I don't know if taking a six-year-old to another country for almost two weeks is a great idea or a terrible one, but here goes. I'm trying to plan everything I can in advance to avoid any last-minute freakouts. First up: packing. My original idea was to pack one big bag for the both of us, so that I could have one hand on the bag and one hand on the child at all times. However, I've rethought this. Now the plan is to pack a carry-on for each of us: no waiting around at the airport, no worries about lost luggage. Besides, if Charlotte is old enough to travel with me, she's old enough to schlep her own bag. Packing for her should pose no problem; she and her stuff are very small. The only hiccup will be what to do about Hippo and Piggie. She sleeps with both of them in a headlock every night, but we won't have the space to pack them both. She's going to have to make a Sophie's choice, and I predict tears and recriminations.