Last updated on November 17th, 2023 at 09:41 am
The toddler screams when I wake him at 3 am, I smile.
The toddler tantrum giving up his shoes and coat at security, I smile.
The baby jumps up and down on my lap for 2 hours, I smile.
The toddler needs to potty but we are going to miss our flight, I run fast and smile.
The baby screams when she dumps her water in her lap, I smile.
The baby’s ears start hurting, I stand, rock her screaming and smile.
Ten hours later she is still crying, I continue to rock her and smile.
Through three security checks, three countries with them both, I smile.
The toddler shouts out that he needs to poo, the seat belt sign turns on, I embarrassingly smile.
He takes his time pooing, 30 minutes later, I apologize to the line and smile.
The pilot makes an announcement that stops the toddler’s movie, he screams, I smile.
The baby wants to walk and crawl everywhere but in front of me, she screams, I smile.
We barely make our third flight, the toddler pees his pants, I smile.
Dragging our two suitcase to reclaim and recheck with them both in tote, I smile.
Both fall into a deep sleep on the flight and it lands, neither want to wake up, I smile.
I see a glimpse of my mother in the arrivals hall, I cry happy tears!
I am home. I smile.
* Sharing my poems with Prose the Thought”
I love this! I can really sense the journey through this, and the effort it takes. I love the bit where you see your Mum. I hope you enjoy your time home xx
Thank you so much Emily. It’s already been so amazing!!!
This is perfectly sums up travelling with children. Brilliant poem Jenny, absolutely love it x
Thank you Sara. I thought I would share one of my poems and see what people think. I have been contemplating not writing anymore poems but I do love it so much. lol
I’m sure every scream a d tantrum and difficult leg of the journey was forgotten when you saw your mum. Hope you are having the best time x
Exactly, it truly was and so worth it all. I would do it again and again just to be home more! We are having the time of our lives. I am so blessed with such great parents and extended family.
I commented on this last week but it never appeared – shame about Comment Luv. I wanted to say well done Jenny you’re a trooper! And I can imagine how relieved and ecstatic you must have been to finally see your mom at the airport! X
Thanks, I know I love commentluv but as soon as I turn the plugin on no one can comment but I turn it off and then they can. No idea what’s going on. It’s great to be home but hard to vacation and not keep trying to better my photography, my blog etc.
I think I’d forgotten how hard it is to travel with small children! Thanks for the reminder. The relief of finally making it home must have been wonderful, well done hun x
Yes as soon as I saw my momma I relaxed. Although it was a touch day I did it on my own n I am glad I did so I know I can always do it now and survive. Just! Lmao
You did remarkably well to carry on smiling through all that lovely lady 🙂 you sound so happy to be home!
Yes I couldn’t be more happy. I love home and it’s amazing to share it all with my kids now.
Aww Jenny, It must have been quite some struggle on your own with missy moo & Bubba- i hope you encountered some kind strangers who offered you help along the way?! Beautiful poem xx
Thank you. It was definitely a challenge except for the crazy French sending me to the wrong terminal and gate and running as fast as I can across the airport to barely making the flight. It was perfect. Lol
Well done for smiling through it all. I have travelled since we’ve had our little one but I can imagine how it would be! Xx
It’s not as bad as it sounds you just have to keep smiling no matter what!!! Lol worth it when you get to where u r going.
Sounds like you handled so much. Love this poem though, especially the ending. Weep
Thanks hunny. There really is no place like home.
Aw Jenny! What a beautiful poem… did you travel alone?! Wow!
Yes just me and the kids three flights and 26 hours later we were here. So worth it though.
Oh my, what a journey! I can almost see and feel every moment 🙂
Thanks Iona. It was challenging but so worth it when I arrived and saw my parents then my home and then the sun shining day after day. Lol
Takes some work with one child, let alone two, especially with one that’s newly potty trainined. I know I’d be on tenterhooks with my son.
Hahahah it was a challenge but we survived and made it in one piece. Lol so worth it once you are here. Home is where the heart is!
This poem is so beautiful Jenny! I am so happy that your able to spend this glorious time at home because living so far from home I am sure you miss it more than words can say! xxx
Definitely debs. It’s so hard being away from my momma since I have had kids it’s even harder. Love being home and soaking up the next two months here for sure.
A lovely poem that shows that you must have the patience of a saint. I hope that you have a wonderful time back with your folks and that the return journey is much less fraught xx
Yes I hope the return journey isn’t as bad. Somehow it always seems shorter which is good but sadder and hard to leave saying goodbye. We are having so much fun.
This sums up the joys of travelling perfectly. I often feel as a mum I spend a lot of time repressing my true emotions. I am impressed you manage to smile as I think I just go into lockdown and try to remain deadpan lol!
Also, I enjoy your poems, and as long as you enjoy writing them you should continue!
Happy holidays x
Thanks hunny appreciate that and your lovely comment. Yes just keep smiling from Nemo was in my head the whole time instead of just keep swimming. Hahahaha
Lovely post! Travelling with toddlers and babies isn’t particularly easy but I guess if you are heading somewhere great it is wonderfully worthwhile. happy travels. #sharewithme xx
Yes you are so right definitely worth it when you get here but tough journey. Just have to keep smiling.
I can imagine that it is a little easier to do the travelling with two when you know what awaits you at the end, still I think you are incredible for doing it, lovely post!
Aghh that’s hunny. It was challenging but definitely sooooo worth it.
Looks like you had an eventful journey, but you made it! This is such a perfect poem in every way. I’m afraid to travel with just my toddler, so you’re a superhero in my eyes!
Aghh thanks. No super hero just incredibly home sick and a good teeth gritter. Hahahaha
How lovely. I can imagine how excited you were to getting home but I think my smile at some of those scenarios would have been bordering on hysterical!!! Lovely poem :0 #sharewithme
Oh yes there was lots of gritting teeth. Hahahaha I knew it would be worth it at the end of the tunnel. That very long tiring tunnel. Hahaha
Brilliant poem, I applaud you for continuing to smile. I think I would have been rocking in a corner by that point! You are amazing travelling with two young children.
Thank you. Hahaga you just made me snort my coffee up my nose. Rocking in the corner. Lol I probably should have. Lol there was no time for that. It’s worth it in the end. Being home is amazing.
Hats off to you, doing all that on your own. I cannot imagine it. I am so happy you are home, I hope you have a lovely time x x x
Thank you. Me too! Hahahaha loving every moment of it! It’s been amazing so far. So much fun with the kids too.
Fab poem Jenny – it certainly sounds like all of that stress was worth it to be home again. I hope you are having a wonderful time. Thank you for linking to Prose for Thought x
Thanks for hosting. So worth it you are so right. There is no place like home!
Well done for making the journey honey, gorgeous poem, very talented lady x
Thanks hunny. It was therapeutic. Lol and worth it in the end. They did actually better than I thought.
Oh hun! Loved this so much! I took mine on a flight earlier in the year and oh tis a bit of a nightmare when they cry isn’t it? And you do that thing where you kind of giggle and look like “yeah it’s fine” but inside you are dying?? So horrible! Hope you are are enjoying mucho time with YOUR Mummy xxxxx
Yes I am loving being home and it’s so worth the long journey to be home with my kids in my culture. I was so homesick. It’s been amazing.
Sounds like a very stressful journey, well done you for managing to smile throughout – not quite sure I could have done the same! I imagine the smile when you finally got home was the most genuine one though! Lovely poem 🙂
Thank you. I bet you could have done it too. Many people just don’t know what to expect but when it comes down to it I bet lots of people could do it. Lol
This is so sweet and such a nice change from so many parenting things I read. I love that you end everything with “I smile”. Sometimes it is hard to remember in all the madness how blessed you are. Awesome poem!
Exactly. I thought that when I wrote it. Life is too short to get upset and frustrated when the end picture is so amazing like being home! Lol
Wow! I know I wouldn’t have been smiling all through that. 🙂 You had a hard journey and I’m sure it was wonderful to see your parents! I hope the return trip is easier!
Yes seeing my parents made it so worth all the craziness. In the end it was so worth it.
My goodness Jenny, how you’re still smiling through all of that, I’ll never know! It must feel so good to be home though. Are you really this perfect? You must be Mary Poppins 😉 x x
I do get called it a lot but no one is perfect. My kids fight, I shout and it’s all normal here I can promise you. I just knew it would be a tough day and it’s the reward of being home that keeps me smiling all through it. Lol
This is amazing! I am not a massive poetry fan, but I love this. I am so glad you got to go home. You are very brave taking them on your own all that way xx
Thanks hunny. Glad you liked it! It was the only way I could explain all that went on without whining or listing the crazy happenings. Hahaha got to keep it entertaining still. Lol
This is fab. A beautifully written poem with so much meaning. I love the ending x
Thank you. It was a bittersweet moment.
That is a lovely poem. I too have experienced travelling long haul with a baby and then a toddler and then two young children, to Australia and NZ and back to the UK. All the things in your poem ring true and it is the biggest blessing when you sling down your bags and collapse into a chair with a cup of tea at your final destination. I love the sentiment in your poem, looking forward to reading your next one xx
Thank you Caroline so sweet of you to say. Wow to Australia and NZ and back to the UK sounds like you travel like we do. Good luck. Yes so worth that cuppa at the end of the travel.
A good description of your flight, lovely poem, I hope you have a wonderful time and the flight back is less stressful x #sharewithme
Thank you. Me too. Flight back should be easier as I will be in another city and it’s only two long flights home and minus the three hour drive.