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Leaving on a Jet Plane

airplane

Kids are funny. And so very different.

When we decided to cancel our Thanksgiving plans, my mom felt bad for my girls who were SO looking forward to the trip, so she offered to fly them to her house for a weekend to visit and see a musical.

The girls had completely different reactions to the scenario. I realize that one is considerably younger than the other, and I know that played into her reaction, but still. The difference in personalities is deafening.

My older daughter (she’s 10 going on 21) was ready to pack her bags. She didn’t have to think twice about it. She never asked about the logistics, how she would navigate the airport, or who would be watching out for her. She didn’t know how it was going to work, but she knew that she was going to be on that plane.

My younger daughter (she’s 8) immediately started to BAWL at the mere mention of the idea.

“Why would I go on a plane alone? Who would be with me? Who would take care of me? Why would you do that?? I don’t want to go without you, Mommyyyyyy!!!”

Of course I assured her that she didn’t have to go. She could stay here with me. Her sister could go alone.

“But I don’t want C to go either!!! I don’t want her to go without you! Why would you send her on a plane?”

And finally, “She could die!”

At that, the four of us burst out laughing while she commenced WAILING.

She was inconsolable. She wouldn’t even let me hug and comfort her, she felt so betrayed.

I finally got her calmed down and explained how I would walk them to the gate and put them on the plane, and a nice stewardess would give them snacks and make sure they had everything they needed, and they would have their iPods to play with and the flight is ONLY AN HOUR, and Grammie would be there to get her off the plane in Virginia.

She asked about 52 questions, many of them repetitive, and when she was finally satisfied that she understood the ins and outs of the scenario, it suddenly began to seem more reasonable to her little analytical mind. The next thing I knew, she was talking in terms of WHEN she and her sister travel on a plane to Grammie’s house.

Her older sister, still completely disinterested in the travel details, only wants to know what she will wear and when they leave.

I’m pretty sure two children could not be any more different.

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5 Responses

  1. How funny! You’d think kids growing up in the same house would be more similar but nope. I have 5 boys and they are all SO different it regularly blows my mind.

    I’m glad they are going to go. What a fun adventure!

    1. Well, as it turns out, only the older one is actually going. I’m afraid the younger wouldn’t leave me at the gate. So she agreed to stay back. But at least now she’s not freaking about her sister going! LOL

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