• I usually fly economy, but I splurged on a first-class Alaska Airlines ticket to Hawaii.
• The round-trip flight cost over $2,000, but the amenities really let me down.
• It definitely wasn't worth it for me — I hope I actually get a first-class experience someday.

I travel often and have only flown economy. However, faced with long-haul flights from the East Coast of the US to Hawaii, I decided to spring for first-class tickets.

I was traveling without my family, so I thought it might be my only chance to see what it's like at the front of the plane without shelling out for multiple tickets.

After looking at different itineraries, I picked a round-trip flight on Alaska Airlines that cost over $2,000. I'd never flown with the airline before, but I excitedly hit buy on the nonrefundable first-class tickets.

I thought the luxury experience would be worth the investment. Instead, in my opinion, what I got wasn't much better than economy.

Unfortunately, I should've done my research.

My first incorrect assumption what that my first-class ticket would automatically get me access to an airport lounge. I thought this would be especially nice since my itinerary included a layover in each direction.

Unfortunately, there weren't Alaska lounges at any of the four airports I flew through during my trip, and you have to be an Alaska Lounge+ member to access any of the airline's partner lounges.

To make things worse, I assumed the first-class seats would be as nice as those I've seen on other airlines. My heart sank when I learned that Alaska Airlines' first-class seats don't recline much and don't have seat-back screens.

I'd been looking forward to a deep recline to help me sleep and zone out while watching movies and catching up on emails throughout my 18-hour travel day.

At this point, I wondered if it would've been better to fly economy on a different airline, but it was too late to change my ticket.

Still, I tried to look on the bright side.

When I boarded my first flight, I was cautiously optimistic.

I was glad to see my first-class chair was noticeably bigger than a typical economy seat. Plus, it had plenty of padding to make it more comfortable.

Unfortunately, the seats reclined even less than I expected. I also didn't get a pillow or an amenities kit, just a blanket, which is what I'm used to on longer economy flights on other airlines.

Unfortunately, things only got more boring from there.

I packed a tablet with a big screen so I could watch movies and TV shows through Alaska's app, which seemed to have a pretty good selection. However, there wasn't a tablet holder on the seatback for either of my flights there.

Because I had only one tray table, I had to choose between watching movies or using my computer to catch up on emails. Given the limited space, things got even tighter when the food came out.

I also had to pay an extra $32 ($8 on each leg of my flight) for WiFi.

I subsisted on snack boxes throughout the long flights there.

When it was time to eat, I was hoping for a hot meal. I left my house at 4 a.m. without breakfast and was starving.

I waited to see what would be on my tray, only to discover that because I had not selected a meal in advance (which I didn't know was a thing), I was stuck with a snack box and a couple of mediocre sides.

I got the same snack box (sans entrée) on my second flight, leaving me hangry when I landed.

As I deplaned, I longingly thought about the delicious food I had on a recent Turkish Airlines flight in economy.

The return flight was slightly better but still far from luxurious.

When it came time to board my first flight home, I was happy to see that the plane was nicer.

This time, I had a tablet holder on the back of my seat so I could watch from a comfortable distance and save some tray space.

The seats didn't recline more than the other plane, but they did have footrests. My flight left at 11 p.m., and I was so tired that I dozed off easily.

Unfortunately, I was soon disappointed again when I boarded my connecting flight. The plane was an older model without a tablet holder.

I had at least preordered a meal for this leg, which was better than the snack box.

I'm looking forward to having a better first-class experience someday.

I can't totally blame Alaska for my underwhelming first-class experience.

If I had done some research before booking, it would've been much clearer that the airline is known for its no-frills planes. However, it still felt like I was paying first-class prices, so I think some disappointment is appropriate.

I won't be flying first class on Alaska again, but I hope to have a real, luxurious experience on another airline in the future.

Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• I always thought I'd only have two kids.
• My oldest has significant medical needs, and I wanted her to have lots of siblings to help her.
• I know there will be times when I can't care for her, but her three siblings can step in.

I always wanted children but never imagined having a big family. I assumed, wrongly, that I would have two happy and healthy kids.

Kids who would keep me up at night worrying about mundane, average concerns like whether they ate enough vegetables as toddlers, stayed out too late as teenagers, or didn't call me often enough when they moved away.

My job, I thought, was to launch my children into the world as independent adults.

My first child has significant medical needs

All of that changed when my first daughter, Claire, was born.

She came into the world quiet and struggling to breathe. From her first moments, she required intensive support to manage a myriad of complex health conditions. As the months wore on, Clarie did not progress along a typical timeline. She didn't crawl, sit up, or babble at the same time as other babies.

With each milestone she missed, her future looked increasingly bleak. Instead of wondering where she might one day go to college, I worried that she would never be able to live on her own.

As Claire grew, it became clear that she would always need help with basic tasks most people take for granted. She was unable to feed, dress, or bathe herself. Worrying about who would take care of her when her father and I were no longer around to care for her consumed me.

She has a team to support her

As Claire got older, the amount of care she needed to get through each day was staggering. She has one-to-one aides at home and school and works with physical, occupational, and speech therapists almost daily. She sees several doctors a month.

Claire needs help with every area of her life, from taking her medication to brushing her teeth. She can't walk steadily or speak. Claire is a joyful young woman who loves the same things a lot of teenagers enjoy: going to the movies, being near water, flipping through fashion magazines, and eating big bowls of ice cream.

Yet, she requires a tremendous amount of support and attention to be able to live at home and be a part of our community. So many people are a part of making sure she stays healthy and can thrive, and I call them "Team Claire" for short.

I wanted her to have an army of siblings on her side

All of the support Claire has in place is hard-won. It is a struggle to ensure the delicate balance required to keep her healthy and happy stays in place. Resources for home care are scarce, specialists are hard to see, paperwork is crushing, and there is an ever-present threat that services will be cut.

Managing Claire's care is a part-time job. It is rewarding and necessary but often time-consuming and frustrating. Claire's father and I, naturally, shoulder this responsibility and fill in the many gaps. But we are not immortal.

When Claire was young and the amount of support she needed became apparent, I knew she would need a big family to help her when I could no longer. We first gave Claire a brother, one who still adores her. I know he will do everything he can for his big sister, but I didn't want him to have to shoulder this immense responsibility alone.

Eventually, I had another daughter, a sister who was born to nurture. She wants to be a doctor when she grows up, a career aspiration borne in part from wanting to help other kids like Claire. However, as the weight of the responsibility I would eventually leave on their shoulders grew, I thought about adding another child to our family.

I decided to have a fourth child

As years went by and I grew older, I knew the day I could no longer care for Claire would inevitably come sooner than I would like. I worried that the burden on Claire's two siblings, each with their own full lives and aspirations, might interfere with their ability to spread their wings and start their own families.

I began thinking about whether it made sense to have a fourth child, someone else, to love and help care for Claire. Even though I knew having a baby would pull me in even more directions, eventually, I decided it was the right decision for Claire and for our family.

That fourth child, now 10, has protected his sister from the start and is the perfect bookend to our family. While I don't know what the future holds, I am glad Claire has three siblings who adore her. I sleep better at night knowing that my four kids will always be a team and rally around their sister and each other.

• My kids and I went to Venice, and we preferred a rowing lesson to a gondola ride.
• The gondola ride was disappointing, but the rowing lesson I booked was exciting.
• Next time, I'd skip the gondola ride altogether.

A gondola ride in Venice is one of the most iconic experiences in Europe. When I recently visited Italy with my children, it was one of the experiences I was most looking forward to sharing with them.

I booked a 30-minute ride for 80 euros, or about $83.

When I first stepped into the gondola, I was thrilled. However, I quickly realized that my expectations were too high.

Our ride was down Venice's Grand Canal, the most famous one in the city, and I knew that was a mistake almost right away. Pulling away from the dock alongside several other boats reminded me of rush hour.

Things didn't get much better once we were on our way. Our gondola was sandwiched between two other boats, and I was worried about getting bumped the entire time.

Instead of telling us about the buildings we were passing, my gondolier spent most of the ride talking to the gondolier rowing the boat in front of us.

After the 30-minute ride, we were left disappointed and looking for more.

I didn't want to leave Venice without having a better experience on the canals

Although Venice has great gelato and pizza and a stunning cathedral, that's not what makes the city unique.

It's one of the few places built entirely along canals, and they're a huge part of life in the city.

I didn't want to leave without getting the fully immersive experience of being rowed through the city — in a way that didn't feel chaotic and rushed.

When I was looking for activities in Venice, I had initially breezed past a rowing lesson with Row Venice, an all-female rowing company. However, after our disappointing gondola ride, I gave it another look and decided to book a 130-euro lesson.

Luckily, our rowing lesson was way more exciting

After a brief delay due to rain, my kids and I hopped in a boat called a batelina with our rowing instructor. I was initially disappointed that we wouldn't be in a gondola, but batelinas are so similar that I could barely tell the difference.

Our instructor explained that batelinas are more stable — and, therefore, better suited for inexperienced rowers.

Row Venice offers lessons in the Grand Canal, but I chose to have ours in a quieter canal.

Stepping into the batelina, I immediately felt more relaxed. Our instructor was attentive and gave us her full attention — I didn't feel l like I was intruding in a private a gossip session with the boat next to us.

Within the first couple of minutes of the rowing lesson, I knew it was going to be a lot closer to what I imagined my gondola ride would be like.

I wish we skipped the gondola ride and just did a rowing lesson instead

Our lesson was cut a little short because of the weather, so we didn't get to experience the full 80 minutes in the boat. Still, it was close to an hour, which was a lot better than the 30-minute gondola ride.

During our time in the batelina, my kids and I each spent some time rowing and the rest being rowed by our instructor. We also learned about traditional Venitian rowing techniques, the different types of boats used in the city, and some of the buildings we rowed past.

Even though it was more expensive, the rowing lesson was a much better value

If I ever visit Venice again, I wouldn't hesitate to book another one, but it would be hard to convince us to give a gondola ride another try.

• I tried my regular Starbucks latte with 2%, soy, coconut, almond, and oat milk.
• The only option I wouldn't order again was almond milk, but at least it doesn't cost extra anymore.
• I've been drinking 2% lattes for years, but soy is undeniably my go-to.

I used to pay extra to have my daily lattes made with a non-dairy alternative. At the time, I preferred the taste and often felt better on days I didn't consume as much dairy.

However, the cost of the substitution — often around $0.80 a drink — added up quickly. Eventually, I abandoned the habit and started ordering my lattes with 2% milk.

Luckily, Starbucks stopped charging extra for alternative milks in November, so I decided to give them all another try.

I ordered my standard 2%-milk latte alongside ones made with soy, coconut, almond, and oat milk. Then, I tried them all with and without sugar to compare.

Here's how the lattes stacked up.

Two-percent milk is a classic that's hard to beat.

I wasn't sure if I'd really taste much of a difference between the coffee drinks, so I also brought along a friend who has received training in discerning tastes from a professional sommelier and recipe developer.

He found the 2% latte boring and lacking "personality." Adding sugar made the taste more interesting, but he didn't think he'd order it again.

I've been drinking lattes made with 2% milk for years, and I wouldn't buy one (sometimes two) daily if I didn't like the taste.

This was almost like the experiment's control group for me — something to compare the others to.

Although it didn't end up being the best of the bunch, it's a good choice for purists like me.

Soy milk used to be my go-to.

When I was drinking non-dairy lattes, soy milk was my preferred alternative. I was really looking forward to seeing if it was as tasty as I remembered.

Luckily, it didn't disappoint — I knew I was onto something back then.

My friend described the drink as smoky with chocolate notes. Although I hadn't noticed that before, I'm starting to think the hints of flavor may be why I'm drawn to it.

Sugar detracted from the taste of this one for me, which is also a plus since I'd rather not add it.

The coconut milk made the coffee a little tropical.

I strongly associate coconut with tropical drinks, so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about a coconut-milk latte. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

In my friend's words, the coconut milk had a dry, caramel taste with a slight acidity.

Adding sugar really brought out the coconut flavor, which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your tastes.

For me, a stronger coconut taste was welcome. However, my friend isn't a big fan of coconut and preferred this drink without sugar.

The almond-milk latte didn't wow me.

I like snacking on almonds and was looking forward to a latte with a nutty taste.

Unfortunately, I didn't like it.

There was a distinct almond quality, but it felt a bit watered down. I didn't think the milk added much flavor to the latte, and my friend agreed.

We both thought that adding sugar would dramatically improve the taste, it didn't.

Once I added sugar, the oat-milk latte was decent.

I enjoy Starbucks' iced brown-sugar oak-milk shaken espresso on warm days, so I was looking forward to seeing how oat milk translates into a hot drink.

Unfortunately, I was a little underwhelmed.

My friend said the oat-milk latte almost had a "cigar-smoke flavor," and neither of us liked that very much.

When I added sugar, the flavor was much better — mostly because it largely covered up the oat milk, making it taste closer to a 2% latte.

There was a clear winner for me.

Although I'll still order it occasionally, the 2%-milk latte is no longer my go-to at Starbucks. After just one sip, I knew I'd be going right back to soy.

The delicious — perhaps chocolaty — flavor is perfect without any added sweetener.

Even though the coconut-milk latte wasn't my favorite drink, it was a close second. The tropical, caramelly flavors really work.

With sugar added, the oat-milk drink was also OK, but I didn't like the almond-milk latte and won't be ordering it again.

• Our home is within walking distance of a good school, but it wasn't the best fit for my daughter.
• To get to her school, we learned she would have to rely on Washington, DC's public transit system.
• She was just 10 at the time, but the experience taught her independence and confidence.

Just before my daughter was born, our family purchased a house in a quaint neighborhood in Washington, DC. We stretched our budget to buy a home on a quiet, tree-lined street in a "good" school district. Like many families, schools were the driving force behind our decision.

Our house is within walking distance of what were then well-regarded elementary, middle, and high schools. We thought we had created a perfect lifestyle, one that included our children walking to and from school until they graduated from high school. I was grateful for the privilege to be able to do so. The plan worked brilliantly for my daughter's elementary school years. We made the seven-minute walk to school and back together until she was in fourth grade. Then, she preferred walking with a friend. No one batted an eye in our nearly crime-free neighborhood.

The middle school in our neighborhood wasn't a good fit

Everything changed when my daughter started middle school. Although we originally intended to send her to our neighborhood school, we found a charter school that was a much better fit for her. I rejoiced when she got in. However, my joy was quickly replaced by despair when I realized there was no good way for her to get there and back. For the first time in my daughter's life, she wouldn't be able to walk to school.

Our school district doesn't provide transportation to students. Because my four kids attended four different schools, each in different parts of the city, driving her wasn't realistic either. Nevertheless, I wasn't willing to let this logistical nightmare get in the way of sending her to a dream school.

I realized putting my daughter on the city bus was the only feasible option

Washington, DC, is a city with a robust and reliable public transportation system. As I frantically searched for a solution, it became clear that taking the city bus was the best, and perhaps only, solution. My daughter, who has a late summer birthday, was only 10 when she started middle school. I worried about sending a child so young on the bus alone but decided we would have to give it a try.

My daughter has taken public transportation around the city since birth, but never without an adult. Even though she is a born-and-bred city kid, I still worried about her navigating public transportation alone at such a young age. Although she had already been walking to school without supervision for two years, she had done so safely enclosed in a familiar neighborhood, surrounded by families I knew would have treated her like their own if she ever needed help. Now, I was thrusting her alone into a big city. I worried but took a deep breath and committed to the plan.

We taught her the ins and outs of public transportation

My husband and I did our best to prepare our daughter for her new responsibility. We took her on a few practice runs, not telling her when she made mistakes like missing her stop and guiding her as she course-corrected on her own. We taught her lessons about safety, like always keeping her backpack on her lap to avoid theft, sitting near the driver so she could ask for help if anyone bothered her, and never wearing flashy jewelry. We made sure she understood how to use our transit system's app so she could check what time she needed to catch her bus and plan her route.

The first day of school arrived, and she was on her way. She had a couple of mishaps during the first few weeks. Once, she got distracted and rode right past her stop. Another time, she got on a bus going the wrong way. When these mistakes happened, as I knew they would, she called and we talked her through a solution. She always found her way home, more confident in her navigation skills and ability to adapt if something went wrong.

My daughter loves her independence

Some other parents thought I was being irresponsible by allowing my 10-year-old to ride the bus alone. However, my daughter rose to the challenge and thrived. Now, she is 14 and in 9th grade. She not only takes the bus to get home from school, but deftly navigates all forms of public transportation around the city. She loves her independence, and so do I.

When we travel, my daughter is adept at navigating new public transportation systems with ease. College, and even more independence, is approaching faster than I would like. Seeing my daughter find her way in vast, unfamiliar places gives me confidence that she will be okay on her own when she eventually launches.

If I had listened to those who thought my daughter was too young to handle this type of independence, she would not be at the fantastic school she goes to today. She would not be able to zip around the city, go shopping, see movies, or visit friends with such ease and without her Mom's help. She wouldn't have as much confidence as I see daily, confidence that spills over into other areas of her life. It's bittersweet to see my daughter so deft at a skill that takes her one step closer to complete independence, but it's one she needs. I'm glad she developed it early.

• It's not the most popular take, but I don't like celebrating the holiday season.
• Instead, I book long, international trips to places I've always wanted to visit but never had time.
• I love getting to see a new part of the world and give that priceless experience to my kids.

When my children were little, I felt the magic of the holidays deep in my bones.

Nearly every weekend, we dashed to see a light display or rode the Polar Express while drinking cups of rich hot chocolate.

Then, my kids got older.

As tweens and teens, they became hard to please. They seemed impervious to the joyful spirit of the holidays, grumbling when I booked holiday events and complaining about the gifts I chose for them.

I know this is developmentally appropriate, but it hurts. Last year, I decided to opt out of Christmas in favor of something I love: travel.

Instead of spending time and money on creating an extravagant day that would be stressful and (likely) unappreciated, I took my family on a trip to Morocco.

It was such a great experience that I've made international travel our new holiday tradition.

December happens to work for all our schedules

There's no substitute for seeing the world and getting an up-close look at different cultures and ways of life. I also think it's the best way to raise empathetic, open-minded children, and I'm very fortunate to be able to provide them with these experiences.

However, my kids' school schedules make it hard to go anywhere for more than a few days. I try to make the most of our summers, but that's when it's hot and crowded in many parts of the world.

Luckily, the kids reliably have an extended school break around Christmas each year, making the holidays an ideal time for our family to travel.

It's refreshing to visit parts of the world where Christmas is just like any other day

Another big reason I travel during the holidays is to escape the stress of them, so I like to pick destinations where Christmas isn't widely celebrated.

In many parts of the world, it's just an ordinary day, so attractions aren't closed — aka, we don't sacrifice any vacation time.

Last year, in Morocco, I saw a smattering of holiday lights and small Christmas trees, mostly in hotels. That was perfect for me because I felt very little pressure to make Christmas Day magical.

I've figured out how to make holiday travel as easy as possible

In order to make holiday travel easier, I book group tours.

Although I didn't originally intend to travel this way, I planned last year's trip in a rush, so it was the easiest and fastest way to make sure we could cover a lot of ground in the time we had.

It turns out that not having to worry about booking hotels or planning the logistics of getting from place to place was a welcome reprieve.

Even though I had more time this year, I decided to skip the stress and use the same tour company as a gift to myself.

I may not like Christmas, but I'm not a complete Scrooge

Skipping the holidays isn't for everyone, but it works for me.

Even though I no longer have the will to create an elaborate Christmas at home, I don't want my children to miss out completely.

Every year since my kids were little, I've taken them to the over-the-top Christmas displays at Gaylord National Resort in Maryland, and that has continued. We do all the Christmas things in a single day, from building gingerbread houses to seeing Santa.

It's the perfect way to continue a holiday tradition without any pressure to be perfect — and minimal whining from my kids.

Additionally, I've always believed that experiences are better than physical gifts, and now that we travel, I keep presents to a minimum. However, on Christmas Day, I let my kids choose a special souvenir to commemorate the holiday.

• Taylor Swift's Eras Tour strengthened my bond with my teenage daughter.
• The shared experience of attending the concert and streaming others brought us closer in many ways.
• Swift's influence extended beyond music, teaching valuable life lessons and I'm forever grateful.

When Taylor Swift's Eras Tour started, my daughter had just turned 13. Typically, teenage girls pull away from their mothers, declaring as much independence as possible, and my daughter was no exception. After all, she already had a full life full of friends and sports apart from me. Even though she lived in the same house, I missed her. Then, Swift burst into our lives. It was spectacular.

Taylor Swift brought my daughter and I closer

Like much of America (and the world), my daughter was desperate to see the Eras Tour. With each show she live-streamed, her desire grew and grew. She eventually asked for my help getting the impossible-to-find tickets. We searched together for weeks. It wasn't the bonding experience I would have chosen, but texts from my daughter morphed from brief three-letter responses like "OMG" to coded messages using Swift's lyrics that only we understood. She even started saying "Thank you" and "I love you." My smile could have it up the whole town.

When kind relatives unbelievably gifted my daughter tickets to the Philadelphia show, we spent time together making friendship bracelets, shopping for outfits, and listening to Swift on repeat. Just as my daughter was pulling away, we suddenly had a reason to spend more time together — all of it joyful.

The Eras Tour brought us closer

When we finally saw Swift in May 2023, my daughter was bubbly and talkative. We arrived hours before the show began to take it all in. It had been years since we spent that much uninterrupted time together and I savored every moment. The show itself was, of course, incredible. But while most of the audience was watching Swift, I was watching my daughter. I teared up when Swift described how music brought her closer to her own mother. When we left, I told my daughter, "I had the best day with you."

After the show, lyrics spanning all of Swift's eras morphed their way out of text messages and into everyday parlance. We often told a younger sibling, "You need to calm down." We told each other, "By the way, I'm going out tonight," while a secret grin passed between us.

I wanted to see the Eras Tour again

Experiencing the Eras Tour with my daughter was so transformative that I wanted to do it again, and so did she. I had my chance when I got tickets to a show in Warsaw a year in advance. Traveling halfway around the world for a concert seemed like a wild move. Nevertheless, I jumped in and committed myself fully, wanting to extend the magic Swift created between my daughter and me for as long as possible.

That year was a gift, one that allowed me to continue to share a bond with my daughter as I morphed into almost as big as Swiftie as she is. We used the opportunity to plan a trip of a lifetime through Europe, in a fever dream high. We continued watching live streams of Swift's shows together and made more friendship bracelets. My daughter quizzed me on Swift's discography and I got pretty good at answering her questions.

We talked about what makes Swift great beyond her music

As I learned more about Swift, I discovered she was a great role model. Swift embodied many lessons I wanted my daughter to learn, lessons she may not be open to hearing from me but would gladly take in from an idol.

We talked about how Swift boldly stood up for herself time and time again. She was not quiet when she was sexually assaulted. She rerecoded most of her albums when her label sold her original recordings over her objections. She was not afraid to speak up about politicians she opposed, even though those around her advised her to keep her head down. Swift confronts sexism and ageism boldly. She does not seem to settle when it comes to love. She is creative and savvy in business. Most of all, she appears to love her mother deeply. These are all lessons I want my daughter to take to heart as she grows. Swift was the person who opened the door to allow me to talk about these life lessons with my daughter. For that, I will be forever grateful.

I will keep the lessons of the Eras Tour with me

I wish the Eras Tour would last forever, but I know it has to end. As we prepare to say goodbye to Taylor Swift for now, I will remember to be open to sharing my children's interests. I will say yes more often, even when a plan seems outlandish. I will look for more opportunities to create magic with my children. I will remember that these things are possible, no matter how old they get.

My daughter and I have plans to watch a live stream of the Eras Tour one last time when Swift takes her final bow on December 8th. Thank you, Taylor, for the incredible gift of the Eras Tour. But I am especially grateful for the gift of togetherness you gave to my daughter and me.

Long live the Eras Tour. I had the time of my life.