- The Chaotic Edit
- May 1
- 5 min read
Updated: May 22
Hi! I’m Angie, a mom, storyteller, and everyday explorer navigating life with my three-year-old daughter, Arya. While I’m not jet-setting five times a year, I do believe in making the most of the moments we do get to travel, even if it’s just once in a while. Recently, we spent a month in China on a meaningful adventure, visiting relatives along with the grandparents. It was a trip full of beautiful memories, unexpected challenges, and plenty of growth for both of us.
In this travel series, I’m excited to share our real, unfiltered experiences, Toddlers struggles during travels, the good, the chaotic, and the heartwarming. Whether you’re a parent thinking about a family trip or simply love reading about travel through a mom’s lens, I hope these stories leave you inspired, encouraged, and reminded that it’s not about how often you go, it’s about what you take away when you do...
When I dreamed about taking Arya to China, I pictured excitement: running around airports, wide-eyed wonder at temples, chasing bubbles in the parks. Reality had something different planned for us.
It started as soon as we landed at Hong Kong International Airport. Normally independent, my little girl suddenly refused to let me out of her sight. I couldn’t step away for a minute, not even to ask about our connecting transport into China. She followed me into bathroom stalls, clung to my arm where ever I'm going, and cried desperately if I so much as took a few steps ahead.
I remember waiting for our next transport into China from Hong Kong which is a Ferry port. I was in need for a quick run to the restroom and not even making it to the front of restroom area, I hear a loud cry "I WANT MOMMYYYYYY" from the waiting area. Yes, that was my daughter. Grandma was not able to calm her.
This hadn’t happened before. Arya has always been comfortable with short separations like staying with grandma, waving goodbye when I needed a moment. But now, across the world, in a sea of unfamiliar sights, sounds, and languages, I was her only safe anchor.
Inside our house in China, it continued. Even in a familiar home setting, she would follow me from room to room, holding onto my dress or grabbing my hand. If I went to the kitchen? She was right behind me. If I went to the bathroom? Little knocks would come at the door within seconds.
At first, I felt a little overwhelmed. I thought, “Is this how the whole month is going to be?”
But then I reminded myself, this wasn’t misbehavior. It was survival instincts. In her toddler mind, unfamiliar meant unsafe, and sticking to me was how she kept herself feeling protected. Especially when daddy is back home in the states.
How I dealt with it:
• Patience: I didn’t rush her or get frustrated. Instead, I reassured her constantly with hugs, words, and staying nearby.
• Empathy: I imagined how big and strange the world must feel through her little eyes.
• Perspective: I told myself, “This is temporary. And these snuggles, even if exhausting, are a gift.”
Sure, my hope of grabbing a peaceful coffee or enjoying a solo moment were… put on hold. But what I got instead was even better: hours and hours of bonding with my daughter in a new land, creating stories we’ll tell for years.
Other Unexpected Challenges:
Separation anxiety wasn’t the only curveball. Arya, who usually loves food back in the States, suddenly didn’t enjoy anything. Even dishes that tasted ten times better here in China, nope. She survived on plain rice, the occasional chicken wing, snacks, and… let’s be real, McDonald’s, KFC, and Domino’s. Trying new things was completely out of the question.
I found myself sneaking little bits of seaweed crunch into her rice or trying to mix in healthier bites wherever I could. I wasn’t proud of handing her snacks all day long, but at a certain point, getting something in her belly became more important than sticking to any food rules.
And then came the sleep struggles. The first three nights were fine, thank you, jet lag. But after that, bedtime became a battle. She would find every excuse possible to avoid sleep, even though she was clearly exhausted. I was exhausted too. But I kept reminding myself: new bed, new place, overstimulated mind… of course she couldn’t settle down.
She was in full vacation mode, and all she wanted to do was play.
Looking Back...No Regrets
Yes, there were struggles. The clinginess. The picky eating. The bedtime battles. The exhaustion that comes with being “on” 24/7 as a solo parent in a foreign country. But even with all of that, I don’t regret a single moment of taking Arya on this one-month journey to China.
This trip gave us something I couldn’t have planned for: time. Real, uninterrupted time to bond. I watched her grow in ways I didn’t expect, not just emotionally, but even in her language. Being surrounded by Chinese speakers helped her connect with her roots, and slowly, she began picking up words and phrases. More than that, she felt deeply connected to family she had never met before.
She formed real bonds, especially with a few relatives she now FaceTimes regularly. And after we returned home, she would remind me of things she saw, places we visited, and moments that stood out to her. We’d sit together, reminiscing and laughing about the trip. For example, she said to me the other day, do you remember the baby shopping carts? I would go around the store and pick out the things I liked and you would pay at the counter because I don't have money? Ohh yes, sweetie I remember and maybe New York should have more of these stores with baby shopping carts as well to promote independence in stores for toddlers. Arya enjoyed it so much!
On our very last day in China, she turned to me and asked, “Mama, can we stay here and not go back home?”
That moment? That’s when I knew, she didn’t just enjoy the trip, she felt it. She was loved, welcomed, and impacted by every person she met. And to me, that made every challenge along the way completely worth it.
Would I do it again? Absolutely.
But maybe next time, I’ll bring my husband too, just to catch a break here and there!
Tips for Fellow Parents Traveling with Toddlers:
Expect the unexpected. Even the most adaptable kids can have emotional reactions to new environments.
Stick close at first. Give your child time to adjust before encouraging independence.
Let go of perfection. Some days it’ll be rice and snacks. Some nights they’ll sleep late. And that’s okay.
Be gentle with yourself. Your patience will be tested, and that doesn’t mean you’re failing.
Question for You:
Have you ever traveled with your child and experienced something totally unexpected? Whether it was a food strike, a sleep regression, or sudden clinginess? I’d love to hear how you navigated it. Share your story in the comments!
Stay tuned...next up, I’m diving into Guangzhou’s incredible food scene… even if I had to enjoy it solo while Arya stuck to her comfort food.
