Warning: Traveling with Twins may Cause Temporary Insanity

I love my boys more than life itself, but traveling with them causes my maternal instincts to fly out the window- along with my patience.

We took a trip with the boys when they were only a month old. And it was much easier back then than it is now.

We recently went on two trips to visit family.

Our first trip was to Colorado to see my Aunt. This was a couple weekends ago. We were so young and naive back then. We thought they would sleep the whole way, and everything would be happy and pleasant. We realized this would not be so.

We were halfway there when the boys started to cry, and I had to pretend to be a contortionist as I climbed to the back seat. I proceeded to make the boys cereal, but I had forgotten the key ingredient: Apple Juice. I tried just water but my sweet toothed boys would not accept. It only upset them further. We then stopped at a lone gas station and purchased some juice, but it was too late. They were hysterical now, and spit out whatever I put into their mouths.

This story ends with a frustrated mommy throwing a cereal soaked burp rag at the window (I guess at least it wasn't out the window. Except now I have to clean the window).

We finally reached our destination. Time for some rest right? Wrong! We fed the boys and put them to bed, or so we thought. We were up all night, tending to each boy, trying to find ways to make them comfortable.

Things got better as the trip went on. We got more sleep, but sleeping in the same room as your kids does not equal rest for you. Every sound they make puts you on edge in hopes that they won't continue and force you to get out of bed. So even if they sleep peacefully, with little calming sighs here and there, you have a very restless night.

As I said, the rest of the trip was fine. Until the drive home. Mommy had performed her contortionist act so many times she'd completely given up and just stayed in the back. The boys still cried.

I made cereal- with Apple Juice- but that didn't help. So we stopped and got water for the bottles. We fed them and I went in to use the bathroom, and to throw away the liners. Well the bathrooms were locked because they are for "Paying Customers only," and, even though we had bought a water bottle there, I saw no one around that could give me a key. I also saw no garbage can, so- me being upset- just threw the liners on the counter. I've always hated that "Paying Customers only" rule!

Well we continued to drive home, but the boys were still not content. They cried the whole way. Halfway down the canyon, I just started to cry myself out of pure frustration. I cried again when we hit a traffic jam on the freeway. Seriously, the only thing that kept me from getting out of the car and walking was the fact that it was dark outside. Otherwise, I think I would have just done it.

Well I recovered and regathered myself, and we took a trip the next weekend to visit Craig's family. This time we left late at night, so the boys would sleep. It went a lot smoother that way. Even though we were exhausted and, once again, had to face the fact that we would be sharing a room with the boys. And, once again, we would not be getting any rest.

Things went alright until I went shopping, by myself, with the boys (it just doesn't work when you don't have a home to go to). I took the boys to Kohls. My big little boy would not sit in his car seat without crying. So I carried him in one hand and pushed his brother with the other. After looking at the baby clothes I decided to search for some new shirts for myself.

This story ends with a half dressed, frustrated mommy whisper screaming in the dressing room as her big little boy lets out that high pitched, loud, scream cry of his. I was trying to tend to both boys while I got dressed, but not while I tried to keep my cool because I had totally lost it. It was then that I noticed that one of our over-the-shoulder baby carriers was in the basket of the stroller. I put my big little boy in this and he finally fell asleep. Had I seen this carrier in the first place everything could have been prevented. I rushed out of the store, and called my sister-in-law to relieve some stress.

The worst thing about traveling with babies is that, when they start to cry, you can't just shut the door and walk away while you recover your energy- and sanity.

I wish we lived in a more trusting world. If we did, and I ever saw a mom, in the same state that I was in, I would offer to help. I still think I'll try. There's nothing worse that being stuck in that position.