So Addison has officially been on more than 40 flights in her lifetime.  40 flights in 22 months.  Part of me feels bad for her that she has been uprooted so many times that she has flown more than some adults, but she LOVES it.  She talks about the “pane” for two days before the flight every single time and whenever she sees an airplane in the sky she flaps her arms and says, “fwy! fwy!” I’m glad that she thinks traveling is fun, and she has really learned how to behave.  This last flight I asked her why she shouldn’t kick the seat in front of her and she pointed to the man in the seat and said, “Guy.”  She is so smart!

But the thing that’s really on my mind right now is the often unmentioned part of travel: the guilt trip.  Every once in a while it hits me that our bohemian lifestyle may not always be beneficial to Addie.  One of these days we are going to be functioning members of normal society…you know, like the majority of America?  The kids surrounding Addie will have probably lived VERY different lives than my little Goose.  Her detailed knowledge of airport security or understanding of how to behave in a restaurant isn’t going to do her any good when she’s face to face with twelve other toddlers.

It really hits me how different our life is at home when we are transplanted into a “normal” schedule (aka my parents house).  When we’re at home, Chris, Addie and I do the same thing everyday:  Chris wakes up with Addie in the morning and they play until I wake up.  When I come downstairs Addie yells “MAMA!” and runs into my arms. She then decides she’s hungry and I fix her some breakfast.  Then we all play for a couple of hours until Addie Goose is ready for a nap.  While she’s sleeping Chris and I get things done around the house, sometimes we just sit and hang out together, sometimes we actually work!  When Addie wakes up we go out to lunch, most of the time we go to Noodles & Co., Sweet Tomatoes, Atlanta Bread Co., Panera or Ruby Tuesday (all places that Addie will actually eat something.)  Then we run a couple of errands then come home and play until dinner time.  And most of the time, surprise surprise, we go out for dinner…although lately we have been having dinner at home.  Pretty riveting right?  We have SUCH a different lifestyle from everyone else we know that sometimes it can be hard to adjust when we need to function on any kind of schedule.  My family in Colorado is about as accommodating as ANYONE could ever be when two people (one being a picky two year old) invade their home.  But I can’t make them eat at Noodles & Co. every time Addie refuses to eat.  I can’t change everyone’s plans because Addie is kinda fussy and something else would suit her better.  Its just not the way the real world works.  And I feel bad about that when it comes to my daughter.  I want to turn the world upside down to make her happy…but I guess we both have to get used to the world being right side up.

I know that Christopher, Addie and I (and someday baby numero dos) could live happily just the way we do right now…if we could stay in our little bohemian bubble.  But Addie will be in preschool soon and we have to let her learn how to act around other kids.  Sure, she’s pretty much NEVER been sick and I credit a lot of that to keeping her out of daycare and nurseries etc, but she has missed out on a lot more than germs.  She LOVES being around other kids whenever she can.  Interacting with people her own size is a rare treat for my tiny adult.  And that is my fault.  But I don’t need to put her in daycare, both her parents are home with her everyday.  Is there a toss-up between interacting with other kids and playing with Mommy AND Daddy every single day? I don’t know.  She gets a lot of love and attention that most other kids don’t get … but those other kids know how to share!

No one else sends me on these long guilt trips that require some serious luggage. It’s just me.  I’m always second guessing myself and rethinking my decisions.  I don’t think those are bad things — its how I learn and adjust in this role of PARENT.

So, we’re just going to keep on doing what we do until we have to change.  We are very blessed to live this way, on our own terms surrounded by our very favorite people.  The three of us are a little island in the sea of normal society…but we sure are having a nice time here.