Beautiful Chaos of Parenting

Last month, I took a 14-hour flight with my three kids—aged 12, 9, and 2. Yes, you read that right—fourteen hours. And let me tell you, it wasn’t the smooth, magical travel experience I’d hoped for!

It started off well enough, but after a few hours, I began to realize just how challenging it can be to keep three kids entertained and comfortable in such a small space.

My oldest son tried to relax but soon needed snacks and rolled his eyes as his brothers got restless. The 9-year-old kept asking, “How much longer?” and squabbling. And my youngest, who is 2-year-old, was everywhere, pressing call buttons and leaving me craving peace!

At one point, I could feel the overwhelm creeping in as the pressure to keep them calm and happy for 14 hours was mounting. If this was 2 years ago, I would have felt like I am a bad mom, but before I let myself go there, I remembered that  

Parenting isn’t perfect.

I know it sounds cliché, but it’s true. Kids are going to be kids, and traveling with them is not about keeping them perfectly entertained or avoiding meltdowns.

 It's about

• Being present

• Letting go of expectations

• Rolling with the punches

• Finding joy in the unplanned moments

• Accepting imperfection

So instead of trying to control everything, I embraced the mess.

As parents, we often feel the pressure to create perfect moments, but it’s important to remember that it's not about perfection.

Life -- and parenting—is messy, and that’s what makes it beautiful.

So, if you’re ever in the middle of a chaotic moment (whether it's a long flight, a tantrum, or a rough day at home), take a deep breath, let go of those expectations, and know that you’re doing just fine.

Perfection doesn't exist. 

If you're ready to take your parenting to the next level, or feel stuck in your parenting journey, message me directly or a book a free Parenting Roadmap call.

Best,
Dr. Sarita