Traveling with young children often looks like organized chaos—but what if that very chaos is where the richest moments live?
On a trip to Italy, Jenna Bush Hager discovered that the in-between times—between naps, small meltdowns, and rushed sightseeing—can hold the most meaningful experiences.
In Italy, she realized that traveling with a little one isn’t about perfect schedules or ticking off landmarks. Beneath the grandeur of the Vatican’s ceilings, she cradled her son Hal as his eyes grew heavy with sleep. Watching him navigate exhaustion and awe at the same time, she saw how fully a child can experience a new place: overwhelmed, tired, yet completely present. Those fleeting reactions captured the wonder that guidebooks and itineraries often miss.
Back home, Hal’s soft Italian phrases—“Grazie mille! Buongiorno!”—became more than charming sounds. They were evidence that the journey had left a real imprint: a connection to language, culture, and memory that no photo could replicate. Italy had become part of him, quietly shaping his sense of the world, one imperfect, magical moment at a time.
Conclusion
Jenna learned that travel isn’t about flawless plans or picture-perfect snapshots. Its magic lives in the small, messy moments—the ones where patience wears thin and curiosity shines through anyway. Through a child’s eyes, even the busiest days can reveal wonder, connection, and memory. Sometimes, the true essence of a place isn’t what you see, but what it leaves in the people you love.