Mummascribbles – Mummascribbles meets…Flying With A Baby – Mummascribbles

This week’s Mummascribbles meets is with the lovely Carrie from Flying with a Baby. Thanks so much for taking part Carrie 🙂

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your family
I’ve been married for 7 years to Nick, an Australian ( so it’s always interesting in our house when it’s the rugby World Cup) and we have two daughters, Arabella (4) and Matilda (1)

We met online on My Single Friend and became engaged 6 months later! I had just moved back from Dubai after 12 years away from the UK and most of my friends had settled down, and, well, Nick was casting his net wider! 

We have just recently moved to Wansford, a picturesque village in north Cambridgeshire after 8 years in St Albans due to Nick’s work. Thankfully,  this now means his commute is only 30 mins and he is almost always home for the girls’ bath time. It’s the little things! But I do miss my old friends there,  but as Arabella is starting school in September, I’m sure I’ll make some more. Nick used to live in Stamford when we met, which is a town near Wansford, so luckily there are some lovely people who have been fantastic in helping us settle in. 

What do you like doing to be you, when you are not parenting, working (if you do), or blogging?
This is my bug bear. I feel like I never have time to do anything except parenting. I’m so privileged to have two healthy girls  but I do need to make time for myself too. However knowing that and doing that are two different things as guilt is a huge factor! Blogging is what I like doing as it keeps me in the loop with my old industry. I’m ex cabin crew, and loved the lifestyle. It was perfectly suited for me as single woman. I weirdly love the smell of airports and get a buzz whenever I’m in one still. So travel for me is what I do to relax. Even the journey to the airport excites me! 

When I have more time, I promise myself I will learn to horse ride. It’s never too late is it?

What is your biggest achievement to date?
My two girls. They weren’t easy to have and both via IVF. So we are both very lucky to have them in our lives.

From your own experiences, what do you find the hardest part of parenting and what is the easiest/most rewarding part?
The hardest part is the monotony of some of the days and the whining! The easiest and most rewarding is when you look at them, bursting with love- usually when they are asleep ha! 

Parenting in itself is no mean feat; how do you juggle everything you need to in order to get everything done on a daily basis?
Hahaha, I honestly don’t know and feel like I tread water daily! If someone has the answer please let me know! I was super organised at work, but parenting is a whole other ball game!

Why did you decide to start blogging?
I decided to because I couldn’t find information about flying with a baby or young children all in one place. I was so tired as a new mum, and simply didn’t have the time or the inclination to spend hours pouring over the Internet researching. I knew some of what to expect because of my old job, but I learnt so much through flying solo with Arabella on a twelve hour flight when she was only 11 weeks old and subsequent flights, that I thought I could share this information and help other parents.

Tell me a bit about your blog?
It’s full of tips and information and research on all aspects of flying with young children. I include all the stages from flying when pregnant, to choosing your airline before you book, all the way through to arrival at your destination. I also provide information on holiday destinations. Essentially, a one stop guide all based on experience, research and some insider industry knowledge.

What do you want your blog to achieve and where do you hope to see it go as it grows?
I am expanding into family travel and rebranding my logo as we speak. I would love it to continue to help parents all around the world travelling and holidaying with young children.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about starting a blog?
Do it! I wish I knew more about SEO when I started. I had no idea and only learnt about it properly about 6 months ago- after blogging for 3.5 years! It’s such a game changer and really helps me focus on key words etc so parents can find me. 

If you could have dinner with three people (dead or alive), who would it be and why?

Oooh 1. Vivien Leigh- LOVE her as Scarlett O’Hara and would be awestruck to meet her.

2. My grandmother – she died in 2005 and she always wanted to make my wedding cake. I miss her every day. My eldest has her middle name after her. 

3. JFK – I would love to know who his real killer was and discuss his thoughts about that. 

Tell me three random facts about you

1. I’ve written a book but have yet to edit it. 

2. I can still do a handstand ( badly – I just tried!)

3. I’ve flown commercially as cabin crew, corporately as a private VIP flight attendant and flown a plane in a loop – the -loop

Along with her blog www.flyingwithababy.com, you can also find Carrie over on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.