Coping With Stress..

How do you do it? What are the silly and illogical things that you do when you're stressed out? I can't be the only one who acts this way!

So we're supposed to get on an airplane tomorrow morning at 7 AM. Yes...7 AM...all six of us. That means we should be to the airport at least by 6. That means we should wake up by about 5. Of course, we'll have to be all packed and ready to go by then since there will be absolutely no electrical impulses running through my brain at that ungodly hour.

I have a million and one things to do. I have packing to do. I have house cleaning to do. I have mental preparation to do. So how's all this going?

Yeah...um...I'm in my jammies and I'm eating chocolate. If Thomas had slept a little longer for his nap, I was headed back to bed. This is what I do when I have too much to do...nothing.

It's not so much the getting ready for the trip that's making me anxious. I think it's the actual travel with 4 kids that's doing it. I think when I gave birth for the 4th time, there was some sort of genetically programmed switch that flipped in my body -it makes it so I never want to leave the house. Ever. Again. At least not with all 4 kids and our 15 suitcases.

Actually, we're having to try and squeeze a weeks worth of stuff for 6 people into 3 suitcases since we can't really fit more than that in the car! Maybe that's what's making my brain go *BLIP*.

Oh my. What have we done?

And to be on an airplane with all these little creatures we've created?! An energetic 6 year old. An even more energetic 5 year old. A very grumpy, with a cold, and energetic in her own right 2 year old. And a 6 month old who has never flown. What about naps? Who will barf on me this time (it was the 2 year old last trip). Will Thomas have problems with his ears? Will the kids bicker the whole time? Can you legally and safely give 4 young children very large doses of Dramamine?

You know those sci-fi movies where the space travelers are traveling for such long distances, that they basically have to go into a drug induced coma for years while they travel? They have to do that because they can't pack all the supplies they'd need for a trip that long. Or maybe it has something to do with traveling at the speed of light, and the strange physical effects it would have on the travelers? I don't know. All I know is that I want some...I want some of that drug...I want that little traveling pod they sleep in. Then they wake up all refreshed at their destination a kazillion miles away.

Or better yet..beam me! "Beam me to Wisconsin, Scotty!"

United Airlines offers those services, right? Oh wait...never mind...United doesn't offer that...they offer small seats...$5 bags of peanuts...bag restrictions...delays. That's right. I remember now. Where's my chocolate?

It's worth it, though. Somewhere in the back of my brain, I'm really...really...excited! I'm looking forward to being at my parents' house. I'm looking forward to a change of scene. I'm looking forward to the fun stuff we have planned. I'm looking forward to spending good time with my hubby. I'm looking forward to this vacation! So what's my problem?

Maybe after a shower, some nachos for lunch, and a very strong gin and tonic for dessert I'll figure it out and get some packing done.