Traveling with baggage

Becoming a parent is such a profound change in mindset that many things will never be the same again - eating, sleeping, socialising, working and even traveling.

I am now sitting in my sister's lounge in Australia, thousands of miles from my home. This is the first time I'm visiting my only sibling since she and her family immigrated to Australia two years ago. This is really a rare trip and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to see where my sister lives, works and raises her young family.

While I sit in the lounge at a little past 2pm in the afternoon my boys are opening their eyes and greeting a new day in South Africa. I look at my watch and I wonder if they're curled up on the couch with their cup of chocolate milk yet? Did they sleep well? Do they miss me?

You see, whether you embark on a holiday with kids (and all their paraphernalia) or leave them at home and go solo, you will never travel lightly again as a parent. I may not have a ton of kids stuff in my suitcases, but I am carrying an uncomfortably heavy heart.

I miss them terribly and even more so when they tell me to 'come home mommy'.

Our last skype conversation when a little like:

Harlan: "Come here to me mommy"
Me: "In a few more sleepies baby"
Harlan: "But I already sleepied mommy!"
Malakai: "Come now mommmy!"

Aaaahhhh... crack goes my heart.

The last time I travelled internationally (for work at the time) I didn't have little children in my life, I wasn't a mommy, and I certainly had no idea that it would be quite as hard to leave them at home. A part of me wants to jump on a flight because hugs and kisses via a computer screen is just not cutting it for me or my babies, but another part of me knows that this is a wonderful opportunity and that I must enjoy my sister and my time with her because it may take years before I see her again.

Who knew that travel would be weighed down by so much emotional baggage?

BY Loren Stow