Side Eighteen: Airline Travel

I was in Chicago this week for work. I attended an amazing internal communications conference that filled me with ideas and enthusiasm for my job. It also made me thankful that there are no children to tote around while flying.

My flight home yesterday had several families on board. I think they were coming from a spring break trip somewhere - the little girls had those strings looped in their hair, the moms carried big bags with Mexico emblazoned on the side, and the dads were slightly sunburned. I watched the parents haul the kids and the bags onto the plane, try to settled into the seats and just corral the madness. I popped my iPod in, cracked my book and dove into my own world.

On a weird side note, I am reading "We Need to Talk About Kevin." The part of the book I read on the plane was the mother remembering why she got pregnant (she wanted to see what motherhood felt like, mostly for a lark) and how she felt nothing when her son was born. It was a strange book for me to read right now. Although the possibility of motherhood is slim to nil, I do get the notion now and then to try all our options for parenthood. But then I wonder why would we do that? Isn't our life now, as it is, satisfying for me? My mind spins in circles as I wonder if our life now is good, or good enough, or am I missing out on anything, or am I being selfish, or would I like being a mother, or or or or....

Back to my post...

When the plane landed, I tucked my book away, slung my bag over my shoulder and made my way to customs. I watched these two parents lug three small children off the plane. One was asleep, so the mom was carrying him, the two girls struggled to get backpacks on. One was the distracted child - isn't there always one - who stared out the window while her family left. The mom kept talking to her husband like he was one of the children, and he was getting snippy back. Ick.

Toodle-ooo!

When Husband and I fly, we keep the carry-on to one, we sit in the very back, we have our headphones handy and we thank the goddess that we are travelling sans bebe. I do not envy my sister for travelling long distances with G & E. I do not envy parents who try to corral the chaos on a plane. My chaos is contained to my head right now, as the book I'm reading brings me an identity crisis. Which will pass... it always does when reality settles back to its proper spot.

Side Seventeen: Not Paying Teenagers

Every now and then, Husband and I like to go on a date, like most married couples. We'll go see a movie, maybe go for dinner, a walk or something date-like. These dates are usually spontaneous. If we're feeling extravagant, a night out will cost us about $30. $50, if we go the theatre.

Talking with my friends with children, date night is a different story. The logistical planning that goes into one of their dates rivals the military. Where can they go? How much will it cost? Can we have some wine? Can they get a sitter?

When the moon hits the blogger's eye, like a big pizza pie on a date.

Not only are my friends with kids paying for the movie or dinner or tickets, but they have to add the cost of a sitter. In my day, I didn't charge a lot. I remember getting about ten bucks for an evening. These days? I hear some babysitters have hourly rates. An evening out for parents can cost, what, forty bucks in babysitters alone! (Please correct me, parents, if I'm wrong. Naturally, I'm out of the babysitter-hiring loop.)

Being a childless couple means Husband and I can go out and enjoy an evening without hearing dollar signs chinging for every hour we're out. Our dates cost the price of admission, not paying some teenager. Huzzah!