After our first trip/flights with Bub, this Florida one felt easier. Though, flying into RSW is much easier than flying into SFO, which we flew into on our first trip. I used to love the pace and chaos of behemoth international airports. As a mom, I despise them. These days, I take into account whether an airport I’m flying into with my child is more or less congested than a neighboring option.
Is traveling with a kid still stressful regardless of the airport? Yes.
Is traveling with a kid a vacation or just relocating the work? The latter.
Is traveling with a kid still worth it? Yes.
After a long winter, we welcomed the Florida sunshine. We hopped in the pool as soon as we arrived and quickly fell into a rhythm of: sleep, swim, eat, repeat. I almost wrote “relaxing rhythm” but was it truly “relaxing”? I’m learning that traveling with a kid is full of contradictions. There were times of relaxation on our trip, for sure. (I read an entire book, “Where the Crawdads Sing", which I highly recommend.) But, it’s always stressful for me to be in new environments with Bub. At home, my anxiety is already pretty high. When we travel, my anxiety becomes even more heightened. Not only is my anxiety taxing on my own mind and body, it’s taxing for the family, especially Steve.
I can only imagine what it’s like for Steve to be married to someone so anxious. I interrogate him with questions as my mind ruminates. Has anyone smoked cigarettes in the house where we’re staying? Is there a carbon monoxide alarm? Is there filtered water? What if the neighbors smoke and we’re outside in the pool? Do iguanas bite?
Despite the below photos, being in the sunshine state doesn’t equate to always having a sunshine-y state of mind. I’m working on it.
FIRST FAMILY PHOTO SESH ON THE BEACH
(One of us ate lots of sand)
