list would sit in those enviable spots, leaving the other seats up for grabs. Being first is always a highly desirable position and every seat in first class is easily coveted by those sitting in coach. As you pass through this section, these privileged passengers may already have drinks in hand, laptops/tablets or books opened, appear to be relaxed and ready for takeoff. Agreeably they paid a higher price and deserve to be treated to the best service, space, comforts and luxuries that money can buy.
Pros: Being able to have an aerial view of the landscape at takeoff and landing is what every passenger loves to do. You can prop to one side if you fall asleep without disturbing your neighbor. Your control of the window shade is another privilege.
fast-track since their flight was about to board. The up and down curving lines, sometimes three or four rows deep can be a bit daunting. My theory is that the winding lines make you dizzy, and by the time you reach the TSA agent you are so confused from going around and around, if asked, you might just give them a wrong name. Don’t read too much into this, it’s just a theory. 😀.
Baggage claim should not be far away. I shouldn’t have to walk two miles (exaggeration) to collect my bags before exiting the building.
Travel Itineraries 