keeping it together...trying to that is

I pride myself in being a cool, calm, and collected individual. I do not get stressed very easily. And although I have noticed a new worrying trait since becoming a mother, I still consider myself to be relaxed, for the most part. However, today I was feeling something like this:

You see, I may very well have to travel alone with my almost 3 year old son. And honestly, I'm a bit terrified. Let me provide a visual for you. You see, I live here, on this side of the globe (Saudi Arabia):

And I have to travel here to the other side of the globe (USA):Side note: this is a good 13 hour flight from Riyadh to DC...can we say, LONG?!?

Now this would be all fine and well if it were the normal flight that we take every year. But this year we could not find a confirmation and had to go with a different flight which includes transit. We normally have a straight flight. The scary part is that I'll be making this journey alone with my little guy. The not too bad part is that we'll stop in Dubai where they speak English (I do know enough Arabic to get by if I had to-imagine having to stop in a country where you don't know the language). Also, the stop is only 3 hours (could be a lot worse!).

My problem with stress and worrying is that I tend to hold it in. On the outside I look all composed and "with it", while on the inside my stomach is twisting and turning into a bizillion little knots. On the actual day I won't be able to sleep normally, and forget eating (I've learned that I'm not an emotional eater, I'm an emotional-NONeater, which is not a good thing although it may seem to be).

So I'm doing my normal little talks with myself about how I can do this. I'm a grown-up and this is really not so bad. People have to go through far worse things than this, and are all alone. I should be thankful I get to travel to see my family, I should be thankful I can afford such a trip, I should be thankful I have a little guy to travel with me, I should be thankful I have a hubby even if he can't go, I should be thankful I have my health, I should just be thankful and be a big girl and stop stressing. Everything will be fine. Because on the day I have to travel, I'll have to do what I have to do, and things will fall into place. One day I'll look back at this and say "Remember the time...".

Okay, deep breath in and out....I feel better...at least for now... ;-)

*Images from Fotosearch