Salutations, Sapiens,

My family recently completed a 30 hour trek across the world. After a marathon of airport waits, plane seat beds, bumpy bus rides we staggered through the door and passed out straightaway.

It’s been a day or two since the trip and I’ve had time to munch on the experiences we had traveling with a 1-year-old.

It went great, all things considered! She had her moments: two fifteen minute screening spells, but what can you expect from a toddler yanked out of her routine and told to sleep in an uncomfortable chair (no offense, American Airlines) and march around loud, germy airports where she can’t play with or touch almost anything?

Apparently, you can expect two small freakouts and a LOT of smiles, giggles, and funny stares at strangers.

I learned something about children on this trip: they bring out the kindness in most people. I didn’t see a single eye roll or sigh or groan for my baby, and not for a lack of watching! Instead, I saw tired, frustrated, self-conscious, smelly people meet the wandering wondering eyes if my little girl and instantly light up with mischievous fun.

Peek-a-boo, silly waving games, big smiles, and happy greetings flooded her from all sides. She rewarded those people with her smile and laughter. The genuine, trustworthy, kind of smile that only a baby can have. The kind of smile that instantly puts a person at ease and relieves their stress.

There is nothing new under the sun, and no novelty to my experience, even for me, but the magic of it struck me on this trip. As a worn-out dad trying to make a trip as smooth as possible for my wife and child, I couldn’t thank those people enough for their kindness to my family.

That’s all, for now.

Strangers, thanks for being good humans, sometimes!

~M

P.s. You are probably wondering about the cat. Well, that gif is the thing that finally calmed my daughter down during her last for. Poor thing had been up for a good 15 hours with no nap and just couldn’t sleep. In a last-ditch attempt to shut her up and spare our fellow passengers I whipped out the kitty. Worked like magic: she giggled a bit, yawned, climbed up onto my shoulder and passed the fleep out. 🙂 Sometimes it’s better not to question a break like that. I just let it happen.