I’ve been travelling with my son, Yaqeen, since he was just 6 months old. From nappy bags to prams, car seats to colouring books, I’ve always had my travel game on lock. Over the years, I became that mom, the one who had snacks packed, screens preloaded, and every possible meltdown pre-empted.
But on our most recent flight from Cape Town to Joburg… I dropped the ball. 🫣 Not in a massive, dramatic way, just in a “too much sugar, too much luggage, and maybe a bit too much screen time” kind of way. Honestly? I think I was just tired. And you know what? That’s okay, mammas. Sometimes we’re not perfectly prepped, and that’s perfectly human.
So if you’re flying with your smallies soon, here are a few real-life red flags (straight from our own travel chaos) to look out for
Mistake #1: Too Much Hand Luggage
I usually limit Yaqeen to just a backpack with snacks and entertainment for the flight, simple, sweet, stress-free. But now that he’s deep in his Pokémon era (and I mean deep), he insisted on bringing his card binder, battle decks, sleeves, and whatnot.
So I thought, “Okay, let’s upgrade to a pull-along plus the backpack, problem solved, right?”
WRONG.
He was dragging the bag in five different directions, sat on it like it was a ride, and almost left it behind at the coffee shop. I spent more time chasing the bag than actually boarding the plane.
Mom tip: Keep it minimal. Their tiny minds are already juggling a lot. Two bags, a jacket, and a sugar high? That’s a recipe for disaster. Keep it concise and compact. Trust me, your arms (and your sanity) will thank you.
Mistake #2: Sugar Before Boarding
We didn’t have a good meal before heading to the airport, so we decided to grab a quick lunch at a coffee shop. Honestly? I was too tired to negotiate over chicken strips vs. waffles, so when mini-me pointed at the waffle with cream and a soda, I caved.
Big mistake. HUGE.
I told myself, “How much damage can it do?” Spoiler alert: A lot.
We both happily indulged in that sugary goodness (no regrets on the taste, by the way), but once we were strapped in and ready for takeoff, the sugar hit. Hard.
My usually wiggly child now had ants in his pants with rocket fuel. His ADHD was doing somersaults, and there was no calm in sight.
Lesson learned: Save the sweet treats for after landing. A decent meal before the airport goes a long way, for them and for your nerves.
Mistake #3: Unlimited Screen Time (Oops)
I usually travel with a bag of tricks, colouring, puzzles, fidget toys, activity books, you name it. We’re always negotiating screen time at 30,000 feet like diplomats. A little now, a break later, maybe a game after snacks.
But this time?
In my mind, I was tired, overstimulated, and just wanted some peace. So I handed over the Nintendo Switch and mentally checked out. Sugar-fueled chatter? Handled . Endless questions? Paused.
And yes, it did keep his mind and hands busy…
But his feet? Not so much.
They were doing the cha-cha on the poor man’s seat in front of us. I spent half the flight whisper-yelling, “Stop. Kicking. The. Seat.” Thankfully, the gent was an absolute saint and probably a dad himself, because all I got was a kind nod, while I threw out my biggest mom threat yet:
“The air hostess is going to report you and BAN you from flying ever again!” LOL
It worked. Kinda.
I tried to bury myself in my new book and pretend I was on a silent solo trip, while my child became a human fidget spinner. When we landed, he danced his way to the luggage carousel like a TikTok star.
And then came the crash.
Cue emotional meltdown. He missed home, his cats, my parents (who live in Cape Town), all the big feelings poured out. But as kids do, he slept it off and woke up the next morning like nothing ever happened. Bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and ready for breakfast.
Lesson learned: Even at 30,000 feet, balance is everything. And maybe pack two tricks, not one Switch.
Final Thoughts from This Frazzled Mama
Travelling with kids is not for the faint-hearted, even when you’ve been doing it since they were in nappies. This trip reminded me that no matter how seasoned we are, we all have off days and that’s okay.
Sometimes you plan like a pro, and other times you’re bribing your kid with waffles and praying they don’t karate kick the seat in front of them.
So to all the moms and dads out there:
✨ You’re doing your best.
✨ You’re allowed to be tired.
✨ And you’re absolutely not alone.
Take the laughs, the lessons, and the little meltdowns as part of the journey. Next time, I’ll go back to my trusty bag of tricks, pre-flight meals, and one compact carry-on, but for now, I’m just glad we made it home (with all our limbs, luggage, and sanity… mostly intact).
See you at mt next destination…
Ash ❤️
