Traveling with children

Hong Kong — The family left for Hong Kong last June 24 for a few days in the Fun City + Disneyland in honor of our birthday boy, 3-year-old Noah Inigo. The parents — Allen Arvin & Jennifer Rose (Toledo) Tan, together with nanny Angel Caramihan and little sister, infant Sabrina Noelle — along with me, as the substitute nanny — comprised our celebratory group.

 One damper was that we had to take the flight from NAIA, instead of Mactan-Cebu (requirement for HSBC promo tickets). Hence, we had to take an additional flight to Manila a day earlier and stayed overnight in Manila Peninsula Hotel, to catch our morning flight to Hong Kong. We paid for overweight charges, as our luggage were for international weight limit. And that goes for the flight back — we have to stay overnight at Marriott Resorts World, just to sleep, as our flight from Hong Kong arrives at 8pm. Too late for a Cebu connection! We arranged for a hotel transfer as the children will have been too tired.

While we were waiting in a loooong line at the Manila immigration — carrying our one & a half year-old Sabrina and three-year-old Noah — there was no toilet facility until the pre-departure area! In case a child would want to go to the toilet, or the mother would need to go, what then? And, unlike other international airports around the world, there was no express lane for those with children! We were really in an inconvenient fix while in the immigration at NAIA....something must be done in that area — so embarrassing to foreign travelers!

When children are on the move, the adults must be like Boys Scouts, always ready for any eventuality. For example, children follow meal and sleep/nap schedules like clockwork. If you slip, tantrums ensue. Moreso, if you expose them to hunger. Which was what happened when they went to Ocean Park without me last Saturday. Mommy Jinjin wanted to pack the children’s meals from the hotel, before heading out. Daddy Allen — in a hurry — dismissed the meal prep as unnecessary, thinking there would be lots of restos in Ocean Park. It turned out that there were restos alright, but the queues were daunting and it was already 12 noon. They ended up buying take-out food and stood at the sidewalk eating...or else, the little ones would be well past their meal time.

Another miracle worker is the iPad. When they were eating, or sitting for sometime at airports or inflight, the iPad is the ultimate entertainment center. Good thing I also brought mine along, so the little ones had one each — or another situation would have developed. (Dad’s iphone was a good standby.) It is amazing how young the present generation is exposed to IT gizmos. My Noah accesses the movies he likes or gets involved with games, like “Angry Birds.” That game had him in stitches whenever I committed a boo-boo with my shots. And I am trying to memorize the characters in “Cars” and “Toy Story”; otherwise, I would figure in an argument that would put me all at sea. Children!

The question of sleeping arrangements: I had to sleep with one of them each night, together with Nanny Angel, of course. My bane is that I can’t sleep with any sound, and they sleep with loud music, either napping or at night. Doesn’t matter if the music is instrumental by Chopin, Liszt or Brahms, I really could not sleep! Noah’s selection is even more upbeat for comfort, with singers. I either found myself humming along, or listening to the lyrics. Oh, well!

    What is important is my quality time with the little ones. I have been 100 per cent there for them, no matter at what cost. And when Noah snuggled close to me in the middle of the night, every discomfort vanished!

     Another trait that got really polished was my story telling technique and repertoire...especially if Noah would insist that there would be a rhino and a hippo in the stream by the waterfalls, along with the kangaroo and the gorilla. Never mind, as I would end up being the strange one, had I insisted that these animals don’t live together in a forest. The focused astonishment, the half-open mouth and the round wondering eyes mattered most, as my story unfolded.

Lastly, poise and tidiness went out the window when accompanying little ones. I had to change twice, when chocolate smears decorated my white blouse, and I went to breakfast without a trace of make-up, as we were in a hurry to catch up with the event of the day. I was humming Brahms’ “Lullabye” in the midst of all kinds of people milling around, while Sabrina slept in her stroller. I wondered how I looked to those passing by, as I was humming loudly to overpower the clanging of the dirty dishes at the clean-up station nearby.

 What charming situations you would find yourself in when on the go with tykes. As we were waiting for our food in a Chinese restaurant, there was a loud clattering sound in the pantry. We were all startled, as Noah in his stroller simultaneously said out loud: “OMG, loud noise!” (Saying the name of God in vain is forbidden in the house.) Then in the hotel room, he was pulling his mommy’s hair, saying: “Mommy I am giving you a heart attack.” Where, oh where do they pick up such words?

Travelling with children demands patience, loads of affection, chunks of creativity and a stamina overload. I don’t know how many times I had to bolt after Noah, when he would run away from us, or race with the strollers to keep the little ones squealing with delight. They are only this age once...and I am so glad I can participate in their magical childhood, hoping to make memories that last another generation’s lifetime.

So, I strongly suggest you travel with children — it’s exhilarating, adventure-filled, funny and surprisingly refreshing...but be prepared to be totally exhausted at the end of each day. No regrets, I guarantee!

Travel safely!