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{The Ordinary Moments} #21 - Airports

7/17/2014

16 Comments

 
The Bean was a few days shy of three months when I first hauled him onto a plane. I’ll never forget it. Just the two of us, on an evening flight between Milan and Brussels: business suits and briefcases galore. Then there was me, right at the back of the plane, with a tiny baby attached to my boob. The glamour.

Since then the Bean has become a seasoned traveller, and Mr P&P and I are now experienced parents-with-small-child-in-tow. We’ve been to see the respective grandparents several times, attended a wedding in the US, gone to see the extended family in Brazil, spent three weeks in France. In just over a week we will go to the UK, and then it’s off to Brazil again.

So, if there’s one thing we know, it’s airports. And the Bean is getting to know them too. We noticed it already at Easter, but last week, on another trip to see my folks, it was clear beyond doubt: an airport has AAPLAAAA (airplanes)!!! 
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APLAA-spotting
And it has tons of shiny shops and weird decorative features, and runways and buses and baggage carousels and and AND! 
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No idea what this is, but it's fun to play with!
Doing airports with a toddler is intense, but it’s kind of fun too. We arrive ridiculously early, in case of lost lovies or meltdowns or emergency snack-stops. We let him press buttons on lifts and help (hinder) us roll the suitcases along. We arm ourselves with sticker books and a smartphone full of videos.

We also indulge a little: a new toddler rucksack here, a fancy meal there. We spread out and make ourselves at home, as though it’s just another ordinary place. Which, for us expats, it kind of is. 
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Daddy. Share your fresh OJ.
One thing is for sure though. When I next get to do a long-haul flight by myself, I’ll be thankful for the most restful, relaxing experience ever.

Two link-ups this week!


There's Katie hosting The Ordinary Moments at 
MummyDaddyMe


and...
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Seychelles Mama




My Expat Family, 

a new linky hosted by Chantelle at Seychelles Mama
16 Comments
Seychellesmama link
7/17/2014 03:28:55 am

I love this post!!! Little Bean certainly is a seasoned traveller isn't he!!! I like that you see airport time as a fun thing, this is the approach I'm going to attempt to take with Arthur :) I hope you have a safe trip to the UK (maybe we will bump into each other!!!) thank you so so much for linking up with "my expat family" xxx

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
7/21/2014 07:59:22 am

Aw, thank you lovely! I am certain you will be fine when you travel with Arthur too, have a safe & fun trip xxx

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Sara (@mumturnedmom) link
7/17/2014 09:18:19 am

Even before we beans expats we had done a ridiculous amount of travelling with our kids! My husband is Irish and we were in Scotland so we went back and forth a lot. We'd been to the US a few times before we moved here too :) We've flown with each of ours when they were around 4/5 months, I found that fine. It's the eighteen months to three years that I find toughest, as they won't sit still for long :) I flew to the UK on my own in June, and I did indeed enjoy the solo flight! #myexpatfamily

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
7/21/2014 08:02:08 am

Ah yes, I have to admit that I'm quite nervous about our upcoming long haul flight with a 19-month-old. When we did last year he wasn't really mobile, but this year it'll be an entirely different ball-game! We'll see how much we love airports after that ;-)

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Tarana link
7/17/2014 03:32:05 pm

Good for you! Since we had our son, airports make me nervous, but maybe I need to be more positive about travelling with a toddler. #myexpatfamily

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
7/21/2014 08:04:20 am

I used to be nervous too, but practice makes perfect. That, and a sense of resignation - chaos is inevitable with a toddler in tow so you might as well just have a bit of fun. The flights themselves are still another matter though!!!

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Carie link
7/17/2014 04:01:27 pm

It's funny the things that start to seem really relaxing when you're so used to doing them with a toddler in two isn't it - I'd never think of a long haul flight as being relaxing but then I never thought I'd find going around the supermarket by myself peaceful either!

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
7/21/2014 08:05:54 am

I thought about your comment as I was doing the grocery shopping by myself yesterday - so very, very peaceful and EASY compared to when we take him. Not as fun, but still ;-)

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Meghan Fenn link
7/18/2014 12:06:37 am

Ah yes, I know what you mean. I would love to sit for hours by myself on a train or a plane. I have three children and have done long haul flights with all of them in the past. So much fun, right! Well not really but we get through it and I love seeing the looks on their faces when we see police with guns or when we go through security or when we land and the excitement it too much to bear. It's all part of living an expat life with a cross cultural family! #myexpatfamily

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
7/21/2014 08:07:39 am

You're right, you do just get through it and seeing them get hugely excited is fun in itself!

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Potty Mouthed Mummy link
7/20/2014 05:34:32 am

We're very excited to take H on a plane for the first time in October, he loves planes and has dropped me at the airport a couple of times for work travel.

Sounds like you have some fab tips there, have made a mental note ;) x

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
7/21/2014 08:12:22 am

Oh he will love it!!! Hope to see a post about it x

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Katie @mummydaddyme link
7/20/2014 09:02:10 am

He definitely sounds like a seasoned traveller, perhaps he can teach my girls a thing or two? We often do road trips but when it comes to airplanes they have only been on one twice (LL was in my tummy for one- does that count!?) They were ok but I definitely think it's a lot more stressful once you have kids! x

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
7/21/2014 08:10:25 am

Well, we may be able to cope with flights but car journeys that are longer than a couple of hour (i.e. a toddler nap) still put the fear of god into me. I guess it's just about what you're used to!

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Katie @mummydaddyme
7/20/2014 09:02:32 am

PS Enjoy your breaks this summer! x

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Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk) link
7/22/2014 06:37:00 am

Aww what a jetsetter lifestyle! my son first traveled when is 4months old with my husband and he said its a nightmare and it all end there. Looking forward to traveling with my little one again hopefully soon to go home =) #ordinarymoments

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