Interview with Dana Bachar Grossman

Interview with Dana Bachar Grossman

1: What inspired you to write this book?

A few months ago, I flew solo back to Singapore from Fiji. I had no kids tagging along and I felt so free. Overexcited with my temporary freedom, I checked in all my belongings happily declaring myself in the "no kids- no luggage" zone. An hour into the flight I wished I hadn't done so. I had forgotten to carry my journal with me and that really made me feel overwhelmed. Ideas came pouring inside my head and there was not even a piece of paper where I could pen down my thoughts. I had all my flights memories, tips, ideas and experiences flying in my brain, and had nothing to put it all in writing. I collected the vomit bags and wrote the whole book down. I realized that the book came to me for a reason. I needed to spread the word for all parents around the globe who dared to travel with their kids regardless of their age to travel with you, experience the world and its beauty. And more importantly- as I feel the whole book came to me to be the messenger, it has a bigger cause, a bigger mission...I've committed to dedicate part of its profits towards our charity with less privileged children in Nepal and Israel, supporting their basic needs for education, shelter, supply and self respect. We have a mission to build a boarding school in Pokhara in 3 years, to allow the teenagers up in the Himalaya to have the education and break out of the vicious poverty cycle that engulfs their lives.

2: Please share the hardest flight you have taken and why was it hard?

The hardest flight I had with my kids was 3 years ago from Singapore to Israel, via Turkey. We had our 4 boys with us, and our 4th one was 16 months old at that time, a very active and a loud baby. It was a midnight flight, and the boys were super tired but waited patiently to be seated. Our youngest one coped well but lost it completely once onboard. He cried, screamed and looked like he is about to explode! As luck played, we were delayed on the track and couldn't he couldn't stand it. He screamed his head off for 45 minutes! I could feel the hate looks I was receiving and the negative energy growing around us. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me! I prayed so hard to any god available just to save me and the little one. My youngest finally fell asleep when my husband was allowed to stand up. Then as he slept everyone around us became quiet. I think they were afraid to wake my little one up. This was the most quite flight ever as no one made a sound. No duty-free items were sold... silence! We were exhausted and landed looking like real survivors.. but we made it :)

3: What are the three most important things one needs to pack to fly peacefully with little ones?

Extra clothes for the kids and yourself- just to be prepared for any 'situation' we might face. For e.g. spilling drinks or food, vomit, diarrhea, feeling cold or hot, missing "pee patrol" timing...)

extra diapers- "1 HOUR 1 DIAPER" rule... with a minimum of 5 diapers for short distance flights

pain killers or medicines. There is nothing more frustrating than having your little one suffer from pain and you can do nothing about it... breaking teeth, fever, ear pain, etc. Also, don't forget to add their favorite snacks/ food/ battle feed to avoid ear pressure during take off and landing and avoid grumpiness that impacts everyone in the family and the aircraft.

4: Who are you favorite authors and why?

Michael Singer - as he is a living example for surrounding to the life force and I have more to learn and be proactive in this super important area. His writing is so clear- authentic- and easy to digest and implement. A true spiritual journey to become my better self.

Brene Brown- straight to the point advise for wholehearted parenting and being. clear and powerful example, ideas and values to live by.

Meir Shalev- a flavor of my home country, he writes in a way that I can see and imagine the story happening in front of me. He describes the scene amazingly. There is always authentic details, history and a lot of hope. a positive element to teaching me a lesson about life, about solidarity. About family and most important- a heritage of my past that leads to my present and will help me to shape my future.

Clive Cussler- I love the tension, the full-on details and the feel of excitement. It was my favorite author in my young adult life. The pure joy of being swallowed into the story...

5: What is the next project you are working on?

The next project is children's books :) I'm writing books about the values I live by, my core beliefs that I would love to share with other parents and their kids, and our commitment to building the boarding school in Nepal in Pokhara in the next 3 years. I'm working on a collaboration to raise the funds needed for this project and an ongoing scholarship to sponsor all the young students to attend this school.

Name of the book: Fight or Flight?

Introduced by: Dana Bachar Grossman

Genre: Self Help

Release Date: May 26, 2019

Blurb

Flying with or around kids can be either easy going or a flight from hell.

There are some things you can do to have a flight in your favor!

Twelve years of parenting and flying around the globe with my four boys are humbly presented to you to help you make the best of your flying experience, whether you fly with your own children or find yourself surrounded by someone else’s kids on board.

Have you ever stood in line for boarding carrying your crying child in your arms, feeling the other passengers wishing you would both miraculously disappear?

Perhaps you have felt sorry for yourself during a flight?

Maybe you have landed looking like you just came out of a washing machine after flying with your kids, as one of them had diarrhea the whole flight?

Have you ever pretended your 18 month-old baby was only 9 kg (19 lbs.) just to get the desired baby bassinet, regardless of all the safety recommendations?

Did you ever get “the look” from an angry business class passenger because your kids couldn’t keep it quiet in economy class just behind him or her?

What about the seemingly “forever flight” where a baby kept crying the entire trip and you wished you could kick him or her out of the emergency exit?

Have you ever had to sit the whole flight on a wet seat because your precious toddler peed in theirs and wanted to swap with you for a dry one?

Nod your head if you have ever used the airplane’s tiny toilets while still carrying your baby in the carrier?

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had your kid boarding a different flight by mistake?

Have you ever thought that it’s only your kids who lose it during flights?

Nod your head if you’ve seen a parent with their children and wished secretly that they were not on your flight.

If any of these scenarios ring a bell or come close, this guide book is for you!

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KNOW ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dana Bachar Grossman is a bestselling author, a public speaker and an expat mom of four international boys who has traveled to five continents, 49 countries and has lived in Singapore for the last nine years.

Dana, an international mediator, lawyer, stand-up comedian, queen of sparkles and glitters, wild singer while driving and the founder of "MeD8" and the "Reaching Hearts" charity, has been blessed with an innate ability to see things as a "matter-of-fact" while bringing a fresh, optimistic solution to any situation.

Dana is constantly on the move either enriching her experience as an avid traveler or chauffeuring her boys endlessly from place-to-place as "Uber Mama".

In her spare time, Dana loves to do stand up comedy with the goal of not only raising funds for various charities she is a part of, but also inspiring others to be their best self through the use of language we all understand - laughter.

Meet the Author