We moved to Heidelberg, Germany for a three-year tour, in the spring following my husband’s year-long 2006 deployment.  A few months later, I was pregnant for the fourth time. I gave birth to our youngest daughter, the following July.  I had stayed close to home in Germany for the last trimester, plus the 4 months it took to receive our daughter’s passport.  (Talk about a long process!) 

Throughout it all, I kept getting the itch to travel, now even with an infant.

Thanksgiving loomed on the horizon. I talked to my husband about my plans. He listened intently and then informed me that he would be in Iraq for the Thanksgiving holiday.  After some terse, ’WHAT?’ and, ’Seriously?’, I realized, once again, if I wanted to travel, it would be me and 4 kids, ages 12, 10, 8, and 4 months.

I was determined to quell my itch. I knew the best mode of transportation to use, for my sanity, was the train-–it’s Europe after all. The first question I asked myself: which city would give me a big bang for my buck?

PARIS, of course! 

When I researched the route from Heidelberg to Paris, I realized it would include a transfer. The only way I could ensure a smooth transition with 4 kids, a stroller, and 5 backpacks was to have the oldest in charge of the stroller and the 10 year old in charge of the baby’s backpack. 

The challenge was, as a gift to myself, I had purchased a fabulous German stroller.  The stroller was incredible on the streets of Heidelberg, but it was too bulky and heavy to handle on a train excursion.

So, I brought my oldest to the local baby store where I had him try-out all the lightweight strollers.  He had to be able to fold it up, lift it above his head, and carry it. 

We practiced this in the store and chose the best one for the job. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse…

Fast forward to Thanksgiving

 Our backpacks were on, the baby was in the stroller, and the tickets/passports were in hand. I gave each kid 20 Euros to cover any trinket they couldn’t live without in Paris. Off we went. We boarded the train and found our seats.  Forty-five minutes in, the transfer stop was approaching.  I told the kids to get ready, put their back packs on. The oldest grabbed the stroller, the ten-year-old held the baby.  We all got off the train.  I counted kids and backpacks.

One backpack was missing–the baby’s! All I could think of was having to search for clothes and diapers in Paris! I ran back on the train, grabbed the pack, and ran off breathing hard!

We transferred to our final train, throwing ourselves into our seats with a big sigh.  When we arrived in Paris, our exit was flawless.

Practice makes perfect!

We walked from the train station to Galeries Layfayette where the kids did a little shopping and saw the glorious upside-down Christmas tree hanging from the ceiling.

From there, we walked to Notre Dame, through the Tuileries and Jardin Clemenceau, to our hotel on the Champs–Elysees. We checked in and went to our room. I had done a lot of research to find the most economical hotel for the five of us. 

I decided to stay in a 2-bedroom hotel room on the Champs–Elysees because the price was only slightly higher than the other hotels close by–It was a gift! A living and dining room, a kitchen, a walk-in closet, and 3 bedrooms. But the most impressive feature of all were the 3 marble balconies overlooking the Champs–Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. 

My oldest turned and said, “Mom, please don’t tell them that they gave us the wrong room.”

I didn’t.  We ate some baguettes and cheese that we had picked up on the way to the hotel, played hide and seek, and at around 10 pm, we headed to the Eiffel Tower. We went straight to the top and took in the view.

Thanksgiving travel accomplished!

As we all know, most military spouses don’t get emotional (at least not for long) when faced with adversity (no soldier to travel with). We immediately go to the solution. We take it one step at a time, knowing there will be hiccups, but we persevere.  We have learned to manage our expectations (this won’t be a romantic trip to Paris) and roll with the punches!

Go find your solution!

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