How Getting Ready to Fly with my Nephews is Harder than Figuring Out the Economy
So the whole clan is headed home to Hawaii to celebrate my dads 66th birthday next week. I travel to Hawaii a bunch of times year round, so this is simple toss stuff in the bag and go trip for me. Since my sister has been the procreator and focused on raising two kick ass kids, she hasn’t really been back in awhile. She is under-vacationed and deserves this trip more than I can say; I deserve it just because I always think I deserve vacation even when I don’t. And right now, I kind of don’t at all but, that isn’t really the point.
I’ve seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and I thought it would be a great idea to “pre-produce” the whole trip with kids thing and start getting my sister in that frame of mind because I have been having these visions of what an unorganized nightmare it’s going to be and I’m getting hives just thinking about it. I just want it to be a streamlined, on –time, go off without a hitch and for God's sake , be a work for ME production.
Well, good luck to me. I am that person who pre-packs in my head, has what I am bringing dialed in, and I like to spread the list of things to do over a few days as to not be that “other person” who is running to Target frantically the morning of the trip , causing high blood pressure to those around me. Well, my sister is that “other person” she’s that way solo pre kids so I am contemplating xanax as we slide into week of travel.
All I want is for her to make a list of everything she needs to do, methodically knock it off the list and be one of those magical mommies in meditative state and arrive at the gate with a cup of coffee in hand and her Aloha vibe in check. But that is so not going to happen and I have two choices 1. Let go 2. Be annoying, bossy and co-dependant. Obviously I’m not letting go.
Yes, I get it, when you have kids everything changes, but until I do , I don't have them and things haven't changed.
I called my brother in law this morning like the true bugger that I am and broke it down in my most “look dude, here’s the deal. …help me help you” presentation. He’s no dummy, he’s mysteriously coming on a different flight two days later—he is really grateful for me agreeing to go in his place to escort the kids with my sister, so he is on board with my pre production theory and willing to play with me.Thank God.
He's agreed to "handle things. " He is doing laundry, downloading in flight entertainment for Jack our 3 year old and organizing toys, books, sunscreen and also writing his “Dear Sirs, My wife has my permission to kidnap my children to Hawaii for a few days so I can have peace of mind and live the dream for two days without them.” Funny how he’ll write that letter without being nagged by the wife but god forbid he calls the IT guy to come fix the computer that has been down for a week. See.... I can’t wait to get married either!
Bubble Burst
For the next day or so I am going to live in my fantasy land that all of the tasks are getting taken care of, I see two cute backpacks full of wonderful toys and other toddler travel distraction leaning against a wall by their bedroom doors, beach clothes all folded in orderly piles, medication in a zip lock plastic bags, ID papers copied and folded nicely, car seats labeled with their names on tape, and my sister all Zen and packed by Wednesday night. Solid.
Let’s face it; I am not living in a bubble. Come travel day, the you know what will hit the fan, my sister will be late as she always is, running with two kids through security at LAX, sippy cup flying across the floor, sweat dripping, Jack will be saying he has to pee and Cole will just be wondering when we’re getting there and I will be saying this just what happens when I go on vacation when I don’t deserve it!
Truthfully, despite the chaos, kids or no kids, no matter what, my sister and I have traveled the world together from Shanghai to Saipan, and Bali to Boston and while she may not subscribe to the same pre-travel organization schedule and philosophy-- she is hands down my favorite person to be on the road with. I am really looking forward to hitting the surf and being home in the islands together, shopping, slathering on SPF 30 and knocking back some Coronas while her husband takes care of the kids. I mean hellooooo, payback is a b**ch.