We ordered Edda a new “lightweight” wheelchair this weekend. The one that she has, which is crash tested and has a five-point seat harness, is just too heavy for me to take in and out of the car every time we need it even though I think I’m as strong as I have ever been – it’s just that the wheelchairs get heavier faster than I get stronger. So the heavy one will be just for school where we can wheel it onto the bus and have it secured with tie-downs while our family out-and-about wheelchair will be the lightweight one. The lightweight one is made by Maclaren which was my favorite brand of stroller when the kids were teeny-tiny. I think it has fallen out of favor with the new generation of parents, but it has a special place in my heart. I’m hoping that at 16 pounds, the lightweight stroller will not be such a bear to get in and out of the back of the minivan.
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I was speaking to a friend of mine who has two kids slightly younger than Vince and Edda. We were talking about the mythical third child – how neither of us could imagine having a third baby. Although now at 41, that door is rapidly shutting behind me now. She talked about how she could not image going back to not being able to travel as extensively as they do or waiting for babies to take naps. My traveling days are as hard as they ever were in terms of logistics and struggle – it will never be easy for me.
