After an awfully long wait, we’ve finally bought the tickets. We are going home on December 4th. Yippee! We are excited, we are sad …ehm..we don’t know how we feel. Our two year long friendships will be compromised but we have to go. But first, covid PCR test!

While we have dinner, we announce our trip to the younger family members. It’s been over a year since our last flight. The duo seem to have grown a lot wiser and mummy is about to test the hypothesis.

Mummy: So how are you supposed to behave at the airport?

Big Boy: No running around

Mummy: correct. Ma’am do you promise to wear your seatbelt?

Lil missy: Yes mummy, safety first!

I let out a sigh of relief!We fought over this last year. Little missy would wear her seat belt only to release it and stand on the seat during take off. Mummy’s anxiety would kick in and a terrible fight would ensue. Tantrums and tantrums! And just to let you in on a secret- mummy isn’t a huge fan of air travel. Turbulences and tantrums don’t make this type of travel any easier. BUT true to her word, little missy wears her seatbelt and maintains calm all the way back. Boy, has she grown!

December 4th is here. We can’t keep up with the excitement. They can’t even have breakfast. They are out of the house before the shuttle arrives, bidding the neighbors farewell. If you’ve never met these two, be warned! They can talk. Well, the shuttle finally arrives. There are three other passengers. My son sits at the back with two Chinese guys. Before he settles in his seat, he asks them if they know some Chinese phrase he’s learnt on YouTube. It’s gonna be a long journey, the mummy thing in me whispers.

Traveling in covid times isn’t that easy. The airport is quieter than usual. Check-in takes longer, they have to confirm our tests. Unfortunately, some passengers are returned. I feel for them, they’ve probably had their flights cancelled or rescheduled. It is a common occurrence. Nothing is certain anymore.

We are given shields and masks as we board the plane. One more thing for me to supervise arrrggh! Masks are not comfortable for adults too, I cant be hard on them. I am also struggling keeping the mist off my glasses. Reality sets in as the plane takes off. This is it! We are going home. A new reality awaits us. The flight is generally smooth but at one point we are hit by a hell of a turbulence-one I have never experienced. God! We survived Covid in Hungary, surely you wont take us before we see our family, Amen.

My son is super scared. He is seated in the middle and holding tightly to mommy. Little missy has the window seat, oblivious to the danger. She laughs, probably thinks it’s some scene from a cartoon channel. The flight attendant who’s been warning people to tighten their seat belts now bends and slithers his way to his place. Scary, if you ask me- and just at the point I thought I had conquered acrophobia. We are back to a smooth ride and the turbulence is soon forgotten.

We land safely in Doha. Fortunately, we don’t have to wait long. Last year in Dubai, lil missy gave us all a scare. We fell asleep in the waiting area. She woke up and decided to go window shopping alone. My stomach churned. We rounded the airport twice. I sat down in despair. When I raised my eyes, lo and behold, the mischievous girl was walking past. You should’ve seen me grab her. I clung to her. She, on the other hand, fighting to break free and continue with her escapades. This time, I am alert. And we board the next flight, free of drama.