By Nici Holt Cline
A friend once said that every challenge a mama faces and moves through with kids is an empowering notch in the I Can Do Belt. It’s so true. It’s not that everything is so mama-induced difficult that one needs an I Can Do Belt but, rather, it’s that tiny things that were once amazingly weightless and effortless become a FEAT. Like brushing teeth, hanging laundry, pulling beets, writing an email. Before kids, brainless. After kids, the next Olympic sport. It’s empowering when I realize I Can Do.
Yesterday I flew with my two children, ages 2 1/2 and eight months. Standby. That means I was waiting in the terminal (what’s with it being called the terminal anyway? How unmotivating and unnerving.) having just checked my suitcase with a neon pink tag that read STANDBY PASSENGER. As I made my way around, at least every third person looked my way twice and then asked something like, so, are you at this alone? I felt fine about it because stuff always works out, especially when life is approached believing that stuff always works out. But, hell, there were moments. MOMENTS, as I sat at the terminal bouncing and nursing and reading and hoping we’d get on that plane that I wondered if I was a crazy person.
I had stayed up really late the night before to prepare for my trip. I decided, with a few exceptions, that I would not work while visiting my parents in Minneapolis for a week. This meant working into the wee hours and packing into the wee-er hours. Totally worth it. For my whole life I’ve been one who enjoys this sort of approach…in college I would always opt to ski all weekend and then stay up all night to write a paper. Who wants to say no to skiing or writing? Same goes today.
Anyway, I was a crazy, very tired mama with two small children ambling about the terminal waiting to hear if we were to get on a plane and waiting to see how people would react to the last-minute, necessary musical chairs to ensure my kids and I were seated together. We made it on and, as I had anticipated, people were generous (or maybe excited is a better word to describe what that woman felt when she learned she didn’t have to sit next to crazy, tired lady and her kids).
For sure there were a few difficult times on that plane when both Margot and Ruby needed me and I didn’t have husband backup. But, all in all? I can fly 1000 miles with my two young kids. I can shoehorn the three of us into the tin can bathroom and manage all of the business that needs to occur there (yeah, go ahead and imagine it!). I can be excited, for the seventh time, about the train video we rented from the library. I’ve found that as a mama, the anticipation is often scarier than the actual. I have found that an undercurrent of love can make just about anything float. I Can Do.
A fourth generation Montanan raising a fifth, Nici Holt Cline is a mama to Margot and Ruby, wife, gardener, crafter and runner who loves to write and take photos. She writes regularly on her popular blog dig this chick. You can read “Mama Digs” every Monday exclusively at www.mamalode.com. Read more of Nici’s mamalode articles here.
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Yes you do it AND you do it so well! Love having my three girls in the Minneapple……xoxo
Been there and done that, only the girls and I flew all the way to Germany with a layover in between. The first time we flew our oldest was three and the youngest was one year old. Hard, but manageable. The next time our oldest was five and the youngest almost three, should have been easier, but wasn’t. During our stay our youngest broke her leg and I had to carry her the entire time. Made for a long and very hard trip. But as you said, it was definitely a notch in my I Can Do Belt…
“…the anticipation is often scarier than the actual. I have found that an undercurrent of love can make just about anything float.”—that’s the profound truth, girl.
You still gotta fly back….. good luck, you’re brave.
You gotta do it! Here is to many more notches!
I love your post! I just flew to Portland with Henry and YES! we can do it! People are so generous and helpful… I had so many ladies offer to help as I tucked Henry into the Ergo, threw my bag across my shoulder, pulled my suitcase in one arm and held the car seat in the other. I must have looked like a mess, but I managed and I was surprised by how kind people can be. Great job juggling two!!! That’s awesome!
Hope Ruby is sleeping better these days. Henry has turned a bit of a corner (I think putting him to bed earlier has worked!) and I’m only up with him once (maybe twice… sometimes not at all) to nurse at night. I’ll take it!!!
Great job with the girls!
Kate
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“…An undercurrent of love can make just about anything float.” Well said! Now, I hope I can continue channeling that undercurrent when the waters get wild:)