7.23.2012

Let's Trade

My children are frequent fliers.

With Grandparents living in each corner of the US, they've logged more flight hours then most grown adults.

Nearly all of these trips are done without my Go With The Flow Husband.  Add that to us nearly always flying on passes and you get a drill sergeant mother from wake up to touch down on travel days.

I know the secrets to getting through security in under 10 minutes no matter how long the line.  I have our time allotments down to the minute, having us at the gate with enough time to not be stressed but not enough time to get fidgety before we board.


I have mastered the art of maneuvering the countries biggest airport while balancing a stroller, a carseat, 3 suitcases, 2 carry ons, and 2 small children without batting an eye.  I can play the role of frazzled mother, calm expert, or any mix of the two when we need sympathy from fellow passengers.

I get a huge thrill when we sit in the car of whoever is ending my travel mission and know that we made it.

I am a rock star traveling mother.

Yes, flying with kids has become second nature.


Wanna know what's not second nature?

Getting my children to sleep on our trips.

Seriously.  It's enough to make me trade in our passports for sleeping pills and call it a day.

These little people, who are normally in bed no later then 8PM are pulling all nighters.  Chit chatting, giggling, "I need a glass of water"ing well past midnight.

Then they have the gall to wake up before 6AM.

Not cool Pope Kids.  Not cool.


Wednesday night, after we walked the Mall of America for hours, I tucked my globe trotters in at 7.

They were exhausted.

I tiptoed out of the room and sat down to enjoy a late dinner and some wine with my Mom, confident they would be passed out within minutes.

Ten minutes later, the doorknob turned and out came Gabe.

"How did you get out of your crib?"

I scolded Josie and ignored her pleas that he had climbed out himself.  Gabriel is the laziest child on the planet with the shortest midget legs you've ever seen.  No way did he shimmy himself out without his big sister lending a hand.

Back in the bed, another round of kisses, and commands to go to sleep.

Ten minutes later, you guessed it.  Big Fat Baby, proudly toddling out of the room.

I put him in the crib and said, "show me how you got out."

And wouldn't you know it, the little booger hoisted his leg over the rail, balanced Mission Impossible Style, then slowly lowered his feet to the floor.

Great.  Now he can escape.

And escape he did.  Over.  And over.  And over.

So let's trade secrets.  I'll share my Get Through The Airport Looking Like A Pro manual and you tell me what the heck do I do to keep this child in his crib!

Bonus points for instructions on actually getting them to sleep.


It's a good thing he is so dang cute.

6 comments:

Jackie said...

Vacation is so exciting! Why sleep right?! Sorry to hear you are going through this and probably having to deal with grumpy sleep deprived kids during the day too!

As for getting them to sleep you may want to have them sleep in separate rooms if that is what they do at home. Having them sleep in the same room if they are not used to it may seem like play time to them.

In terms of Gabe climbing out of his crib, here are a couple of ideas.

-Buy a lightweight sleep sack like this one so he can't get his leg over the rail: http://www.diapers.com/p/aden-anais-boutique-100-cotton-muslin-single-layer-sleep-bag-102548

-Buy a crib tent: http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=309775

Anonymous said...

Put him in a big boy bed!

StarfishMom said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE the last picture of Gabe!!! No secrets, it's just that your baby is growing up...time for a big boy bed!

Kaia said...

Crib tent!

Little for a Little While said...

My friend has a bag of cheap, mostly dollar store trinkets, and if her kids sleep well/stay in bed, they get to reach in amd pick out a surprise the next morning.

I've also heard of putting three sticks (blocks, pennies, whatever) on thier nightstand, and each time you have to go in you take one away. Once they are out of tokens you no longer respond...lights out.

For the climbing out of the crib, I would just put his mattress on the floor so he can't play the game, and put one of those plastic door knob covers on the inside handle, that way he can't open the door to come out. Eventually he'll get tired and find his way to the mattress and (hopefully) go to bed at some point.

My girl is an early riser as well, but I am not. I bought her a cheap alarm clock, and set it for 7am. She is not allowed to come downstairs until the music plays. She can get up and play in her room, just not wake anyone else up. I keep the music pretty quiet, that way if she happens to sleep past 7, it doesn't wake her up.

Good luck! And please do share your 10 minute security line tips!!!

Amber said...

You know I cannot resist....CRY ME A RIVER!!!! Send me some tips on how to get my child to sleep at home!!! Miss you!!!