A Moment's Panic

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Today my Mum asked me a question regarding our trip back home for what we have come to call our “Tropical Holiday.” I read the message, glance over at our counting worm and realised that the Butterfly had forgotten to cross off a number of days and we now only had just shy of four weeks before departure. Suddenly I had “butterflies” in my tummy just for a moment because it has dawned on me that we shall be travelling with a Lollipop in tow. It has occurred to me that when we went to buy our plane tickets I didn’t think the Lollipop would be any trouble. But then I was thinking of the Lollipop as she was then, eight months old. The reality is that the Lollipop will be just two month younger then the Butterfly was when we left South Africa. Oh, says my slow thinking brain that’s all right then because the Butterfly was an absolute gem and no trouble at all.

Unfortunately, I eventually caught up with myself and reminded myself that everything the Butterfly is the Lollipop isn’t! Oh, crap! I have a feeling that this trip is not going to be as easy as the first! When we left the Butterfly walked next to me quietly and quickly and held tight to my hand or shirt, rendering the kiddie safety strap redundant. I know that this time round she will do the same thing. The Lollipop refuses to hold my hand making the strap an absolute necessity. Unfortunately, Lollipop fights the strap and she is slowly working out how to take it off her wrist. Coming here the Butterfly sat still and quiet on my lap and did her best to sleep, this time round she will have her own chair. I am sure she will be very happy to wear earphones and watch movies; however, I’m not sure she will sleep. Lollipop is a wriggler; I can picture her climbing on and off my lap, moving between the Mauritian, the Butterfly and me when she isn’t trying to run up and down the aisles, I know without any doubt the Lollipop is not going to go to sleep very easily. In the airports between flights Butterfly sat quietly next to me looking around her, no doubt the Lollipop will be off running and yelling and screaming murder when she is stopped. I best stop talking about this; I’m starting to scare myself.

On reflection I am somewhat prepared for the worst. I shall be taking a supply of formula with me to replace meals and a drink bottle of water to keep her hydrated. At sleep times, I will attach her to me with the “kangaroo” carrier so she can’t wriggle out or fall off. I shall carry a bottle of Panado and feed it to her every four hours to help keep her calm(ish) and I will get a sedative from the doctor in case she gets out of hand. I have a plan to foil her attempts to undo her strap and I will allow her to walk about the airport while the Mauritian does all the check ins. Hopefully I have it all covered.

If not, I’m in for a memorable trip!

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