Friday, August 20, 2010

Preflight Anxiety

Things are starting to get on a roll for our trip to Texas next month. I'm getting excited but I have spent the past few nights tossing and turning thinking about the flight to Texas.

I haven't done much traveling since having the boys. We took a road trip with my parents literally days after Brian first got his diagnosis. I was stuffed in the backseat of an Envoy with two carseats occupied by a two year old and a three year old. Surprisingly it was a really good trip- thank heaven for a portable DVD player.

The only other real lengthy trip was a trip to Boston two years ago. We drove an hour and a half to an Amtrak station and then took the train. That was a good choice for Brian. Obviously because he loves train but also the seats were a bit more roomier than a plane and there was more freedom for movement. The ride home he was a bit cranky but it had been a long trip for him.

Car rides can be a problem- generally the furthest we go is about an hour and a half and usually he'll do fine on the trip to wherever we are going. It's the way home that he becomes antsy and grumpy and fidgety.

Brian's been on a plane before but it was a four-passenger tiny plane for fifteen minutes to get out to the island where his Dad lives. And he hated it.

I know a commercial plane is obviously going to be a much different (and better) experience for Brian. Yet, the length could be a problem. Brian doesn't sit still for anything and the long corridor- that is going to be calling his name. He loves hallways, corridors, and such- he loves to run up and down them repeatedly. Brian loves to make loud noises and he loves to jump up and down. Brian has no understanding of personal space.

I just have this sinking feeling we'll be the next family you see in the news suing an airline for kicking us off a plane.

4 comments:

Lynn said...

I hope that it goes well for you guys...I totally understand your anxiety. We used to live in California and fly back to Chicago...such a long flight. I always used the portable DVD player, but it's dodgy because the battery is only 3 hours plus there's all the pre and post flight time where you have to have it turned off and Audrey doesn't like any of her videos being stopped before they end. Still and all, it was great to have. I asked my friend about the travel expense thing, but she didn't know what I was talking about so I must have dreamt it.

Unknown said...

Good luck with the trip! :)

Christina said...

I can imagine how you are stressing about it - I stress over those things too. Maybe you could bring once of his favorite items and tell him he only gets it once he gets on the plane? I hope you have a smooth experience.

Lynn said...

I hope that it goes well for you guys...I totally understand your anxiety. We used to live in California and fly back to Chicago...such a long flight. I always used the portable DVD player, but it's dodgy because the battery is only 3 hours plus there's all the pre and post flight time where you have to have it turned off and Audrey doesn't like any of her videos being stopped before they end. Still and all, it was great to have. I asked my friend about the travel expense thing, but she didn't know what I was talking about so I must have dreamt it.