The Trip, On An iPhone

We've been dreading this for months, maybe years. One of my main parenting fears has always been traveling. I can deal with all sorts of tough parenting problems in the home, but throw my screaming baby on a plane full of strangers and I'm at a loss. I'd prefer to be at home 10 to 1 for most things, but dealing with a baby is more like 1000 to 1.

There were to be 5 flights total. The first was pretty long an the kid did great. Then we got cocky, and each progressive flight was worse than the one before it.

I'm now in the final hour of the final flight. Things got downright hellish at first, but we eventually got him to sleep. Then some more. Now he's lazing on Sarah and he looks like an angel.

A few hours ago I was two screams away from never traveling again. Now I'm being flooded with relief, with sympathy for how much these trips must have been hard for him.

I'm not quite ready to admit it until we're safely off the plane, but this was so hard, and so worth it. Just like being a dad.