How to get there?

[la79al]

We are having the fly versus drive discussion in our house right now and I need some outside perspective. It will be DH and I (5 months pregnant), DSS (13), DSD (2 weeks away from 9) and DD (a week away from 2). We are driving from PA so about 17ish hours. We did the drive when the older kids were 6 and 10 and that was no problem at all. We also did the drive with DD when she was 10 months old and did most of our driving at night so that wasn't too bad either.

Plan A--DH works til lunchtime Friday, we pick the kids up from school, head to FL, driving straight through. We stop at his sisters house in the morning for a short visit, naps, lunch and then head to DW arriving around 1. The next Saturday, we pack up our stuff, grab some breakfast and head home, driving straight through and getting home probably really early Sunday.

Plan B--DH works a half or whole day on Friday, we get the kids after school, leave Saturday morning around 6 for the airport, fly to MCO (I think we have a 45 minute layover but no plane change), arrive at MCO around 1. The next Saturday our flight home would not leave until 8ish, we would be home by midnight.

The problem is that flying will cost about $500 more than driving. I'm not worried about not being able to pack enough as we each (not DD) get 2 pieces of checked luggage. We are getting DDP and have learned from experience that even if we pack snacks, we won't eat them. At this point DH is on board with flying but I feel like I pressured him into it and we have other things we should be using that money for. I'm trying to create an objective argument, but I feel like I am arguing with myself because I feel guilty. I just don't know how much help I am going to be with driving since I will also be responsible for DD as soon as we get there (since she doesn't understand the concept of 'please be quiet so mommy and daddy can take a nap since we just drove all night') and then exhausted from hanging out with her all week just in time for the drive home. I'm also a little nervous about having DD in the car that long (especially since most of our return trip will be during the day, this kid will not nap more than 2 hours, even when exhausted). So help me either A) feel less guilty about saying Yay we're flying or B) feel better about driving 17+ hours each way so we get to see the mouse. TIA

 

[mickeymaker2003]

What does your OB have to say about a 17 hour one way car ride? I'm sure mine would have said I had to stop frequently to walk around and it would turn your 17 hour trip into a much longer endeavor.

We are driving about the same distance in September (straight through).

 

[katied]

I would recommend you fly. DS is almost 3, and we routinely drive between Minneapolis and Chicago (about 7 - 8 hrs). Sometimes it's OK - normally when we drive at night, but sometimes it's a complete nightmere (even during the night). It can be really hard, because DS does not want to be in the car that long, nor in his car seat. Even when we've had Grandma with to sit next to him and entertain him, we still may have hours of whining/crying. Then, when we get to the other end, DH will nap, I'll be exhausted, and DS will want to be entertained (and I'm 20 weeks pregnant myself now).

BTW - my OB does want us to stop even hr or so and have me walk around (we stretch this to every 2 hrs, but still - it does extend the trip)

So - flying is so much more sane, and worth the money if you can afford it.

Save driving for when the youngest is a bit older, and can manage it better.