Ten Things

Ten things I learned on this trip....

10. Noise-cancelling headphones were the best investment I have ever made. Brian wore them for the entirety of three of the four airplane rides.

9. Brian can really swim! At home I'm so quick to put his life jacket on so I don't have to have an anxiety attack. But we didn't bring ours and he was swimming short distances from the side of the pool to me and then back again.

8. When saliva is mixed with a teaspoon and a half of medicine it sure can go a long way. See the picture. All over me, the towel, Brian, and the bedding!

7. For the most part people really are kind.

6. You should ALWAYS be prepared for illness- even when travelling. Maybe even more so when travelling.

5. Having a child with special-needs makes you a target for religious advice, on top of all the parenting advice. I had a stewardess tell me I should read him scriptures.

4. That I may harbor a secret hatred for "perfect families". In the Austin airport I watched a young mom with four beautiful children all under the age of six. The whole family was beautiful and so well behaved. I heard two business men walk by them and say, "Wow those kids are so cute- did you see them?", just as my son ran in front of them yelling "digga-digga-digga" and they nearly trip over him. They didn't say anything about how cute he was.....

3. Cartoon Network sucks. It was the only channel in our hotel room that had cartoons but at six in the morning they only play anime cartoons. Brian wasn't impressed that I said no and he eventually settled on Saved by the Bell.

2. That little plug in the bath tub that doesn't come out all the way can actually come out. And it can come apart to five different pieces.


1. I can do it! I'm proud of this trip. I had a lot of anxiety and worries about travelling by myself with Brian. And we were fine. We succeeded.