I decided to combat the threat of feeling isolated by planning outings and vacations. It started with things like driving into the big city with only Gummy and I, having to deal with the likely eventuality that she would cry in the car while I was driving. She did, and we both survived (without even needing to pull over - amazing how you can fish around the infant in her car seat for her googgy*, find it and place it back in her mouth all while watching the traffic light turn from red to green. I am developing mad skills).
Last weekend, I did something more ambitious. Gummy Girl and I got on an airplane and went to visit Pumpkin for the weekend. Yes, I flew alone with an infant. I mean, I wasn't alone at all. The planes were full of other passengers, and thankfully pilots and crew. But Mr. A stayed home. He had to do some farming.
My girl and I are adventurous indeed. It was all fun and games until my fear of flying kicked in. Mama cried most of the way to New York, while Gummy slept peacefully. I swore the entire hour that I would be calling Amtrak as soon as the plane landed so we could return home the scenic way. Once on the ground, I asked Pumpkin to talk me out of that plan, and she did. So we flew home.
A few points about flying solo with an infant:
1) Baby in the carrier is the way to go, at least when babies are gummy size. I used a bec.o gemi.ni I got on loan from a friend and it did the trick. Pumpkin had a stroller I could use while I was there, while her pumpling used a different stroller.
2) Checking the car seat does not equal a broken car seat. At least it didn't happen this time. I needed to bring gummy's car seat for some cab rides and to use with the stroller. I just had gummy on my lap or in the carrier at the airports and in the planes. I even laid her down on the floor at the gate so she could chill and kick her feet while we waited.
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| Flying ain't so bad, mama. Hey, how did that ladybug get there? |
3) I went against my personal rule of dressing up for air travel. I'm old school that way, and believe that if one is going to be prancing around airports, one should look her best. As far as traveling with an infant goes, that rule is stupid. I wore yoga capris, as t-shirt and running shoes, and traveled in great comfort. And since the most visible part of my outfit was gummy, I looked fantastic.
We had a lovely weekend visiting the Pumpkin family. As we set out for our first walk to the park with the wee ones, I looked over at Pumpkin and noted that this was the small miracles we had been waiting for. We had a moment of heart-filled gratitude. We had taken walks before, but neither of us had babies then (although the last time we took a walk, the pumpling was a month away from making her entry). It is still true that parenting is not easy, neither for the Pumpkins nor for the Augusts. But it it sure was worth fighting so hard for and it certainly makes our lives so much richer.
*What we call a soother/pacifier/binky in our house, after Sattva's appellation for said implement.
