Since Kaiden is two, things he once loved and new things that he is excited about can out of the blue send him into a freenzy.
For the whole week prior to leaving, I talked about airplanes. Demonstrated how they might feel and sound. I pointed out every airplane I saw in the sky. I told him about security and that we'd have to take our shoes off (huge deal!) and put them in a bucket. No worries, though, we'll get them back on the other side. I read articles on the Internet about tips for traveling with a toddler. I over packed our carry ons that killed mine and Jo's shoulders. I packed snacks and juice boxes (thank you! security for letting them through). I bought new, hopefully exciting, toys that he could get for being good on the plane. Or just for trying something new in general. I mean I'm telling ya, I covered all my bases.
We get through security with just a bit of whining about his shoes. Then, omg, he see's them checking out his juice boxes and started saying (loudly) "my juice!" "my juice!" and I just prayed real quick that they would let him have them. Thank goodness they did! =) I had to check in at the gate b/c I couldn't assign seats for this flight online. Geez, this lady was an idiot and I cursed her in my mind for the next hour.
So, yeah, she decided the best way to make sure I sat with my two year old was to call a specific couple up to the desk. They never came. She didn't think to ask if someone, anyone with two seats together were willing to give up their seats (like the smarty woman did on our last flight back home..thank you!). So, everyone boarded and we were still sitting there. She assumed since the people she called up didn't show face, she would just give us their seat. Genius! We get on the plane and Jo sits down. Hmmm, what do you know, mine and Kaiden's seats are occupied! Niiiice. For the next 5-10 minutes, we stood in the aisle of the tiny plane and waited for them to figure it out. We were getting pushed and panicked. Kaiden starting crying and this guy took a voucher and gave up his seat in first class. Oh, I didn't mention that while Kaiden and I had paid for our seats a month prior, there was only one seat left on the plane while him and I still were not seated. Thank you, guy, for taking a voucher! This older couple gave up their seats together. The woman sat in the first class seat and the man sat in the one empty seat left. We got our seats together, but by this time, Kaiden was hysterical.
He did not want to sit in his seat. He just wanted me to hold him. The flight attendant told me he had to sit in his seat and buckle up before the plane could take off. Uggh. I couldn't even look at the people around me as my son screamed bloody murder. I got him in the seat and buckled, but not without a fight. He was so scared that he was shaking. I decided at that point that I was getting off the plane. It wasn't worth it. Just at that moment, the flight attendant came by and told me not to worry about the other passengers and that we were all babies at one time that cried. It was something I already knew, but just hearing her say it gave me my second wind. I grabbed his hand and just started talking and singing to him. He screamed and cried for about 20 minutes I would say. Eventually, he started to calm. I talked about school and how all his friends would think that it was so cool that he was on a plane. That seemed to help a lot. Then the flight attendant brought him some cookies and juice. She was my life saver!
After that and for the rest of the flights we took, he was an angel. He loved it, even! We had to run all over Detroit's airport and lug all that over packed, heavy luggage around, but I didn't care, as long as he was happy! =)
Mr. Potato Head was a lifesaver and so was letting him be a photographer. =)
He wanted to help us pull the luggage all through the airport. It was too cute!!
Happy Travelers!!
