Top Travel Advice for Busy Moms

I remember the first trip I took to Boston with my two young sons. The itinerary was full, scheduled snacks, naps, and locales all placed into my synched calendar. My photos and status updates were edited and on point, and I had amassed enough baby gear to be mistaken for a high-end nomad. By the end of a few days travel, I was a beautiful nightmare.

My life needed a serious plot twist. I couldn’t help worrying, why do travelling moms allow “being busy” to replace being happy?

1. Allow Empty Space

Life can get real, very quickly with our children. The simple activity of getting dressed can quickly deteriorate into the demand for a snack, a toy in need of resuscitation, or a fifteen-minute diaper change followed by a full body wash, biohazard team, and botanical oils whether you had space for these events or not. Allow time and empty space in your travel plans for the unexpected chaos that being a busy mom creates. Plan only what will bring meaning, abundance, and joy to your family. While it may appear limiting at first to trim away at your busy travel schedule, you will find it is valuable to allow free space. Our children will not gripe, “I wish mom were more frazzled and we were more scheduled”.

2. Plan with Purpose

You are allowed to be late, other than for your departures (planes, trains, automobiles require you to please, BE ON TIME). You are even allowed to say “NO” to every influencer, family member, friend, and - even yourself.

Step One: Create a list of the things you absolutely must have on your trip – the cake. (One activity per day may be the goal, depending on your children’s ages, the location, or even the weather.)

Step Two: Make a list of the things that your family might want to throw together – the sprinkles.

Remember, your itinerary should be based on your family at its best, not a marathon overflowing with

stress and followed by fatigue.

3. Choose Less to Get More

While I do believe moms can do anything, we must realize that we aren’t obligated to do everything. At times when my plans crumbled, it revealed that while attempting to be everything I had left myself (and my children) with very little. All smashed cake with a few sprinkles. As a busy mom I began to deeply respect the most important aspect of my travel schedule – my family. You will discover that a trip filled with less planning will give you far more joy. Remember mom, we travel together to be together!