travel stress

I love the idea of travel. I love exploring new places and experiencing new things.

However, the stress of getting ready to go on a trip often overwhelms me. Writing out various lists and checking them 42 times is stressful. Trying to pack for 5 people is stressful. Ensuring we have all the necessary chargers for everyone's electronics is stressful. (yes, I know we could leave all that at home, but DH won't do that. And if I leave it to him to pack the chargers they don't get packed. Went through that on our last trip and spent too much money to buy duplicate chargers.) Planning the kids' traveling outfits is stressful. (I want to make sure they wear slip-on shoes since we have to remove shoes to go through security. I also want to make sure their clothes are comfortable since we'll be flying through the night.) Going through the boys' carry-on is stressful. (They want to bring their entire room.) Doublechecking all the little things is stressful. (Is the gate locked? Is the garage door opener disabled? Are the computers turned off? etc. etc. etc.)

Oh, and trying to do this while caring for 3 kids is stressful as well. I wish Lydia would learn to walk soon as my hips are completely out of whack from carrying her non-stop.

Even though we're only gone for a few days, I still feel like I should leave the house spotless. It IS nice to come home to a clean house, but this time I don't know if it's worth the stress at the moment.

The important things are that the boys are completely packed. L is packed. I have 2 more loads of laundry to do for DH & me before I can pack for us. My diaper bag needs to be re-packed and I need to pull out diaper creme, etc. and separate into a quart size bag for airport security.

I really need to let it all go. This trip will be stressful on so many levels that I really want to make the best of it and let my "travel" stress go so that I can better handle the stress of visiting people we haven't seen in 10-11 years. I want to be a supportive wife, not one that needs to be supported. I need to do this for my husband and I need to do it well.

Tomorrow is a new day, thankfully. I can try again!