Monday, September 1, 2008

It just may be a lunatic you're looking for

I may be crazy …

I just booked tickets—one adult, one infant, one toddler—to fly to Ohio and visit my dad in October. I already have the shakes thinking about how terrible the travel is going to be. Greg can't come with me, so I'm on my own with the non-stop nursling and the non-stop runner. Oh boy. I'm not too concerned about Nora, who will be strapped to me in a sling or something similar, but I'm a little terrified about Sidamo. To understate it, he's not exactly in his best listening phase right now. He doesn't stand still. And he doesn't take a break from talking/screaming/singing. Ever. I never thought I'd contemplate it, but I'm one click away from leashing my kid:


Any other tips/tricks for traveling alone with two kids? Other than Valium all around?

11 comments:

rebekah said...

Our Quinn sounds like Sidamo. When we took him to Ethiopia in April (at 3 1/2) we got one of those backpacks with the 'tail'. (let's not call it a leash) We used it at O'Hare after he took off like a running back through the crowd and we lost visual sight for what seemed like forever, then again at Kennedy. And this was before we had the second child with us. And, there were two adults to his oneself.

Yes, it does feel like you're walking a dog. And yes, people do look, but it worked like a charm. Who cares what other people think? Quinn actually liked it.

lisa said...

Well, I have a friend who still gets a lot of mileage out of the fact that her mother used to "leash" her...
I try to wear S down-dance, running games etc.-before we go some place where I need her to sit still. Also, she LOVES her magnadoodle, and I just upgraded it to lap size with the shape markers. This works in the car. Oh, and the cell phone, she can talk on that for way too long.
We missed you all tonight!

whatever_heather said...

Sidamo and Charlie are so alike. I have faith in you! You can do it. I don't think the "tail" is a bad idea, given the circumstances.
Godspeed, Deirdre...Godspeed.
:)

Mark and Sarah said...

LOL! Our lives are parallel, you're just a few months behind...Well, I hate to say it, but I have that EXACT monkey leash. We call is "Curious George" and made good use of it on our recent trip to Hawaii. I say get it...but watch out because if he runs and you catch him on the leash, he may fall over :) I guess that's better than trying to chase after him in the airport, while keeping Nora from falling out of the sling (I had that experience at an outdoor shopping center this week...can you tell I favor the monkey instead??!?)

Mark and Sarah said...

Oh, and we only got *positive* looks and comments...folks thought it was ingenious and "cute"...haha.

Stormy said...

If he rides well in a stroller, I'd take one and strap him in it. It's even worth the hassle at security and at the gate.

They also make car seats with handles and wheels like a suitcase. If you were planning to take a car seat along, he might find it fun to ride in it through the airport.

This is a carseat with wheels and a handle and looks a bit safer:
http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html

This one attaches your carseat to a suitcase (and is much cheaper): http://tinyurl.com/5ps79k.

Alicia said...

Yep, that's the monkey that saved us a few times! :) And I know, I also swore I'd never leash my kid. Ha, naive, childless fool that I was!!

You'll do great, I know it!! And if not...well, you can bunk with us in OH until you're brave enough to make the return trip. :)

We are selfishly very glad for your lunacy because we are so excited to meet you in person!! :)

Liza said...

I'm thinking of buying one of those for Matt.

lifedance said...

no judgment here--I think the monkey is pretty cute!!

Cindy said...

Leash that baby! We do! :)

I don't understand why people are offended by these. I fail to see any thing negative (just because it's called a leash doesn't mean you think your baby is a dog for Pete's sake). It's about your comfort, sanity, lack-of-worry,and Sidamo's safety. Besides, most kids love them and will want to wear it (mine do!)! They just look funny sometimes when the kid is walking nice & calm (hey lady, why you gotta leash that guy when he walks just fine like a good big kid?!).

Maia said...

haha! YOu know, those leash/harness things are de rigeur in France. I had one as a kid. No stigma there.
Every time I put QQ in the car to run errands, I wonder how I would manage with more than one. Please let me know what you learn. (no, no, not that I want another!)