Comments on: Hawaii with 75 percent of the children https://lauravanderkam.com/2017/04/hawaii-75-percent-children/ Writer, Author, Speaker Tue, 17 Apr 2018 14:00:26 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 By: lauravanderkam https://lauravanderkam.com/2017/04/hawaii-75-percent-children/#comment-34554 Wed, 19 Apr 2017 00:51:20 +0000 http://lauravanderkam.staging.wpengine.com/?p=6602#comment-34554 In reply to DVStudent.

@DVStudent- that poor woman. I have never flown solo with all four — I’ve flown solo with three but when they were old enough to be reasoned with. I’m always torn when I’m flying without my kids and I’m near someone who has rambunctious little ones. I sympathize of course, and I know what they’re going through, though I often want to use my time away from my kids to read, relax, sleep, etc. Once on a flight from California to PHL a flight attendant saw me sitting next to a squirmy little kid and kind of nudged me out of my seat and to another one a few rows back that was empty. That was a great solution: the child’s guardian got an extra seat to let him climb over and I got a quiet trip.

]]> By: DVStudent https://lauravanderkam.com/2017/04/hawaii-75-percent-children/#comment-34553 Tue, 18 Apr 2017 23:58:57 +0000 http://lauravanderkam.staging.wpengine.com/?p=6602#comment-34553 I’m so glad you all had a nice trip! I was just on the redeye last night from LAX to PHL (2nd of 3 flights, sigh, I do love my parents a lot), and ended up sitting behind a mom with 4 kids, two of whom were below two. That was…rough, both for all of us around, and for the poor mother, who was really doing her best. And I love children, but I had a hard time all night, one of the kids kept trying to stick her hand to grab my computer behind her seat-I can’t imagine what that Mom was feeling-the kids were just up and active and yelling all night

]]> By: June https://lauravanderkam.com/2017/04/hawaii-75-percent-children/#comment-34552 Tue, 18 Apr 2017 20:42:40 +0000 http://lauravanderkam.staging.wpengine.com/?p=6602#comment-34552 In reply to lauravanderkam.

Of course. But for many people leaving their 2-year old behind while they travel isn’t an option. The option is go or no-go on the entire trip, with the entire family. I support go.

]]> By: lauravanderkam https://lauravanderkam.com/2017/04/hawaii-75-percent-children/#comment-34551 Tue, 18 Apr 2017 20:24:13 +0000 http://lauravanderkam.staging.wpengine.com/?p=6602#comment-34551 In reply to June.

@June – to be sure, if you have immediate family overseas, it’s just part of the deal. I think the problem for people who do have some choice is that it’s easy to get traumatized by the experience to the point of never wanting to travel with the kids again (see ARC’s comment).

]]> By: June https://lauravanderkam.com/2017/04/hawaii-75-percent-children/#comment-34550 Tue, 18 Apr 2017 19:42:49 +0000 http://lauravanderkam.staging.wpengine.com/?p=6602#comment-34550 I’ll chime in to encourage those quietly thinking of taking a long haul flight with a toddler. We have family overseas so long haul flights are standard for us. (Think 2 legs – first leg 4-5 hours, 2-3 hour layover followed by second leg – 14-16). In fact, I was a toddler during my first flight (lasting well over 11 hours). So, in my mind, it’s never been a question of “if” we will do it, but “how” we will make it work.

You have to be prepared to work and act like Mary Poppins, but it’s doable. (And the benefits, for us, have been well worth it). I find younger kids adjust more quickly to time zone issues than older kids/adults — they are happy to play in the sun and adjust.

]]> By: ARC https://lauravanderkam.com/2017/04/hawaii-75-percent-children/#comment-34549 Tue, 18 Apr 2017 19:24:11 +0000 http://lauravanderkam.staging.wpengine.com/?p=6602#comment-34549 We took our 2yo to Ireland, which was around an 11-13 hour flight and I can attest to the awfulness. It traumatized hubby about taking kids on long trips for several years. (To this day, our younger one has not been on a plane longer than 5 hours.)

We have not yet gotten to try the magic of the Disney Kids’ Club because our younger one was always too little (at Disneyland they had to be 5). I can’t wait to try it next year though – maybe we can finally eat at Napa Rose 🙂

]]> By: lauravanderkam https://lauravanderkam.com/2017/04/hawaii-75-percent-children/#comment-34548 Tue, 18 Apr 2017 18:44:11 +0000 http://lauravanderkam.staging.wpengine.com/?p=6602#comment-34548 In reply to SHU.

@SHU- exactly – I have no memories from age 2. He had a good week of playground trips and not getting dragged along to anyone else’s karate class.

]]> By: SHU https://lauravanderkam.com/2017/04/hawaii-75-percent-children/#comment-34547 Tue, 18 Apr 2017 17:40:54 +0000 http://lauravanderkam.staging.wpengine.com/?p=6602#comment-34547 your trip sounds great, and while your choice to leave #4 home was unconventional, it definitely sounds like the right one. And he’ll never remember 🙂

]]> By: EB https://lauravanderkam.com/2017/04/hawaii-75-percent-children/#comment-34546 Tue, 18 Apr 2017 14:12:09 +0000 http://lauravanderkam.staging.wpengine.com/?p=6602#comment-34546 In reply to Kristen.

Haha–this reminds me of that saying “You couldn’t pay me to do [XYZ].” Well, I think my line in the (Hawaiian) sand is–I may not pay to take my 3yo on an 11 hour flight, but you could pay me to do it with a free (working) trip to Hawaii.

]]> By: lauravanderkam https://lauravanderkam.com/2017/04/hawaii-75-percent-children/#comment-34545 Tue, 18 Apr 2017 13:55:51 +0000 http://lauravanderkam.staging.wpengine.com/?p=6602#comment-34545 In reply to Kristen.

@Kristen – I agree! Having him along would have changed everything, and not in a good way. In two years or so we’ll be able to travel with him and it will be a much more enjoyable experience.

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