Parenting Lessons from 35000 Feet: A Bird's Eye View on Raising Children

Vacationing with children often feels like parenting in a completely new environment. The routines, comforts, and familiar surroundings that usually guide your parenting approach are replaced by unfamiliar settings and unpredictable situations. Despite the change in scenery, the core of parenting remains the same. Understanding this can help parents stay grounded and confident while managing their kids in new places.

Sharing the amusing experiences I had during my journey with 2 very energetic kids who refused to accept a no.

High-Flying Adventures: A Year-End Journey

We are currently flying at around 35,000 feet, and on this final day of the year, I felt compelled to document my activities. I asked Rheanshi for her fancy markers to add some color to this story, but she responded,

“Please ask Viraansh. I don't want to share my markers. I have to get down to open my bag, grab my pouch, unzip it, and take the markers out.”

...and she continued watching her show. Mind you, all this just to reach something that's within arm's reach! I mean, come on, it’s not like I asked her to climb Mount Everest!

So, here I am, writing this with the one old pen I always carry in my pouch. Traveling alone with two kids, especially when my knee resembles a football, was never on my bucket list.

Particularly when it involves resolving disputes between the brother and sister, which usually ends in a tie—one yells, the other cries, and I’m left wondering if I should call a referee!

The Lip Balm Crisis

My daughter, Rheanshi, asks for a lip balm, and suddenly Viraansh remembers that he needs his lip balm too. Now, I am stuck in line at the security checkpoint, and the people behind me want to keep moving forward. Rheanshi wants me to hurry up to catch up with her, and this rule-follower is already starting to cry because I am being slow.

Meanwhile, my HERO, Viraansh, has gotten out of the stroller and is crying for the Spiderman lip balm, which I am pretty sure he left in the car. (Because, of course, superheroes need their lip balm too!) Somehow, we solved that problem and moved on to another.

We finally got onto the flight after an endless 'tu tu mein mein'—which, let’s be honest, is just a fancy way of saying “I’m right, no, I’m right!”

Dining Dilemmas at 35,000 Feet

It's time for dinner, and I thought, what if I get super smart and make the kids go to the bathroom before the tray tables are opened for dinner? I ask Viraansh several times if he wants to go potty, and he says NO NO NO No. (Because clearly, the bathroom is the Bermuda Triangle of fun for kids.) So, we got the dinner served. Tray tables are open. Food is out. Spoons and forks are in the food. (Surprise! It’s a new game called “Find Your Fork!”) A glass of juice is served. Sandwiches are out of their wrap, and I took a bite of my sandwich while watching the DON2 movie... and then I heard the dreaded words, 'Mommy, I need to go potty.' (Ah yes, the classic timing! It’s like they have a sixth sense for when you’re about to enjoy a meal.) So, there's that.

Sleepy Time Shenanigans

 Now, it's time to turn off the lights and drift off to sleep. However, the situation in our little space is far from ideal. Viraansh is sleeping in the middle seat, his head resting on my lap while his legs stretch out, bumping into Akka. He seems to be in a deep slumber, but his position is causing a bit of chaos.

On the other hand, Rheanshi has been glued to the screen for the past six hours. I finally ask her to turn it off and get some sleep. She is reluctant, however, as she has a specific way she wants to sleep. Unlike Viraansh, who has found his comfortable spot, Rheanshi prefers not to sleep with her legs forward. She wants to rest her head on Viraansh, but he isn't allowing her to do that. As the night wears on, it seems that finding a comfortable sleeping arrangement is proving to be quite the challenge for all of us.

The Aisle Seat Revelation

I ask Viraansh, 'Would you mind taking my seat while I sit in the middle?' He agrees and moves to the aisle seat. Rheanshi stretches out her legs and falls asleep on my lap. Viraansh who is sitting in the aisle seat, watching the screen, turns to me and says he has a big revelation (idea). I'm curious and ask, what is it? He responds, 'You know, I think I've figured it out; I'm going to sit in your LAP.' He can clearly see Akka sleeping in my lap. So, I tell him that might not be possible. Then he says the cutest thing... 'Everyone can SEE me if I sit here.'

To sum up, taking a vacation with children turns the usual parenting routine into a chaotic adventure brimming with surprises and funny moments. The shared experiences during the airborne journey emphasize the distinct mix of joy and chaos that accompanies family travel. From managing marker use to handling bathroom breaks at 35,000 feet, the core of parenting stays strong amid the turbulence. In the end, accepting unpredictability and seeing the humor in these scenarios can make the trip not only tolerable but also unforgettable.