We’re over halfway to Vienna, and the boys are peacefully sleeping as we cross the Atlantic. For the moment.

This is hard. I have my mom with me to help, and this is incredibly hard.

Getting through security was particularly challenging. We had about a million carryons, B had fallen asleep in the stroller, which had to broken down, our liquids had to be hand checked, and both of the kids were exhausted by the time it got to be our turn. Add to that the fact that I’m used to my usual system with Dan, and it was a significant challenge.

We made it through, though, arrived at the gate just in time for boarding, and were fortunate to have no trouble trading seats so we could sit together. And that’s when the work really started.

The kids are completely worn out, ready to be home and tired of being patient and flexible. (So are the grown ups.) We’re making it through, but it’s a lot of work. I’m not on my “A” game, when the kids most need me to be.

3 more hours, and we’ll be there.

I’m so grateful to have my mom here with me, and I’m so grateful fur all the work Dan usually does.

All I need to do is remember to enjoy these next 3 hours (and the 3 after that, and the 3 after that …). Because this is not just my adventure, and my kids are working their tails off to be the super star world travelers that they are. (Grandma is too.) I want to keep rising to the occasion, and to their example.

Throughout this visit, I’ve violated one of my own major rules of traveling with kids — I haven’t scheduled enough days of nothing.

I’ve generally found that my kids can “go” — sightseeing, travel, visiting friends, doing anything more substantial than playing at the park — for two days, and then they need a day off. The day off can include playground, tv, movies at “home” (meaning our travel home base), but must also include naps, kid friendly meals at home at normal times, baths, stories, and not having to be anywhere at any particular time.

We pretty much blew that on this trip. Our first week away from Vienna, we only had one day like that, and we waited 9 more days to have another. I actually thought it was working. I thought that we were going to get away with it — that maybe being around so much family was having a restorative effect on the kids that was letting them be “on” for way more of the time.

It didn’t last, though. We’ve had to cancel significant plans at least every other day for the past week. I’m exhausted, the kids are frazzled, and we are all prone to whining and short tempers.

In other words, I stand by my previous assertions — we would have been happier and less stressed if we’d planned a less intense schedule. I’m impressed and grateful that my boys hung in there got as long as they did, and I feel a little guilty that I pushed them so hard.

I love watching the Olympics. I’m amazed by the physical strength, mental fortitude and single-mindedness of the athletes. I’m moved by their stories and inspired by their dedication.

As a mom, it hits me harder. I can barely watch a single competition without tearing up. Every story is the story of someone’s child, drawn to invest so much of their life in the pursuit of a dream, culminating in a single moment. For the victors, for the rest, for all the families, these are poignant times, lived in front of the entire world. It gets to me.

This time, I’m different, though. I’m more a citizen of the world than I ever have been. The world is smaller now, to my mind, than I ever understood it to be before. And, I have two countries to cheer for now (but I think the Austrians are more a force to be reckoned with in the winter).

Benjamin, too, is bigger now. He’s just the right age to be captivated by these Games. He might see something that enthralls him and inspires a lifelong passion of his own.

He’s already told us that he’s sure he’s faster than Usain Bolt, so he’s already got his competitive spirit ready.

So often, I feel like I figure out the right way to do something or have some great epiphany about what my perspective ought to be — right AFTER an experience is over. (My hope is that I eventually start to realize these things while — or even before — they would be useful, as I go through my years of parenting.)

We did petty well with our family beach trip last week — we arrived on Saturday, and we started to figure things out around Thursday.

Partly as an attempt to help others, and partly because I’m hoping it helps me keep these things in mind for the future, I’ve collected some of the things we realized while we were having our fun in the sun.

Gone are the days of going down to the beach first thing in the morning and coming back in time for dinner. We knew the kids wouldn’t make it all day, but we were surprised at how quickly they were worn out and ready to go in. (We only lasted for about 2 hours each day.) We we’re also very surprised that (with one exception) we only got down to the beach once during prime beach hours each day. We’d been planning to do a morning session and an afternoon session (each a couple of hours long) and then maybe head back down to the beach to fly kites or go for a walk each evening. We only went out one afternoon, and only 3 days in the evening.

It’s a long walk down to the water. Longer when you’re carrying a toddler, a preschooler, or both. It’s also longer in the afternoon than in the morning (especially because now the kids are either screaming or half asleep). Take as little as you can manage to get by with for a few hours. The kids aren’t going to last all day, anyway. Rent whatever you can — it is so worth it to not have to worry about another “thing” when you’re carrying a limp, screaming toddler across scorching sand in the heat of the day.

The right stuff is essential. Even though we quickly learned not to bring too much stuff down to the water each day, it’s also important not to sacrifice safety or basic comfort to reduce the load. Bring sunscreen, towels, hats, snacks and water. Bring a few toys. Bring a shirt or coverup for adults and kids if you need extra sun protection. Rent or bring an umbrella or tent. Bring a blanket or towels to sit on. We didn’t use chairs at all, though, and we didn’t each need our own towels. We also didn’t need a great variety of snacks.

Let “nothing” be on the agenda (even if the weather is good). I come from a die hard beach family. All weather (other than lightning) is beach weather. We go to the beach to go sit on the beach — not to shop, sightsee or go to the movies. Every day at the beach that isn’t a monsoon should include time sitting on the sand and playing in the waves. So, it was really hard for me to accept the one day B declared he didn’t want to go to the beach … and we didn’t go. We watched a DVD, played, and rested. It was so weird. But, he needed a break, and, by that evening, both kids were back to full energy and enthusiasm. It was a day well spent.

Don’t let anything get in the way of having a fantastic time. Vacations are supposed to be fun, but they’re also tiring, complicated and stressful (especially with kids). It’s easy to let fussy kids, long days, long nights, cabin fever and messed up schedules turn into to irritation, grumpiness or disappointment. But these are times when memories are made, and it’s so important that we, as parents, don’t let anything take priority over making our vacation a peaceful, pleasant time for the kids — or, at least, being peaceful and pleasant parents.

Go with family. If it is at all conceivably possible, take a vacation with family. Our family helped us so much — with managing the kids, carrying stuff, making meals — all while they were bonding with the kids and sharing great experiences with them. That was the best part of our trip — being all together. And I’m hoping we’ll be able to return all of the favors they did for us if and when my siblings have kids one day, too.