We are planning to travel to my hometown with 2.5 months old baby. It will involve air travel where my husband and I have to manage the baby, 1 month worth of luggage. You might think one month of luggage for minimalists like us won’t be much and I agree. The problem is that our baby is not a minimalist, rather I would call her a maximalist. She needs bunch of clothes everyday and her mother being a Sustainbility enthusiast has increased her clothes. Where some people may manage by 4-5 diapers and can buy those anywhere, this baby needs 20-30 langots which are to be carried along. She needs a bather, feeding pillow, changing mat, toys etc. Again, mumma needs all of this for the baby to make her life on her terms. So it’s not exactly baby’s fault that she is a maximalist.
Anyway, the luggage is quite significant with all of this and baby’s Baba is worried that we might not be able to manage both the baby and luggage during air travel. Mumma thinks that it won’t be a big concern and they have to come to consensus. Baba’s point is that the cognitive overload with the baby may make things difficult. We have to look after the baby the whole time which is a priority, babies are unpredictable. Then there’s check-in luggage and cabin baggage will also be higher with laptop & baby’s essentials (which are many). Amidst of all this if someone asks for ticket, ID card or something else, our hands and brain may not be free and it might make things tough. To all of this, I was my usual self thinking he is worrying too much and we will be able to manage. How? Somehow…
Last week we went out for breakfast. Our favourite coffee shop is just in front of breakfast place, so we decided to have coffee as well. My husband suggested that I sit inside car with the baby and he would bring coffee to the car, but I was sure that I can manage with the baby. So we crossed the road and went towards coffee shop. Then, there was an ‘easy to miss’ step near coffee shop and my downward visibility was limited as I was holding the baby. So my husband turned around to check whether I am able to see the step and he tried giving me a hand. In all of this, his foot dashed a sleeping dog which got up suddenly and bit his knee as a reflex. Fortunately, dog was old so the wound was shallow but it warranted doctor checkup as a preventive measure. He had to rush to the hospital to get it checked by doctor. Doctor prescribed four Rabies injections dose to be safe.
In the evening, he said, “that’s what I mean by cognitive overload and risk associated with it”.
I understand it now…
Rather I should say I understand ‘him’ now!
ecodhara 