Monday, August 1, 2016

Nothing is impossible!!

They say something’s are impossible; I was always in the mindset that nothing is impossible. But I must admit this was the first thing that scared me since Alessia was born. I was kindly invited to a friends wedding in Portugal. At the time I thought it would be a lovely break and most likely my first time to leave her for a few days. But coming closer to the wedding for a number of reasons we decided to decline the invite, it just wasn’t in our budget and I had also decided there was no way I was going to leave Alessia for four nights. Not that I wouldn’t be happy to leave her, but I knew she wouldn’t be happy. So what most parents do, they put their child’s needs before theirs. But it’s without thinking and there is no bitterness or wish or want to do anything else you just do what you feel is right and for me it wasn’t right to leave her.

 
But where there is a will there is a way and I really did want to go to the wedding and take Alessia with me. I was asked would I to be the photographer for the day, in return for my flights.  So without much thought or consideration, I accept the offer as I do most things. As I’m in the mindset, just do it as every experience is better than no experience. (Well, in most cases). Since Alessia was born, I have been very relaxed and calm about bringing her anywhere really. It just did not phase me. I think she had been to more restaurants, bars, social gatherings than I was in my whole teenage years.  If I am looking after her at home, I might as well look after her while out enjoying myself. It made me feel alive and there was never anything to loose.
This trip was different it was someone else’s special day, their wedding photos and I could in fact ruin that for them if things did not go according to plan. What I have found with babies you can have a rough plan, but there is no definite. So coming closer and closer to the trip, I became more and more nervous. Alessia is amazing, well behaved, fun and social little girl, but she hates to be away from me. She doesn’t sit in buggy’s are highchairs and certainly doesn’t let strangers hold her. So I decided not to think about it and just hope for the best.
 
Looking for accommodation was more challenging than I would have anticipated, many B&B’s didn’t want children (although they obviously had never met mine) hotels were really expensive, I considered a dorm room in a hostel, which was defiantly not one of my smartest ideas.  I wanted to be somewhere central as I was getting in late and near restaurants, so I could go out in the evening but be close to home. We eventually found a perfect guesthouse, so well priced I couldn’t believe it. So off to Lisbon I went with my little travel buddy. When we arrived and he saw Alessia, I was treated with utmost respect. I was upgraded to a bigger bedroom, as he said I would need more room.
We were right in the center of the hustle and bustle it was a perfect location with a perfect atmosphere.
Our first day was amazing, my travel companion was unreal she was happy to do whatever I suggested as long as she got her naps and enjoyed all the same type of food as me so there was no compromising to be done.
We went for breakfast, we played in the sand, and we paddled in the sea and danced to jazz music on the streets. It was incredible, there was so much FREEFUN to be had. We ate in a fantastic Nepalese restaurant, and Alessia enjoyed every minute. We joined the wedding party for drinks and nibbles on the Friday evening where I got to introduce Alessia to everyone she didn’t know and it was a perfect day.
I began to panic again that night about the photos that Alessia may not nap, or that I would miss key moments, if I had to attend to her. I decided that night that I was going to keep her strapped to me in her sling for the day.
That way I didn’t have to worry about her, she could feed when she needed to sleep if she had to and I would give her breaks to run around. After all, we were in this together.
In saying this Alessia is not the type of baby that likes to miss out on the fun and certainly is not that happy to be strapped to me all day long, especially since she had found her new love of running.
On the way to the train I reminded myself how everything else had worked out and it was because I was calm, relaxed and chilled so I took three deep breaths and went back to practicing mindfulness. After all, I was also here to enjoy myself.
 
FREEFUN LISBON
 

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