Jeanette,
I am a total wreck when it comes to flying.....but I refuse to drive any further than the grocery store. It is a problem. I'm not really afraid of flying so much as it's the length of time in a confined space. I tried to chicken out of our first cruise. I was afraid I'd panic at being "confined". LOL.....I was astounded at the size of the ship!
Anyway, since you have little ones, my remedy won't be of much help. Drugs, and plenty of them. If I didn't, I'd have a major panic attack. Think how embarassing that would be! (Typical female...more worried about embarassing herself!)
If I don't take drugs (either a tranquilizer from the doc, sleeping pill, or pain killer) then I try to insure that I'm in an aisle seat so that I can get up and walk around. People probably think I have a bladder problem, because I go into the bathroom a lot, wash my face, take deep breaths, and talk to myself in the mirror.
(If any one of you guys tries to make fun of me, I'll break all of your wine bottles!!!!)
I make sure that I have a lot of light reading....People magazine, Reader's Digest, tabloids....nothing that takes much concentration. Hand held games like Yahtzee.....
And lots of munchies. Anything to keep myself busy. Definitely practice some deep-breathing techniques.
I don't know, but it seems like when my kids were babies, I didn't have time to think about hating flying. They kept me so busy, the time passed quickly.
Hope this helps.....if you'd like, you can PM me.
Stacey
Better yet...PM Virgil....he's an expert!