Posts Tagged ‘flying’

Up, Up, and Away

Monday, April 12th, 2010

I recently experienced a pleasure that I had dreaded for MONTHS: Brady’s first airplane ride. We had a two-hour drive to the airport; security wasn’t that bad, Brady got the window seat, and all was well. I had done my research and packed lollipops to help his ears not pop during take-off and landing, I purchased an inexpensive DVD player and headset, a few travel games, and sticker books. It was about a four-hour flight, so I was quite worried!

Watching the airplane experience through the eyes of a child was like taking my own first flight again. Everything was “Mama, what is that machine?” “Mama, why is that walkway moving?” and “Wow, Mama look, the cars look like my little matchbox cars.” As we were preparing to leave the gate, Brady announced to everyone that HE was flying in an airplane. During take-off his eyes lit up as he watched the ground getting smaller and smaller and smaller. As we passed through the clouds he was amazed that he was looking down at the clouds. Although I had been dreading the experience, it did turn out to be rather entertaining.

About 90-minutes into the flight, Brady announced that he was ready to go back down to the ground. He thought we were now in Texas, I told him sorry – we had a while to fly still. I asked him if he wanted to watch one of his DVDs, Brady stood up and announced that it was time to relax and watch a movie (he announced it really loudly). So everyone around him was giggling.

Next, he had to go to the bathroom and loudly announced that to everyone also. We were on our way to a convention for work, and people saw us for days later and would always ask, “where is that Brady?” So our first flight was very memorable for me, Brady, and those sitting around us! He really was very good and so excited.

It is funny the gift we are given as parents: reliving the “firsts” of our lives. I remember being so excited the first time Brady took a step, the first time he peed on the potty, the first time he peddled his bike, and now the first time he rode a plane. He pointed things out to me, that as an adult, I would never have noticed. Sometimes it takes children to point out the “really” important stuff. Adults get so busy, sometimes we forget to take pleasures in the simple gifts of life.