Insights Gained from a Challenging Transatlantic Journey

A week after enduring a taxing voyage across the Atlantic with my two young children—ages 4 and 15 months—I’m beginning to regain my composure. Traveling with little ones is no small feat, and I thought I was well-prepared for the challenge, having traveled extensively with babies before. In fact, I even founded a community designed for parents navigating travel with their children when my eldest was just 18 months old.

Our group consists of 6,000 parents worldwide who regularly share the highs and lows of traveling with kids. We exchange travel tips, local insights, and offer emotional support, which is invaluable for today’s parents—whether journeying or not.

The day after my arduous trip, I recounted my experience to my community and was overwhelmed by the understanding and sympathy from hundreds of fellow traveling parents. It became clear that many share the sentiment that the current travel landscape is fraught with challenges. For parents, this experience can often be a nightmare.

Why Is Traveling with Kids So Challenging?

Why is this the case? Why does it seem that the U.S. is one of the least family-friendly countries when it comes to airports? In various other nations, traveling with children appears to be much simpler. Expectant mothers and parents with toddlers often enjoy priority access without hassle, and play areas for children are more common, particularly in Europe. These thoughts lingered in my mind post-trip.

When I finally returned home, I felt as if I had emerged from a battle, barely intact. My mother had half-jokingly suggested the night before our journey that I might want to wear a bathing suit for the trip with the kids—perhaps I should have taken that advice more seriously.

The Journey

Traveling alone with my two children from Paris to Chicago, with a layover in Philadelphia, was daunting. I knew I probably shouldn’t have accepted the layover, but budget constraints dictated the decision. The eight-hour flight from Paris to Philadelphia was exhausting enough. During that seemingly endless flight, my 15-month-old daughter was restless, and I spent most of the time digging through my carry-on for toys, snacks, and anything to keep her entertained. Meanwhile, my nearly-four-year-old son still required assistance for various tasks like choosing cartoons and bathroom trips.

My baby managed only an hour and a half of sleep, broken into two brief segments, the second cut short by her brother’s antics. He had a meltdown during our descent into Philadelphia, refusing to buckle his seatbelt. I had to force it on him while my daughter squirmed on my lap, adding to the chaos. It took us about twenty minutes to regain some semblance of calm.

Upon landing, I was utterly drained, but my journey through Philadelphia airport was just beginning—Customs, baggage claim, and a mad dash to make my connection while wrangling my children and carry-ons.

At Customs, I attempted to use the Global Entry line, having been told previously that I could accompany my kids despite them not having Global Entry. However, in Philadelphia, that was not permitted, and I was directed to the end of a long line. At that moment, my remaining energy waned, and tears began to flow as I feared missing my flight. Eventually, some compassionate fellow passengers recognized my distress and helped me skip ahead in line. An airport employee moved me to a shorter queue, but I was still met with indifferent responses about whether I would catch my flight. I was in tears for my Customs photo, a stark reminder of my struggle.

With the help of those kind passengers, I managed to retrieve my luggage and car seat at baggage claim. There was no way I could have accomplished that alone with my kids and carry-ons. After rechecking my luggage, I faced another security checkpoint, which required removing my baby from her stroller and folding it—an utter nightmare. I sprinted to the gate, my son dashing ahead while I pushed the stroller.

Acts of Kindness Amidst the Chaos

At the gate, I took a moment to grab two glasses of water—one for me and one for my son. My daughter had been happily sipping her milk during the ordeal. I must have looked like a stressed-out mess; I was in survival mode. My son, who had been acting out earlier, noticed my tears and asked why I was crying.

Despite the chaos, there were incredible acts of kindness. A gentleman on our flight lent us his iPad with a coloring app and checked on us multiple times. While I sipped my water at the gate, another father offered assistance. Just as I asked him to watch my belongings while I grabbed food, I realized my daughter’s passport was missing. Panic set in, but thankfully it had simply fallen under my backpack.

However, not everyone was kind. While at the food self-pay machine, a woman with large sunglasses claimed to be a pediatric nurse and expressed concern for my baby, who was understandably upset and tired. I was already at my breaking point and broke down in tears, prompting airport staff to rush to my aid. The same woman continued to criticize my parenting, claiming my daughter looked distressed. Fortunately, the employees defended me, and I managed to tell the woman to leave me alone.

Eventually, I received a generous goodie bag filled with snacks from a mini-market manager, and with help from others, I made it onto the flight back to Chicago, where my husband was waiting.

Reflections on the Journey

As I gazed out at the sunset over Chicago, I reflected on a world where social media often showcases picture-perfect family travels, creating unrealistic expectations. My passion for traveling with children remains, but I learned two critical lessons: (1) America presents unique challenges for parents traveling with small children, and (2) we must embrace our imperfections. Social media can create pressure to portray flawless parenting, but the truth is, we are all doing our best—let’s be kind to one another in our shared struggles.

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Summary

Traveling with young children can be a daunting experience, particularly in the U.S., where family-friendly accommodations are often lacking. The journey can be filled with unexpected challenges, emotional breakdowns, and moments of kindness from strangers. Ultimately, it highlights the importance of embracing our imperfections as parents and supporting one another through the trials of parenthood.