Open post of the week: what's on your mind?

By REBECCA SPARROW

Next time I suggest traveling alone on a plane with two children under the age of four, I hope someone tenderly takes my arm, murmurs soothing words in my ear and gently leads me to an ambulance. Because if I ever agree again to be in charge of two children on a flight it means that I’m incredibly ill. Or drunk.

And so it was that last week I flew in the face of sanity and yet again boarded a flight with Ava (3 yo) and Fin (8 months).  Walking down the aisle of the plane, looking for our seats –  with Fin in the Baby Bjorn and Ava behaving oh, not unlike Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man – the other passengers tried hard not to make eye contact with us.  A bit like frightened hostages. Bless.

So how did it go?  Put it this way, Fin spewed and Ava spent the first 30 minutes with her hands over her ears yelling out, “I DON’T LIKE THE BUMPING!  STOP THE BUMPING!’

Meanwhile I sat there praying the flight attendant understood morse code.  One blink means I want a double vodka. Two blinks means … well, I still want a double vodka.

We survived, of course. Thanks to a few old-fashioned games and a sing-along.

Just joking.

I handed Ava the iPad and closed my eyes while Fin stuck his fingers up my nose for 52 minutes.

Are we there yet?

Thankfully the holiday was utter bliss.  I traveled to Northern NSW to stay with my parents. As soon as I walk in the door of their house, I exhale.  It’s one of my happy places where my spirit uncoils.   Better still, I had the chance to spend time near the ocean.  Drinking tea with my mum.  Reading a tantalising book.  Talking politics with my dad.

Browsing through boutiques ALONE. And – best of all — having long hours sitting around with Mia (who was also on holidays in Byron – I flew up for her birthday so we could have some much-needed time together) when I went to visit her down the road.  Is there anything better than hanging out with a girlfriend just lazing around on couches while you parent your toddlers in tandem and pass each other articles in Vanity Fair to read?

I don’t think there is.  And it was enough to psych me up for the flight back home!

So that’s my week.  Here’s what’s been going on around Mamamia HQ …