{"id":5537,"date":"2012-11-23T08:35:54","date_gmt":"2012-11-23T06:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents-blog\/?p=5537"},"modified":"2022-06-23T11:13:27","modified_gmt":"2022-06-23T09:13:27","slug":"travelling-with-toddlers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/lifestyle\/holidays-activities-places-to-go-family-getaway-programs\/travelling-with-toddlers\/","title":{"rendered":"Travelling with toddlers-the trials & tribulations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Friends of mine without kids love to be smug and berate the screaming child on their flight. \u00a0One even posted recently on Facebook that \u201cPeople with young children shouldn\u2019t be allowed on commercial flights\u201d. \u00a0My response : People without a freaking clue shouldn\u2019t be let on to the plane either. Please pack your ignorance into your carry-on only luggage and stay at home.<\/p>\n

While I appreciate that there are selfish parents who do little to nothing to control their kids, there are some of us who try their absolute hardest to make the flight bearable for those around us. We pack all the right equipment (toys, snacks, juice, books, iPad), we painstakingly time the flights (so they don\u2019t go over any nap or meal times) and we spend the hours you spend leisurely sipping on your wine trying to constantly entertain our little ones, so that they don\u2019t irritate anyone else.<\/p>\n

We apologise profusely to the lady in front of us who gets the hair clip grabbed out of her hair, and to the man with the shiny gold watch next to us who keeps having it pawed by grubby little fingers. We don\u2019t have time to go to the loo. We don\u2019t have time to order a drink (for fear of it getting spilled), and we never ever relax. And while I know it was our choice to bring children into the world, this doesn\u2019t mean that we chose never to leave the house. So please, let us go on holiday and fly without your judgement.<\/p>\n

The other thing I never realised before having children was How Much Stuff They Have. When going on holiday with a small child, you need, at a very basic level, to take along three huge pieces of equipment (camp cot, pram and car seat), as well as multiple changes of tiny clothes, a suitcase full of nappies and various favourite stuffed animals. This leaves about enough space for your toothbrush, some underwear and a clean shirt. Needless to say that you don\u2019t spend your time away looking very groomed or very stylish.<\/p>\n

But while getting to and from the holiday can put you on edge, it\u2019s all worth it in the end. After an exhausting road trip or a hectic flight, your reward is some time away with the people you love. Wherever you\u2019re planning on spending your December break this year, whether it\u2019s home or away, here\u2019s wishing you a safe, special and stress-free holiday.<\/p>\n

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