The Untold Secret to Stress-Free Travel with Kids

I have sat where you are, right now, many times. Searching the web for the newest ideas and answers, scouring blogs for tips and secrets and staring into the glow of my phone while anxiety builds up in me.

Crap, I’m going on the road again with my kid.

Even with more 50,000 miles of “baby on board travel” under my belt, I still feel the same old pre-trip anxiety that you might be feeling now. I still get that unwelcome visit from the Worry Fairy, in the days and weeks leading up to another adventure. I find myself desperately googling for anything that might help make travel easier, running crazy scenarios in my mind at Midnight and having internal dialog like this:

“Is she big enough to get her own seat on the plane this time? I should look that up in the morning!”

Will I punch myself in the face when I cheap out, yet again, and don’t get her a seat of her own? Well…she technically still DOES qualify as a lap child….I’ll think I’ll risk it.”

What if I’m forced to use a cocktail napkin to cover her cold arms for 3 hours because I left her blanket at home? I cannot forget the blanket!”

Will the flight attendant try to poison my free cranberry juice cocktail because my kid is a nightmare? Note to self, skip the cranberry juice.”

The secret to overcoming this kind of stress and anxiety is to face these 3 hard truths about travel:

Truth #1: Realize that there are no universal tips that will always make travel easier or calm anxiety.

Truth #2: Give up on the idea that you’re going to have the PERFECT trip.

Truth #3: Understand that things are going to go off the rails, guaranteed, so be ready to improvise!

 Now, I’ll get motivational on you and insert an overused life quote:

“When life gives you lemons…make lemonade!”  

Just kidding. But seriously, my REAL SECRET to travel survival is to really OWN those three hard truths about traveling. Learn to expect the unexpected, laugh your way through it, roll with the punches, stay calm, and try to enjoy even the craziest of moments. You can download expert packing lists like Tiny Traveler First Class, you can buy expensive travel products, you can pick all the right hotels and flights, but in the end, traveling with kiddos is really just all about perspective! You can easily let anxiety and stress creep over you but that my friend, is the fast lane to wrecking your whole experience! Instead, try to find the humor in the break downs, take time for a deep breath, plan for the being thrown off your game and get creative with fun solutions for the inevitable problems!

But most importantly, remember that life is about the JOURNEY not the destination. Enjoy the ride!

I’d love to hear how you beat the stress and anxiety of travel! Share your story here!

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