Note From The Founder: Travelling (or Not Travelling) with Kids

I write this with 3 kids squished in my bed, 3 hours post bed-time, after a late night dash to Wholefoods - because everyone needs Kombucha at 10pm - and a spontaneous dinner at an instant-ramen only 7/11, and no not the fancy kind, the kind that in the moment makes you feel fun and kitsch, but when you start eating you get that reality check that you're eating a packet of instant noodles in a 7/11 shop. What followed was a  panic walk/sprint back home, on recognising that it was way too dark to be walking around London with three small kids in pyjamas.

There’s something about travelling with children that’s both wildly expansive and yet strangely claustrophobic at the same time. The younger me used to idealise escapes with the kids, picturing dreamy beaches I could park myself on with a book in one hand and a pina colada in another, and that perfect insta-worthy photo on an isolated beach, one baby casually (and perfectly) resting on one shoulder, head tilted at the perfect angle, wearing new season Pucci - you know the kind of photo I'm talking about

The more evolved me now understands that summer with kids isn’t a holiday but a shift in geography - the parenting doesn’t pause, perfect photos don't just happen - they're curated (and require a TON of energy). The worst thing you can do is try and fight the reality of small kids - to try and not meander from that picture-perfect holiday you imagined in your dream location. Even if you make it to said dream location, the reality is, holidaying with small kids is rarely smooth sailing. There will be missed naps, late nights, meltdowns as a natural result of being so off routine, with little sprinkles of magic here and there. One of my greatest learnings in parenthood is that the more resistance you have for your present reality with kids, the more you will come back after a long summer and realise you wasted all the time fighting a reality instead of enjoying it. You came back stressed and not somewhat rested. And that is the biggest crime of all. 

Add in a business on top of three kids, and you realise wholeheartedly that switching off is mostly a myth. I tell myself I’ll rest, but somewhere between the sandcastles and the sunscreen, I’m answering emails, reviewing new product mockups, and typing notes into my phone while pretending not to be online. What I've learnt is being non-negotiable about your boundaries is an absolute must, in-order to enjoy some pockets of summer and sanity. Carving out time for work, and sticking to it, and likewise time with kids, and sticking to it. And trying to switch off as much as possible once "work-hours" are done. 

If you’re the kind of person who carries both children and responsibilities, I see you, and I know it is not easy. And if you’re not travelling this summer, I see you too. Some of our best memories have been made in living rooms and backyards.

If you’re home this summer, here are a few of my favourites:

• Camp out in the garden - you may not sleep all night, but this lies as a core memory in my heart for how magical it seemed at the time
• Let your kids cook dinner one night (it may be milk and toast, but nevertheless they'll have a ball making it)
• Make homemade popsicles using fruits and coconut water
• Turn your living room into a cinema - tickets, popcorn, the works
• Do a midnight (aka 8pm) swim 
• Build a School Cabinet to make school mornings a breeze - think cabinets for shoes, separate cabinets for backpacks, library books and sports bag (trust me - if you have multiple kids, this is a game changer and lies firmly as one of my greatest mum hacks)

On the topic of Back To School, we've been working behind the scenes tirelessly on our new collection which just launched here. Whether you're hopping between airports or holding down the fort at home, it's the perfect time to prep. Think: backpacks that actually last with ergonomic support, water bottles that don't leak (miracles do happen), and lunch boxes crafted from the highest quality of stainless steel and USA Tritan. As a young child, I relished in choosing my new school items for a new year - something feels innately hopeful and exciting about a fresh school year, and celebrating that magic in the everyday through our essentials has always been a core value of ours.

We are continuing our adventurous streak we started last summer, and doing multiple trips with the kids. With a few weeks back home in London, and grandparents on tap, it's a great way to start the summer before we head to Europe. I read a study once, which I shared on our handle, that travelling can make a child smarter - increasing their imagination and expanding their creativity. I keep telling myself this over and over as I smile throughout the chaos of living through suitcases and absurdly late bedtimes. 

Wherever you are this summer - on a plane, in a meeting, or knee-deep in LEGO, I hope you find moments of presence, of wonder and of calm, as you ride this rollercoaster of summer with kids. 

With love,

Roshni

Founder, Mother of Three, Still Forgetting Wipes