This is such a beautiful essay, Brit - and the photo of you two at the restaurant with Fi asleep is one of the best of you I've ever seen. You look simultaneously fierce and tranquil. Miss you both so much!
As a fellow parent of a 3yo, I really enjoyed reading this and strongly relate to the exhaustion and magic that comes with exploring the world with small children.
Loved this line, which I find true at any time, not just traveling!
“But traveling with a toddler means making plans and then admiring how they look when torn into little pieces and tossed into the air like confetti—along with whatever food she just threw.”
Love this essay. I just wrote a piece about traveling solo with a toddler - my first time also, for many of the same reasons you shared here - and I absolutely feel what you're saying about seeing a place. I try to zero in with the same attention on my toddler, being as present with them as possible. The more I let them lead the more it's a tiny bestie vibe instead of tiny dictator. (And FWIW, we have rain pants for when the weather gets gnarly because that also does not stop my toddler from wanting to be outside and look at rocks!)
This is such a beautiful essay, Brit - and the photo of you two at the restaurant with Fi asleep is one of the best of you I've ever seen. You look simultaneously fierce and tranquil. Miss you both so much!
So relatable. Fellow parent, kids are 7, 4, and 1. Parenting can be the biggest gift and also often most challenging obstacle to my writing life.
As a fellow parent of a 3yo, I really enjoyed reading this and strongly relate to the exhaustion and magic that comes with exploring the world with small children.
Loved this line, which I find true at any time, not just traveling!
“But traveling with a toddler means making plans and then admiring how they look when torn into little pieces and tossed into the air like confetti—along with whatever food she just threw.”
I loved this essay- being the parent you want to be makes for a more rich writing life!
Love this essay. I just wrote a piece about traveling solo with a toddler - my first time also, for many of the same reasons you shared here - and I absolutely feel what you're saying about seeing a place. I try to zero in with the same attention on my toddler, being as present with them as possible. The more I let them lead the more it's a tiny bestie vibe instead of tiny dictator. (And FWIW, we have rain pants for when the weather gets gnarly because that also does not stop my toddler from wanting to be outside and look at rocks!)