The kindness of strangers

It has been a while since I have posted and I have been meaning to talk about the recent... or at this point, not so recent, cross country flights to Auntie Jenny and Uncle Chris's wedding.

I am fairly certain I am not alone in this, but flying with your kids is scary. You pray that the kids won't kick the seat in front of them for the entire 5 hour flight. Perhaps they will fall asleep shortly before take-off and the hard part will be getting them off the plane at the end. Or, perhaps every single person around you will have giant ear-muff sized headphones and will be able to drown out any possible whines or tantrums.

We weren't quite that lucky, but we were very happy with how the flights did go.

Our flight began at a very early hour. Little N flew with me while Big N and Pete planed on flying out a few days later. We managed to book our flights on the same schedule as Auntie Sarah, Grandma and Grandpa. Even with most of the family flying together, only little N and I were seated together.

On the first leg of the flight out of Seattle, Little N decided the woman sitting next to her was someone who would enjoy the full attention of a four year old. Luckily, the woman was thrilled to have little N lay her head on her and talk to her for the entire flight. She had a book with her which I believe she only was able to read as we were boarding the plane. Her daughters, in their early 20s, were seated behind us. She really enjoyed talking to Little N. The second leg of the flight, Auntie Sarah was given a window seat to sit next to Little N. Auntie Sarah also did not read much, but I was a lot more relaxed.

The route home from Baltimore was a somewhat hairier. When we arrived at the airport, the airline had managed to place both kids rows apart from us. Luckily the gate attendant was able to find a way for Little N and Big N to sit with one of us. My parents put up with center seats in separate rows, allowing Little N to sit with me and Big N to sit with Pete.

The young man in the window seat where Little N and I were assigned immediately offered up his window seat for Little N. This made the flight a lot easier. He even seemed to enjoy the flying teddy bear that hit him in his ear shortly after take-off.

All in all, the kids were great on the trip, but a lot of that was due to the kindness of strangers.