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Holiday travel is a special time—family gatherings, school breaks, and creating memories together. But traveling with kids during the holidays can also feel overwhelming. Between busy airports, long car rides, changes in routine, and unexpected illnesses, mums often carry the responsibility of keeping everything running smoothly.

With a little preparation, realistic expectations, and lots of grace, family travel can be less stressful and even enjoyable. These practical tips are designed to help you navigate holiday trips with your children more confidently and peacefully—no matter the destination.

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🤒 Traveling with Sick (or Just-Getting-Over-a-Cold) Kids

Holiday travel doesn’t always wait for perfect health. Runny noses, coughs, and winter bugs seem to show up right on schedule. If you must travel with kids who aren’t feeling their best:

• Pack tissues, wipes, and hand sanitizer
• Dress them in comfortable layers
• Plan extra rest breaks
• Keep expectations low and patience high

Your calm presence matters more than sticking to a perfect plan.

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🧳 Pack Way Ahead of Time

December is already busy—don’t leave packing until the last minute. Start packing a few days (or even a week) before your trip. This helps you:

• Avoid forgetting important items
• Reduce stress the night before travel
• Have time to buy anything you’re missing

Holiday travel is smoother when you’re not rushing.

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📝 Keep a Travel Packing List

A running travel list is a mum’s best friend. Keep one on your phone or in a notebook and reuse it for every trip. Include categories like:

• Clothing
• Toiletries
• Medications
• Kids’ essentials
• Snacks and entertainment

Check items off as you pack—it’s a simple habit that saves so much mental energy.

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🧸 Pack Favorite Toys and Comfort Items

Planes and long car rides aren’t always kid-friendly environments. Bring familiar comfort:

• Favorite toys or stuffed animals
• Coloring books, stickers, or activity pads
• Downloaded shows, movies, or audiobooks

These small comforts can make a big difference, especially when kids are overstimulated or tired.

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🍎 Bring Their Favorite Snacks (Trust Me!)

Kids may not enjoy airplane food—or there may not be food when they’re hungry. Pack snacks you know they’ll eat:

• Crackers, granola bars, fruit snacks
• Juice boxes or water bottles
• A few holiday treats for excitement

Snacks can prevent meltdowns and buy you extra patience during delays.

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💊 Don’t Forget Medications

This is especially important during winter travel. Always pack:

• Regular medications your child needs
• Tylenol or ibuprofen in case of fever or pain
• Thermometer if you have space

Having these on hand gives you peace of mind if symptoms pop up mid-journey.

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🎒 Keep Kids Busy on Flights or Car Rides

Long travel days feel endless for kids. Rotate activities to keep them engaged:

• Surprise “new” toys or dollar-store finds
• Games like I Spy or trivia
• Let them take photos or keep a simple travel journal

Variety keeps boredom (and fussiness) at bay.

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🗺️ Involve Kids in the Journey

Kids often struggle with travel because they don’t know what to expect. Prepare them mentally by:

• Talking about where you’re going and why
• Showing pictures of the destination
• Letting them help pack their bag
• Giving them small responsibilities

When kids feel included, they often adjust better to change.

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👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Another Adult Is a Huge Plus

If possible, traveling with another adult—especially when kids are small—can make a world of difference. Extra hands help with:

• Managing bags and strollers
• Bathroom breaks
• Holding kids during stressful moments

You don’t have to do it all alone.

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🙏 A Gentle Faith-Based Encouragement

Mum, holiday travel can be exhausting, but remember—you are not alone on this journey. God walks with you through crowded airports, long car rides, and tired little hearts. When things feel overwhelming, pause and breathe. Ask for His peace and strength. These moments—messy and imperfect—are still sacred memories in the making.

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💬 Final Thought

End-of-December travel with kids isn’t always easy, but with preparation, patience, and grace, it can still be meaningful and joyful. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s connection.

What’s your go-to tip for surviving holiday travel with kids? 💙🎄✈️

The Holidays Through a Mum’s Eyes: Magical, Messy, and Exhausting

From the outside, the holidays look like twinkling lights, matching pajamas, and cozy family moments. From a mum’s point of view — especially as a mum of three — they also look like late-night wrapping, endless to-do lists, and cold coffee reheated for the third time.

Don’t get me wrong — there is magic here. Seeing the excitement in my children’s eyes, watching traditions come to life, and slowing down just enough to feel grateful reminds me why we do all this in the first place. Those moments are real, and they matter.

But there’s another side we don’t talk about enough.

The planning. The cooking. The remembering of gifts, school events, family expectations, and emotional needs — multiplied by three and often carried quietly. The holidays can feel like a beautiful performance, and as a mum of three, I’m usually the one working behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly.

This year, I noticed something shift in me. I stopped chasing perfection. The cookies didn’t all turn out right. The house wasn’t spotless. Some traditions were simplified, and a few were skipped altogether. And you know what? The joy didn’t disappear. If anything, it grew.

Motherhood during the holidays is messy. It’s loud, emotional, tiring, and deeply meaningful all at once — especially with three little (or not-so-little) personalities under one roof. It’s learning to hold gratitude and exhaustion in the same breath. It’s realizing that our presence matters more than our productivity.

So if you know a mum — whether she’s a mum of one or many — please help out where you can. Offer to cook, clean, watch the kids, or simply ask what she needs. And don’t forget to tell her how grateful you are. Let her know her effort is seen, appreciated, and valued — even if she makes it all look effortless.

As this season comes to a close, I’m reminding myself — and maybe you need this reminder too — that the magic isn’t in how perfectly we execute the holidays. It’s in the love, the laughter, and the way we show up, even when we’re tired.

Happy holidays!

Mammazanny.

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