Summer School Dropout Ep. 2: Planes, Delays, and Jet Lag

Let me just start by saying we survived the longest leg of our journey—cue the applause! Our Southwest flight took us from SJC to PHX, then MDW, and finally DET (although we were promised a smooth ride from Midway to Detroit without any plane changes—ha, yeah right!). Thank you Travel Gods, you have such a sense of humor.

Now, the PHX-MDW stretch was a real test of our parenting prowess. We're talking three hours of restless kids, with Axl refusing to nap and transforming into a cranky little (I can’t say the word). Meanwhile, Ace wanted to give a personal welcome to everyone on board by touching their heads and shaking their seats. To make matters worse, yours truly forgot to re-download our offline content on the iPad, so we were at the mercy of Southwest's spotty entertainment. First world problems, I know. I had to get creative—sticker books saved the day, ok not really but it did work for about 15 minutes.

Finally, we arrived at MDW, where we were not supposed to deplane (the main reason I booked this flight), only to find out that the airport had different plans for us. So, there I was, acting as a one-person luggage convoy, carrying all the carry-on bags while Ashton managed Ace. One of the flight attendants said, “You look like a sherpa”. I gave her the side-eye and smiled. We embarked on our mini-trek across the airport, with Axl dramatically dropping to the ground every five feet, complaining about being tired and hungry.

Trust me, I felt the stares from passersby, those knowing looks that say, "I've been there" or "That's why we decided not to have kids!" We eventually reached our gate, only to discover that our flight was delayed for another 45 agonizing minutes. Yay, more waiting! On the bright side, it gave us the chance to scavenge for food. Unfortunately, the options were slim since it was already past 11 PM. Despite my heroic efforts of packing a diverse cooler full of snacks, ranging from grilled chicken to gummy bears, the kids needed a proper meal. So, $46 and three mediocre deli wraps later, mission accomplished—our little ones were fed. Now, we wait for boarding. Thankfully, that part went mostly smoothly, and before we knew it, we were soaring through the sky for a whopping 38 minutes. Touchdown! Next stop: luggage and rental car.

Let's talk about those overpriced $6 luggage carts that never seem to be able to carry everything you need. You stack it up and take a few steps just to have something slide off onto the ground. This is made?especially fun when you throw 2 car seats into the mix. Long story short, we realized that it would have been wiser for one of us to head to the shuttle and rental car while the other managed the crew. And as luck would have it, we didn't really end up needing the damn $6 luggage cart (sigh). My previous rental car experiences are usually long and drawn-out affairs. However, thanks to National's Emerald Aisle, I hit the jackpot with a grab-and-go rental option. So, there I stood, faced with a lineup of minivans and a solitary Jeep Grand Cherokee, since there were no mid-sized sedans available (which is what I reserved). It turn out that when choices are limited, you get to pick your ride! Silver lining! We scored a massive upgrade on our rental, which I'm definitely not mad about. And the seats not only heat but they massage, wha???. Where have I been?? we'll be cruising around in style for the next two weeks.

As expected, the kids passed out as soon as they settled into the car. Twenty minutes later, we finally reached our hotel in Detroit—lights out at 2 AM. In a desperate plea to the universe, I silently begged for them to sleep until at least 8 AM (fingers crossed).

NOPE! Cue System of a Down's "Chop Suey" blasting in my head—WAKE UP! WHY DON'T YOU PUT ON A LITTLE... this is the soundtrack to my every morning since having kids. Ace woke up at the ungodly hour of 6:45 AM. Seriously, what the hell?! It's like 3:45 AM back in our time zone. Why??? ?? To keep him occupied and prevent him from waking up the rest of the sleepyheads in our tiny hotel room, I resorted to a rotation of TV and Daniel Tiger on the iPad. It worked like a charm to keep him quiet, but it left me wide awake. Thank goodness for Ashton, who graciously took Ace to the breakfast buffet around 8 AM so Axl and I could sleep like normal people at this hour.

Ah, the joys of jet lag! It used to be a breeze when I was younger, but now it hits me like a ton of bricks. And let's not forget to mention the poor kids—they're completely clueless about what's going on, resulting in meltdowns out of the blue and a sudden loss of appetite. Fun times, my friends. Nevertheless, we powered through a day of sightseeing in Detroit, although our grand finale at the Motown Museum turned into a sold-out fiasco. Lesson learned: book in advance next time!

Lessons Learned:

1. Always double-check your in-app downloads the night before a flight. Trust me, you don't want to be stuck with intermittent airline entertainment.

2. Pack sandwiches to avoid soggy and overpriced airport wraps. Your taste buds and wallet will thank you.

3. Hold off on buying that seemingly useful $6 luggage cart until you know exactly how far you'll need to drag it. It might just end up being dead weight.

4. Learn from my mistake and make reservations, especially when you only have one day to explore a destination. Don't let missed opportunities rain on your parade.

5. If you're facing a flight of three or more hours, consider bringing some Benadryl for the kiddos. Trust me, a little bit of snooze aid can go a long way.

Wins:

1. I highly recommend signing up for National's Emerald membership, which granted us the luxury of a grab-and-go rental. No time wasted at the rental car kiosk—just pick your ride and hit the road. Winning!

2. Shoutout to the fantastic hotel selection—Fort Pontchartrain, Wyndham—for offering a complimentary continental breakfast. It's the little things that make a difference, right?

3. When your kids are frustrating the hell of of you, grab your phone and record it. It will make for a good laugh later or you can always play it back for your kids so they can see how annoying they were.

So, fellow travel-loving parents and friends there you have it—a day of expected unexpected situations. It's all part of the adventure! Remember, even when things don't go according to plan, laughter and a flexible mindset can turn any travel mishap into a memorable story. Next stop: Saginaw, MI.