The moment that sealed the deal...

While we were on the airplane, there was a moment when I thought one of us wouldn't make it back alive. Like I said in my previous post, we had an extra seat. Everything was fine as long as the children were asleep. I even got to eat one meal in complete and utter silence (except for the white noise of the airplane). Both of the kids slept for an extended period of time on the flight. I was happy about that, but a little worried. I didn't know if they would sleep at all once we got home. Adjusting to the time difference can be really challenging. But to my surprise, it wasn't that bad. But I digress.... 
After a really long nap on the plane, the children did wake up. And by the time the next meal was brought around, they were really hungry.
I'm trying to paint the picture of what it is like traveling for nearly 24 hours... Try to imagine this, if you will:

We're sitting in the middle of the airplane... 4 seats in a row, but only 3 people. I'm on one aisle, Brynne is on the other. Then Zerrin, then an empty seat, and then me. It's meal time. So our trays are down, we have food trays in front of us. There is not an extra inch of space anywhere. For some unknown reason, Zerrin decides to smack Brynne. So she starts crying, of course. Then she wants her blanket (of course). I remind you that we are on opposite sides of the aisle, with two seats between us, and food trays in front of us, and I'm the only adult...
Brynne tries to get her blanket out of her back pack (while screaming like a banshee) and she can't get her back pack up with her food tray down. So I move her food tray to the tray table on the empty seat next to me. But her tray table is still down. So she still can't get her back pack up. (She's still crying, and so is Zerrin because I smacked him on the head for smacking Brynne....  (not my finest moment as a parent, I admit. But at this point, we had been traveling for about 17 hours and I was done!) So now, Brynne is trying to get her tray table up, but it won't latch. So I try to help her, but I have a tray table and food (including a drink with no lid) in front of me, and in front of the empty seat next to me, and in front of Zerrin. I am reaching from my side to her side and trying desperately to get her tray table up, or to get her back pack so I can help her get her blanket, but she won't let me have it... she wants to do it herself (of course!) But I cannot for the life of me get her tray table latched up. And I broke a fingernail while trying... (that may have been the straw that broke the camel's back) Meanwhile, everyone around us is just staring at us. Nobody would help. Everyone could see (and hear) that we were struggling). The guy across the aisle could have latched her tray table up a whole lot easier than I could have. So, I lost it...
I started yelling, "Everyone stare at us! Yes, everyone just sit there and stare!"
The kids looked like this:

And I looked like this:

mixed with a little of this:

And also a little bit of this:

And not a single soul would help. I just started crying and wondered how it could get any worse. 

Then, after everyone had (basically) calmed down, the flight attendant came over and asked me if I was okay. 

Really? 

Do I look like I am okay? 

Do I sound like I am OKAY?

I literally yelled at her:

No, I am not okay! 

Then she proceeded to take away my (uneaten) food tray. 

This is not what I need! What I need is more space. What I need is someone to put my daughter's flipping food tray up! What I need is a little bit of compassion for a woman traveling overseas with two small children! What I need is to be home. What I need, is... I don't know what I need. I just need to cry. And I did. For a long time. 

It did get better after that. We had a 5, yes FIVE, hour layover in Tokyo before we could fly to Okinawa. It was miserable. But I think I will spare you the details of it. Suffice it to say that it was in all likelihood the longest day of my life... One that will not be repeated any time soon. 

I WILL NEVER FLY ALONE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AGAIN. EVER!