It’s been over a year since I’ve been on an airplane. Actually, it’s been almost a year and a half.

A fair bit of life has happened since that trip. I was pregnant at the time and have since had Liam. The pandemic hit. 

It’s been over a year and within a matter of hours we’ll be back on an airplane, but this time, with a toddler.

I’m looking forward to Liam experiencing his first plane ride and also a bit nervous about how he’ll do. 

Beyond that, I’m looking forward to being back in a travel space. I’m talking about the kind of space we exist in as we navigate from one place to another. We experience this regularly with walking between one room and the next, but there’s nothing quite like a long car ride, bus ride, or plane ride.

It’s this unique travel space. 

The journey, the in-between, the no-longer-there-yet-not-yet-there, the transition. 

Something about that space allows my brain to think in a way I normally don’t. It’s like there’s this freedom from the normal and thus, a permission and opening to think deeply. 

While we’ve taken a number of long road trips in the past year, I’m very much looking forward to being back in the plane travel space. Sure, it will undoubtedly be different with our little toddling man, but I’m excited.

How’s your experience with travel spaces been? Tips on flying with a toddler?