Chesh and I had a very long talk last night

[callistra]

and in the end, it all came down to feeling very ... beset. I felt very beset from all sides about all sorts of things which are too close to me to talk about coherently. I've been grappling all week with so much stuff that I'm not involved in, but can't help but BE involved in, and my friends have been wonderful in putting up with the whininess, but eventually I had to put things into words. Sometimes just framing things into words, and putting your breath and voice to issues is enough to help them dissipate.

So, things feel much much better. I'm much chirpier and chattier, and all sorts of progress has been made in pretty much all of my projects. It has been quite disheartening to be making progress and just feeling blah about the successes. I'm glad this week is over in that respect!

I have booked tickets to visit Brisbane in the quite-near future. How exciting! Any tips for travelling alone with a 4year old and a 18month old, let me know!

Comments

[angriest.livejournal.com]

Put the four year-old in charge of the 18 month-old, and you stay in charge of the four year-old.

[leecetheartist.livejournal.com]

Hope things sort themselves out for you - have a hug anyrate!

Brisbane sounds very, very exciting.

Um, I heard that on long plane or bus trips having little packages to unwrap with a toy or colour pencils and sketchbook in can help. The trick is spacing it just right.

[fe2h2o.livejournal.com]

even if they're toys/activities they already have... just put them away a little before hand, wrap them in newspaper and dole them out. I think I heard the suggested rate of 1 about every 20 or 30 minutes:-)

[linstar.livejournal.com]

*hugs you lots* I loves you much more than you know.

[redbraids.livejournal.com]

Glad things feel a bit better! Brisbane sounds awesome!

[mynxii.livejournal.com]

*love and tearyness*

You're awesome. We're awesome.

All is possible.

Gods willing I'll be flying with you. Other than that I like angriest's suggestion.

[nellievee45.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're feeling better. You have sounded somewhat fraught. Having travelled with a five year old, I agree with the new item, however small, presented with a flourish (I didn't think of wrapping it up which would have been even better) every twenty minutes or so and ideally something that requires some sort of activity for the four year old.

[hkneale.livejournal.com]

Tips for travelling with young'uns:

1. It is perfectly moral to administer certain types of medicine to young'uns in preparation for long plane flights. Phenergan is the one I recommend. However, be prepared for it to knock them out for several hours. (Best not to do this mid-afternoon, or when they wake up at 9pm, they'll wanna be awake for hours.)

2. Prams are useful places to stash drugged sleeping offspring (as well as lots of other stuff).

3. If said young'uns aren't drugged (which for a short flight, may be the better option), plenty of snacks are a must.

4. Limit the number of toys/blankies/security objects to one. Tie object to child, or guaranteed, the number of objects will easily become zero.

5. Exploit Avail yourself of all the services (potentially) offered by travel professionals. Believe me, flight attendants will do everything they can to ensure young'uns are not out of control, not just for their sake, but the sake of all passengers.

6. Flights have little entertainment kits for children. Be sure to ask for one if you haven't been automatically given one.

7. When it comes to discipline, be stricter with the child than you normally would. There's simply not enough room on a place for any shenanigans.

8. Do not overpack. You may think you need all that stuff, but you won't, and you'll be sorry to have to haul all that stuff around.