“I want to travel, but I have a child.” Have you ever found yourself saying this? There’s no doubt that traveling with young kids is no cake walk, but there are also so many blessings and life-changing experiences that can be had when you dare to go! Today one mom shares with us her own adventures of international travel with children, and how God has used these experiences to work through their family.
Why Our Favorite Kind of Family Fun Is Traveling with Little Ones
“Traveling with young kids isn’t really a vacation.” I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard this, and yes—there’s some truth to it. Traveling with three children under three is a different kind of adventure. But it is our family’s vacation.
Every family needs rest—a chance to breathe deeply and be renewed—and we find ours in our travels. It’s our family’s favorite way to experience rest, connection, and joy. It’s not about escaping; it’s about embracing the gift of presence. And our children bring the gift of making each journey richer and more meaningful.
As St. Augustine writes, “The beauty of the world is a sign of the Creator’s goodness, for He made it beautiful; and it is a gift from God, for we find joy in it.”
For us, travel is about seeking God in the journey—discovering the beauty and joy He threads into our family’s story, and collecting the moments of wonder He scatters along the way.
Seeing God in the Unexpected
On a recent trip to France with two kids under two, we planned a day’s journey from Paris to Mont St. Michel. In another season of life, it would have been a quick, uninterrupted drive to the Mont’s majesty. But with little ones, the trip naturally included diaper changes, potty breaks, and moments to stretch.
Before parenthood, I would not have made these stops, always eager to reach the next destination as quickly as possible. But now, God has gently taught me to embrace these pauses, often revealing unexpected blessings along the way.
Consider Jesus himself. As He walked, He was interrupted by the needs of others. Yet, in those interruptions, miracles happened, and parables were born. I’ve learned that interruptions are where we often meet God most closely.
One of our most treasured memories came on this detour. Heading to Mont St. Michel, we stopped in Rouen. After tending to the usual needs of little ones, we wandered into the Cathedral Notre-Dame de Rouen as we stretched our legs. The air was filled with sacred music, rising to the soaring ceilings. Our usually energetic children grew still, faces soft with awe. It was a quiet moment of worship.
These moments are gifts—glimpses of the eternal scattered along our path.
But it’s not just about grand encounters. For us, travel is about embracing the rhythms of daily life in new places—savoring different foods, witnessing the common humanity that unites us all.
It’s in the weathered faces of locals, the light falling across an ancient square, or a simple meal shared with strangers in a bustling café. Each experience weaves a larger story—a tapestry of grace, surprise, and God’s presence.
Finding wonder through travel with your kids
Yes, wonder is in the everyday—the giggles of a toddler, the warmth of a home-cooked meal, the peace that wraps around bedtime snuggles. Yet routine can dull the edges of magic, turning wonder into background noise. For us, travel is a way to shake off the haze of the familiar, to see the world and each other with fresh eyes.
Traveling with young kids isn’t about leaving our lives behind; it’s about seeing them anew. We don’t return rested because we left responsibility behind, but because we found the beauty in it again. We have learned that joy isn’t about where we go, but who we’re with when we go.
For us, our kids aren’t a distraction—they’re the heartbeat of our travels, the reason the ordinary becomes extraordinary. In these moments, we rest—by fully embracing the present moment.
Embracing Wonder: Seeing the World Anew
Our children remind us to see the everyday as extraordinary. Their excitement in the face of a new landscape, a different food, or a new friendship is contagious. They remind us that the world is far bigger than the confines of our routine and filled with divine creativity waiting to be discovered.
In the same way that fairy tales can help us see deeper truths, travel with children opens our hearts to wonder. A simple walk down a cobblestone street can turn into an adventure, and a small, unassuming town square can reveal the beauty of God’s creation. With each new place we visit, we feel as if we are catching glimpses of a reality beyond our own—whispers of something greater.
Carpe Deum: Seizing God, Not the Day
I recently read Holy Is the Day by Carolyn Weber, who writes about “carpe Deum”—“seize God”—rather than the usual “carpe diem.” This has become our family’s travel motto.
It’s not about squeezing every moment for productivity; it’s about seeking God in each one, noticing His presence, and resting in His provision.
Travel has shown me that God is not only in the breathtaking vistas or historical monuments, but in the messy, unpredictable, everyday details—the sticky fingers at a market, the laughter that echoes down cobblestone streets, the quiet bedtime prayers in a cramped hotel room.
Why We Love to Travel—and Why We Share It
For us, travel is a sacred invitation—a chance to witness God’s creativity and draw closer as a family. It’s about slowing down, being present, and capturing memories that will shape our children’s understanding of the world and their place in it. We travel to engage, to be transformed, and to share these experiences with others.
I hope to encourage other moms to see God’s fingerprints in their own lives, and to seize Him in the everyday moments that make up this grand adventure.
Motherhood is not about perfection; it’s about presence—showing up, being vulnerable, and letting grace cover the gaps.
I truly believe God delights in our journeys—both the literal paths we walk and the spiritual ones. He’s with us in every laugh, every tear, every unexpected delay, and every moment of beauty we stumble upon. My prayer for other moms is that they would lean into the journey with their children, let go of the need for perfection, and seize God’s presence in every step.
In every adventure, every ordinary day, may we seek His presence, find our joy, and rest in the beauty of His unfolding story!