Airport Essentials
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I always want to stop first-time parents in the airport—lugging what appears to be their entire living room through security—and whisper, “You don’t need all that.” But instead, I just give a silent nod of solidarity from behind my oversized sunglasses and slightly overstuffed tote. We’ve all been there.
Somewhere between baby number two and realizing I wasn’t auditioning for the role of full-time sherpa, I decided to pare it down. Like, way down. These days, each kid carries their own stuff (yes, even the little ones), and I get to hold something that makes me feel a little more “chic travel mom,” a little less “human pack mule.”
So in the spirit of spring break and trying to hold on to some semblance of style while traveling with children, here are my actual travel essentials—the MVPs I packed for our latest family trip.
Of course I’m carrying an RM bag. The Surplus Tote is my go-to travel companion. It's basically a black hole in the best way—lightweight, deceptively spacious, and just the right amount of slouchy-chic.
Rebecca Minkoff Surplus Tote (Linked HERE)
Let’s be real—this tote carries more than it probably should. My haul includes:
My laptop (because “vacation” still means answering emails)
My Anecdote laptop case—because my computer deserves to be cute too
My Fellow Carter travel mug, aka my current obsession.
Water wipes and silver gel for under the kids’ fingernails and noses. It gives us four hours of antimicrobial protection and lets us ditch the hand sanitizer.
Each of my kids rocks their own STATE backpack. Inside? Whatever will keep them quiet(ish) and happy(ish) for at least one leg of the flight. The littles carry toy cars, plastic dinosaurs, and action figures (sorry, flight attendants). For the older ones: iPads, chargers, books they swore they’d read, and headphones. And of course, snacks. We do a solid rotation of grass-fed beef jerky, Simple Mills almond flour crackers, stringles, and yogurt pouches.
So, no, we don’t travel light. But we travel smart(ish). And stylish(ish). And sometimes, that’s all you can ask for.
Xx, RM