Fly as fast as you can with a baby

We were blood nervous. No joke. Just try flying with two four-month-old babies. Planning a military operation with a whole army is nothing compared to this.

We had backpacks and diaper bags and suitcases full. Pacifiers in abundance, enough food for four days, more diapers than they would wear in a week. Eighteen outfits, in case they spit up or pee. Special hammocks to lay them in. I stuffed socks in my pocket, just in case I suddenly needed them. Burp cloths hanging over my shoulders. And then the boys themselves: baby carrier, stroller, extra stroller for Spain, Maxi-Cosis. I've never checked in so much luggage. Many people called us crazy: ‘You're not really going on vacation with your newborns now, are you? After just four months? What do they get out of that?’ Or: ‘Just wait until next summer.' That's what I would do. They're still so small.' Ha, no way, we went anyway. And I recommend it to everyone.. Because you might as well just have done it once, flying with little ones. Yes, it's an undertaking, but it can also turn out just fine. Like with us: they were ultimately the sweetest little guys on the plane. They slept on my lap and on their father's lap. And that went on for the entire three-hour flight. Not a peep. If we heard another child screaming three rows ahead of us, we quickly exchanged smiles. ’It's not us.' Thank God. And I think you can partly make that happen yourself. If you as a parent act relaxed, don't run around stressed, and behave a bit calmly, you radiate that to your children. They learn from you. You are their example. So if you are easygoing about things like a flight to southern Spain, well, then they won't be surprised either. I really believe that. As a mother and father, you largely determine how your children behave. If you sow panic, just know they will feel that and cry faster.

And besides: it's worth the trip. Traveling itself is never really fun. Not by car, not by train, and not by plane. It's waiting, shuffling, standing in line, sitting cramped, and mostly counting down until you arrive. But now I know: especially when you have little ones, it's advisable to just sit through that travel time. Because.

that time in the sun together , with your new family, is something you need. Now I can really 'land' and realize 100 percent: I am a mother. Yes, I've been one for almost five months, I know that, but here I find peace and only then do you as a person and mother allow more feelings in. You think about your whole life. And yes, it's a different vacation than before. We can no longer easily go to a beach club and spend the whole day lounging and falling into bed tipsy and rosy. After, two Coronas at home by the pool, the party is over. Then we start warming bottles, no more opening bottles. That's getting used to, but definitely not bad. Recently I read something very interesting about different phases in your life. A few years ago, I couldn't imagine that I would enjoy staying home with kids, now I can't imagine that I would enjoy standing in a bar until three in the morning drinking vodka-soda red. You go along with those new phases because you want to. You don't want another life anymore. You still think back to it, of course, sometimes with a touch of nostalgia. Because it was carefree, that swaying with friends and staying out as late as your liver allows. But that time is over, and that's good. That was part of my life then. Not anymore. Now my life is being a mother and enjoying that new role, which brings new surprises every day. Spending time with my two boys: I can't imagine anything more beautiful at this moment. And especially with those palm trees in the background, it's enjoying as a family.

So don't let yourself be discouraged by what everyone says or thinks about traveling: everyone always has an opinion. And you can never do it right for everyone. So do what you want and what feels good for you. Would you rather wait a few years to fly with your babies or toddlers or preschoolers? That's fine too. But don't make it a big deal: if I can do it with two babies, you can too. There are still last-minute flights to Spain. Or France. And the sun shines beautifully here. I'm just saying.

Image: I.

nstagram Chiara Ferragniflying with babies