Holiday Travel Cheer

Tomorrow my children and I are going to Atlanta for the holidays (my husband couldn't go). We are spending our time with family. I should be excited, and it should be amzaing. But I am on the edge of panic.

I have 3 kids, two with "special needs".  I'll just say it, my kids have issues! And of course, they don't have the same issues, they have a myriad of different issues. They are excited to go; can't wait in fact. And I wish I can share their enthusiasm. It's the thought of getting there that is causing me the problem.

My oldest child has a variety of medical issues that make it so we have to travel with more medical equipment and medicine than luggage. Only, I'm afraid to check his medical equipment, for fear if it gets lost I can end up losing him. I'm scared they're going to make me open things and I'll forget something (hopefully not one of the kids) important at the checkpoint. But I look at my son, who is so excited to see his beloved aunts, uncles and Nana, and I can't deny him his family in addition to his health.

To make matters a bit scarier at the airport, my second son, who has developmental issues, could quietly wander off in all of the chaos. Or he might want to go to the bathroom a bunch of times by himself. The Airport Bathroom.  But he has counted down the days since we said were going, and every morning asks me if today is the day we are going to Atlanta.

I got very excited last night when I read on the news that there is now a TSA helpline. I got really relieved for a second, thinking I can call them, explain the disabilities, and somehow it would make the screening easier. Dreams of a concierge check through came to mind! However, this is not the case. It's just a helpline to tell you what to expect at the airport from TSA and during the screening process.

I wish I could tell them what to expect from us! That my older child has to take off his cochlear implants and get patted down so he doesn't set the machine off or scramble his hearing. This means he can't hear while we are at the checkpoint. Meanwhile, my middle child (who can hear yet doesn’t listen) may not respond if you tell him to wait a second before walking through.  Inevitably the TSA agent will yell at him, or rush me through so that I'm in a sweat. And my "typical" daughter will be instigating a fight with her brothers this entire time (which I have to smile about because it is so normal). And they will fight back.

So maybe this year, when you are at the airport, instead of walking around angry, dazed and confused, you could give a smile of encouragement to someone who may want to be with those they love, but dreads the journey to get there. And even more, wants to give her bright eyed, happy kids a memorable vacation with all of their cousins. It's not their fault they have issues. I mean, when it comes down to it, aren't I the one with the traveling issue?