Hey Chaos Planners! Buckle up, because this mamapreneur just went full-on “National Lampoon’s Vacation” on our Spring Break trip. We’re talking a perfectly planned itinerary involving family time in Maine, a ski week at Smugglers’ Notch in Vermont, and a relaxing flight back to sunny Florida. Except, well, the universe had other plans.
Let’s Set the Scene:
It’s Sunday afternoon, the tail end of our epic adventure. We’re in Maine, about to fly out of Portland, feeling smug about conquering a jam-packed itinerary with five boys under 10. Then, the email hits: Flight cancelled. Cue the collective groan.
Now, normally, I wouldn’t panic. I might even smile inside thinking “ooo extend this vacation!”. But with a tight timeframe to get five little hurricanes back for school, the pressure was on. Luckily, my “Chaos Planner” spirit kicked in. Here’s how we turned potential disaster into a hilarious family story (and, most importantly, made it home that night!):
Lesson #1: Breathe. It’s Just a Bump in the Road
Cancellations happen. Roads get detoured. Sometimes we are just late. It’s all part of the travel adventure, right? Taking a deep breath and reminding myself (and the kids) that this wasn’t the end of the world helped us stay calm and focus on finding potential solutions.
Lesson #2: Embrace the Chaos
As the kids visited with their Mimi and Great Grandmother, Memere, I scrambled to rebook flights out of Manchester, NH, two hours away. Mimi, always willing to jump in, volunteered to drive our car up while we wrangled the boys. Then, of course, Murphy’s Law decided to join the party. The car died on the highway exit to the airport!
Yeah, how do you plan for two disasters in the same trip? You can’t! Instead of melting down, we laughed. Seriously, what are the odds? We piled into Ubers (two trips, because, you know, five kids), called a tow truck, and vowed to make a hilarious family meme out of the whole ordeal.
Lesson #3: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work (Even When the Dream is Slightly Nightmarish)
My partner, the ever-resourceful Papi, took the tow truck driver back to a near by dealership, then made his way to the airport in the same Uber (because, efficiency!). Meanwhile, I wrangled the little travelers through security, channeling my inner drill sergeant with a smile plastered on my face. And Mimi, she got herself a rental car and made the trip back from NH to ME, like nothing ever happened!
The End Result
We made our flight, slightly frazzled but completely intact. And the boys even had time eat some dinner and take a deep breath in the airport before boarding the flight for our final leg home. And even better, the boys still talk about our vacation, mostly forgetting this whole thing because it was but a mere blip in the amazing life we have.
So, the next time travel throws a curveball your way, remember: a solution focused mindset, a positive attitude, and a little teamwork can turn a potential disaster into a hilarious family adventure. Now, excuse me while I go book a massage – this mamapreneur needs some serious relaxation after that wild ride!