We leave for our trip on Wednesday afternoon, and I have to admit, I’m feeling a fair amount of trepidation.
I think a lot of it is just about getting everything done in time. The transformation of my daughter’s room ended up being super awesome, but also incredibly time consuming. It took away time for a lot of other things I needed to get done.
As I check things off my list I do feel better. I drafted next year’s PTA calendar, which needed to get done before we return from Colombia. I am half way done translating our house manual to Spanish (our next guests are from Buenos Aires). I’ve even started packing, because I want to be sure everything fits in the smaller carry-ons we’re taking. The more I do, the better I feel, but still, it’s stressful. I’m flying alone to Colombia with my kids. It’s a 15 hour journey. We’ll be there five days before we meet up with my husband (after a second flight). It’s a little terrifying.
But I was reminded that our first AirBnB is not far from the airport — and only requires a $10 cab ride to get to — information that brought down my stress level immensely. Getting there is the first major hurdle, and it sounds like that won’t be too much of an issue. Already I feel better.
Mostly I worry about food – finding things my kids will eat. I know we’ll figure it out, but it’s a big unknown at this point. My son especially just won’t eat things he doesn’t like. The amount of times he’s spit out a mouthful he just can’t bring himself to swallow – and this is of foods he does like! – is more than I can count. I really hope we can find some stuff he will eat there.
The temperatures in Bogotá are much cooler than the coast or Medellín, which is messing with my “pack light” mantra. I’m finding ways to make it work, but the reality is we’ll be a little chilly in Bogotá. It’s also super high, and the kids might get sick, so I’m trying to prepare myself for that possibility. At least I’m not too worried about myself, because I did fine in Denver (and higher than Denver) when I was there for my half marathon, and I ran my first day in Quito and was fine, so I’m assuming I’ll be okay.
Not much else to report, just me, feeling a fair amount of trepidation about this trip.
120 hours until we leave, but who’s counting?
Do you have room to pack snacks for your son? Why is it 15 hours? Is there a long layover?
I’m more worried for food for him during the whole trip. I’ll definitely pack lots of snacks for the flights.
And yes, it’s a long layover. 5hrs to MexicoDF, then five hours in that airport, then 5 hours to Bogota. It was the best flight I could get when I was trying to change my Nicaragua flights over the phone. It’s going to be rough.
I meant pack snacks in your suitcase for the trip. Parents of picky and selective eaters do that all the time.
Every time we go away my son basically only eats French fries. He’s not a great eater at home but on vacation it totally deteriorates. But it’s ok!
I think you will have a great time. Set low expectations! Eat lots of paletas! To me the best part of a family trip is the afternoon ice cream break. (Not sure if this is a universal part of family travel but I come from a family of ice cream lovers and continue that on).
It will be good your husband will be there for the snorkeling. It would be hard to adequately supervise two kids snorkeling.
You are far, far braver than I! I would never consider taking my sons with me alone to a foreign country; the number of challenges would simply be too daunting to me. (Or course, this is coming from someone who didn’t even take her sons on vacation in the U.S. — with the exception of short-ish trips to visit family — until they were 4. 🙂 )
I hope all goes well and you have a great time.
I’m so excited for you!!!!
Thrilled for you all and proud of you! Glad you are checking things off the lists. think one sweater and one rainproof light jacket per kid. They can wear them everyday and your kids are acclimated to SF summers.
HYDRATION HUGE for all of you in high altitudes. Then more hydration. Lots of hydration, and not needing to move really fast.
You will rock this and sometimes it will not be easy but that makes a team because you will celebrate your wins together. Do not forget the old “Hardest thing today” and “Best thing today” and “Biggest surprise today” by each traveler written down for posterity and your memories.
Hurrah re the PTA achievement!
I’d think it strange if you *weren’t* at all worried about your trip… seems reasonable to me! But I’m super exited for you and your family and I’m glad you seem to be taking things one step at a time… just get to your first AirBNB and then you can breathe and have some fun. Can you pretend your departure is earlier by a day or two and try to be packed except for a small list of items you’ll need the last couple days at home? I always find that helps with my travel anxieties bc it allows time to remember something you may have forgotten or take out something you realize you don’t need.
Best of luck with your final preparations and the journey! Also, CONGRATS on making a dream come true!
Sending so many good thoughts. You can do this. You will all pull together to make it work.
One thing we did this last trip was each person brought their own jar of peanut butter and a spoon. If you got hungry, have a scoop of peanut butter because at least the protein will hold you over if all you can find to eat is bread or junk food. It helped a lot, and the kids liked cleaning and prepping their spoon for the next day, feeling large and in-charge of that aspect of travel. We also packed z-bars. The food thing is hard because it affects behaviour, sleep, etc.
Peanut butter is a good idea. When we went away last summer the hardest parts were the hours after my then 3 year old would refuse to eat at a meal. I realized I should have brought more snacks. We ran out after a few days
It will be great! I have so many fantastic memories of trips abroad with my kids starting a couple of years ago when they were 6 and 7. It’s definitely hard in the moment, but looking back — wow. In fact we’re abroad now and having an amazing time.
One thing about food that I didn’t say in text – I was also terrified about this in Madrid and then Paris, and I was SO pleasantly surprised by how many new foods the kids tried. I think they were just in such a different environment that they were out of their normal stubbornness when it came to food. I hope the same for you!