Emery is quite the jet setter. He has been to many different states on road trips, and he has already flown across the country to San Diego.
So when he was going to fly to SD for a second time in his short five months of baby life, he was not worried at all. He was a pro at this. His Mom, who would be traveling with him all by herself, however, was a bit anxious about the prospect of going solo with a five month old. It was a daunting thought at first.
Beka was going out to SD with Mr. Emery to help her sister prepare for her St. Patrick's day wedding! She was very excited, and so was Mr. Emery. However she was going out there for a month, and was going to make the flight out without any help. Just her and the Emery bug.
Instead of fearing the possibilities of it being the worst experience of her life and stressing out about the ordeal if could be, she made a conscious effort to make this memorable in a good way.
She packed her bags for herself and Mr. Emery very efficiently, and Michael helped her load up the Oakley mobile with the stroller, car seat, two suitcases, her purse (one carry on), the diaper bag (two carry on), the snugly, the boppy, and the baby (three carry on).
Michael dropped her off at the curbside luggage check and helped her get everything out of the car. She decided to check the stroller and car seat there so that she did not have to bring them through security. The downside to that plan was she had to physically carry everything AND Emery through the entire airport, so it was a trade off.
Once the two suitcases were gone and the tank (what we call our stroller) and car seat were out of sight and out of mind, she loaded up her body with the rest of her things and headed to the ticket counter. She needed to get Emery's ticket. There was no line and the woman behind the counter was just smitten with Emery. He was in a very flirty mood.
Thank God.
Then she made her way to security. This was the part she was most dreading. But there was not much of a line, so that made it a bit easier.
She made sure to know this was going to take long, and to remember to breathe. She purposely avoided those travelers that looked like they wanted to fly through the line. That was not going to be her this trip, and that is ok. She spotted a stressed out couple with two kids and a stroller. That is where she wanted to be. She exchanged sympathetic glances with the Mom, as if to join the "going though airport security with children is the pitts" club, with just a look.
She had some idea of what and what not to do, now that this was the second time doing this. So she got out four bins and lined them side by side on the conveyer belt. One for the diaper bag. One for the milk out of the diaper bag, as they have to check it for explosives. One for her shoes, jacket, phone, scarf, id, and tickets. The last one was for her purse. She had thought ahead and packed all her jewelry for the day in her purse, so she would not have to do that in line (a mistake she only has made once). Then she took out her lap top sleeve and put it in the bin with the milk. Lap tops and breast milk must be a terrorist's best weapons. There are always hoops to jump though when carrying those items. If Beka were more sinister she could think of why they could be dangerous, but this was not the time. Focus Beka. Focus.
She had already played though how to do this several times in her mind (yay for being a super-obsessive-planner!) so she did all of this unloading and organizing MUCH quicker than she had thought. She still had to wait in line to go through the metal detector. She must have looked silly how business and focused she was, fervently getting everything on the belt, then waiting, but she did not care. She was all business today.
All Mom business.
Emery was still in the front pack, so she just walked through the metal detector with him on her chest. It was one of those new 360 scans where you have to put your hands on your head like a moose, so she made Emery do it too, and the security guard appreciated the comic relief in her day.
All clear. Emery was all baby and no explosive or metals. Whew.
Once through she gathered all her things and waited for them to get her milk and scan it. Again, no explosives. She piled everything on a nearby bench and gathered her wits. She had done it. She had made it though security. WHEW!
Once the shoes were back on and everything back into it's place (can't forget the breast milk!) she loaded up for war. She was a force to be reckoned with. She had Emery in the front pack, ready to great each person he saw with a smile, which made for many smiles back to him. Then on one arm she had the diaper bag, which was practically busting at the seams. She was worried she would run out of diapers on the plane, so she packed about a week's worth. Then on the other arm she had her purse, which was also packed as full as she could get it, with everything imaginable in it, including, but not limed to: her lap top, hairbrush, meds, water bottle, nursing cover, wallet, and playing cards. You know, the necessities. Then wedged between her purse strap and her arm was the boppy pillow. She weighed three hundred pounds with it all, but she felt invincible! She felt like a tank!
As if this was not impressive enough, she stopped to get a coffee and was able to carry that in one hand (far away from Emery's face, as he kept trying to steal a sip). She walked with all those bags and boppys and babies all the way to her gate. Once she got there, she had a full hour before they started boarding the plane. She is one of those people that is notorious for being early, ESPECIALLY to a flight. She didn't mind though. At least she was not stressing.
There was a play place near her gate, and she had some time to kill, and she had just downed a grande a coffee... so her and Emery PLAYED!!!!
She got some disapproving looks from the other parents near by for doing this. Emery was not old enough to sit up by himself yet, so Beka went from thing to thing letting him roll around on them, taking his picture, talking to him and making goofy faces, then she would pick him up and pretend like he was flying to the next one. Apparently the other parents did not think she should be acting so goofy, or that she should be playing with a baby so young...or they were jealous about how much fun she was having with her smiling baby boy. Regardless, she was not bothered by their stares. Sure Emery was too little to be playing, but he enjoyed his mom being silly, and he liked rolling around. I am sure he is going to like the photos later on in life, so Beka took the odd glances in stride. Sure she was being silly, but there are bigger things to be conceded about than a young mom making faces and airplane noises at her infant, people...seriously.
After their undignified play time, Beka laid Emery's blanket down on the ground and let him play by himself for a while while she got their things together again. Once everything was set, it was time to board. God bless southwest for family pre-boarding. She was able to get on and head to the the back of the plane. Emery was in the front pack again, and as she made her way down the isle with her arms full, Emery took the liberty to make a new friend and grabbed an old man's ear as we brushed by him. Beka was mortified, but the old man was delighted Emery took a liking to him. Whew. She is so thankful when there are kind people who do not think a baby is a burden or an inconvenience. Even if they grab their face unexpectedly.
Once at the back of the plane she put the diaper bag down and was about to lift her purse into the over head compartments when a man near her rushed to her aid and did it for her. It was so sweet and she was very thankful for his kindness.
She had thought it all out before (again, super planner) and she knew that she would sit in the window seat in the second to last row on the left of the aisle. The last row does not recline, and the left side always has a better view out of the window. I am not sure why, but this has been proven to be true in her travels. She wanted the back of the plane because a. less people like to sit in back, b. she would not be in a hurry to leave when they landed, c. you cannot wait in line for the bathroom in the front, but you can in the back, and d. less people would be watching her awkwardly trying to breastfeed a squirmy baby at 10, 000 feet. I told you she had planned it all out. She got to her seat and waited for the rest of the plane to fill up while Emery made friends with every single person he made eye contact with. Especially the ladies...He loves the ladies.
Then, the unthinkable happened.....The doors shut with everyone on board, and there was no one in their row! I am not sure if it was because of Emery and the fear of flying next to a baby (a fear which Beka has, so she is out of luck on this flight!), or her being so far back in the plane, but they had the whole row to themselves! That meant legs stretched, Emery lying down, diapers being changed on a pad in the seat, and a whole other world of possibilities and comfort! She was so excited! I am sure Emery wanted to sit by as many people (ladies) as possible, but he adjusted to the news.
Once we taxied for a bit, it was time to take off. Beka began to feed Emery so his ears would not hurt. It worked like a charm. He ate and ate, then fell asleep in her arms for the better part of an hour. When he woke up he ate again, then just played on her lap and on the seat next to her for another hour, then ate, then slept, then played, and so on. No tears, no tantrums, no meltdowns, and no issues. He was a doll, and Beka was a happy Mommy.
The time flew by. When Emery was asleep Beka was able to play games on her phone to pass the time. Peggle is new favorite things to play, so that occupied most of her attention. When he was awake she was trilled to play with him, kiss him, and make the most of Mom and Son time that was so special.
Before they knew it, the plane was landing. Beka had Emery eat again so that the ear issue would not bother him, and the landing went smooth. She took her time to get everything together, and a man walked up to her and asked if she had anything in the over head compartment. She said they did and he got it out for her so she did not have to. Such kindness on this plane. She was so grateful. SO SO SO grateful.
She tanked her way out of the plane, and because she was so far back, she was one of the last to leave. Therefore no more innocent bystanders got their ears pulled by grabby baby hands.
She knew the SD airport well, and instinctively made her way to baggage claim. It was a relief not to have to look for signs or directions.
She again had this whole process thought out. She first got her stroller, then car seat, then she put Emery in the car seat and buckled him in. Then she made her way over to the belt, grabbed her two suitcases, and waited for her sisters to pick her up. When she saw them they all were overwhelmed with joy. There was many hugs, kisses, and snuggles, both for Beka and Emery. Each sister took a suitcase and bag, and Beka, feeling ONE THOUSAND pounds lighter, made her way to the car with only the stroller and her purse. Ah to have help again! It felt so nice!
But looking back on all she did without the help, she was pretty proud of herself for making it through without stress or complications. She was extra proud of Emery for being so well behaved and mellow though the whole process.
It was a big process to overcome, but Emery and Mom are better now for tackling it together.
If you ever see a mom by herself in an airport, grocery store, or anywhere, do what you can to lend a hand. The kindness you show will mean the world to her. She will always remember it, just like Beka always will remember the sweet hands who helped her on this trip.
Thanks for sharing in our adventure! We will have many more in the month that we are out here in SD, so stay tuned!
Much love,
Team Oakley
No comments:
Post a Comment