Facing Fears, Finding Calm

That moment when your biggest fear meets parenting? Yeah, I’ve been there.

I hate flying. I hate the lurch as the airplane takes off. I used to knuckle the armrests as we descended. I hated being on the plane. I usually spent the entire flight buried in a book, pretending my feet were firmly on the ground and not way too high in the air.

That weekend, I had to take two flights. But not just me—my entire family. Including the kids, who love flying.

They wanted me to look out the window with them. They wanted me to interact with them like it was a normal experience. Because for them, it was—they were thrilled.

So, I spent the day doing my best to regulate. I had audiobooks and books ready on my Kindle. Devices were charged so they could take photos and show them to me once we were back on solid ground. I even had my notebook with me to jot down a work idea I’d been thinking about. And I had downloaded meditations—lifesavers, honestly—for the moments when I couldn’t quite disappear into a book.

And I spent the ride reading and working, while they happily watched a movie and looked out the window.

Sometimes, being a parent means staring your fears down with a brave face while your kids are watching. They didn’t need to know my knuckles were white—they just needed to see a mom who was present and regulated.

And the truth? Their excitement did help me find a little less fear in the experience.

What fears have you faced for the sake of your children?