In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.
~ Taylor Swift
International travel is a privilege. The vast majority of the world’s population cannot afford to fly abroad.
This week, on a snowy Wednesday morning, we left our daughter's house at 5:40 AM to get to Toronto International Airport.
We hadn't been out of the country since March 2020.
Our excitement about joining our daughter and her family on their vacation to Playa Del Carmen was palpable. It is our granddaughter's first international trip. She is six months old.
After boarding the plane, we sat at the gate for a few hours due to de-icing issues.
Sometime after 11:00 AM, the pilot apologetically announced that they had not yet repaired the problem. We had to exit the plane.
Fortunately, we flew out safely at 3:00 PM to arrive at our hotel room at around 10:00 that evening.
Travelling with a baby can be difficult. But, even under the less-than-ideal circumstances, our granddaughter was delightful. She captured the hearts of many.
Although mom had packed toys, she was content to play with the plasticized flight instructions for hours - at times shrieking with glee.
We played pass-the-baby when either she or one of us got tired.
Take-off and descent went well. Our daughter nursed to prevent ear discomfort.
Some think travelling to Mexico with a six-month-old is ill-advised. Our bodies learn to recognize microbes from the environment we are born into and are more susceptible to illness when exposed to foreign microbes.
We believe that exposure equals adaptation. So although we are being cautious with hygiene, we are not obsessive.
To date, our granddaughter has not been ill. And, despite having one new tooth and another quickly emerging, she has never needed pain medication. We are not opposed to using medical drugs if need be. But, so far, tender loving care has healed all.
Closing thoughts
Circumstance does not make the [person]; it reveals [them].
~ James Allen
The inconvenience of a delayed flight was a challenge. It presented an opportunity to learn and teach patience and rather than cast blame treat people with respect.
The passengers seemed to handle it with grace.
Being served by the staff at our resort is a luxury many cannot afford. We show genuine appreciation, modelling good behaviour for our impressionable granddaughter.
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