A seasoned solo traveler may be in for some cognitive dissonance upon attempting a first major trip with a small child. 

1.  Packing. “How to pack for a 12-month old” includes deciding which of the current favorite household items that double as toys should come with, versus stay. You must plot them in 3-d as: x=how essential it is at home, y=physical space it would take up in the luggage, z=probability score of amusement for multiple months aboard. Low scorers: toilet brush (medium-level essential, medium-level amusement but just too much space in the bags. High scorers: toilet bolt cap (arguably very low essential, very high (p) amusement given current trends, and packs up easy! 

2. On leaving behind. Being a mama, for me, has come with a new sense of nostalgia slash acute awareness of the passing of time. Meaning borderline meltdowns looking at the pantry and having a sudden sadness for the yellow lentils that will probably never be eaten. Like “the velveteen rabbit” of dry consumables. 

3.  Travel experience itself. Friends, I will not go into the full detail but…it was intense.  We somehow botched the whole “carry-on” vs “checked” packing plan since it took all our mental capacity just to remember to bring it all, at all. Since diapers were in the checked, baby decided to test out the airport options (plus all her backup outfits) via crazy diarrhea bouts. And coup de grace, puked all over herself and Luke on the final leg of the journey. 

But we made it! Will share first impressions soon. 

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️