I just got back from a two-week trip to Europe with my daughter, and my heart is so full I don’t even know where to start. She just finished a semester studying abroad, and we spent the last two weeks traveling around, just the two of us.
It was messy, of course. There were delayed trains, confusing maps, and moments where we were both just exhausted. But it was also magic. We drank too much coffee, got lost in cobblestone streets, and laughed until our sides hurt.
While we were sitting at a tiny café one afternoon, just watching the world go by, it hit me. When she was little, I used to worry so much about giving her the right things. The right toys, the right clothes, the perfect birthday presents. I thought that’s how you showed love. I think a lot of us fall into that trap, especially when we’re juggling a million different roles and just trying to keep our heads above water. We buy things because it feels like a tangible way to say, “I love you.”
But here’s the truth I’ve learned, especially now that she’s older: the things break. They get outgrown. They end up in a donation box.
The memories, though? Those are forever.
The time we spend just being with our kids—whether it’s a two-week trip across Europe or a twenty-minute walk around the neighborhood—that is what actually builds the foundation of our relationship. It’s the shared experiences, the inside jokes, the moments when things go wrong and you just have to laugh about it together.
I know it’s hard. I know you’re tired. I know the mental load of planning an experience feels so much heavier than just clicking “add to cart.” But honey, I promise you, it is worth it.
You don’t have to book a flight to Europe to create a memory. Radical grace means starting exactly where you are, with whatever energy you have today.
Maybe this weekend, instead of running to the store, you just make pancakes together. Maybe you turn on some music in the kitchen and dance while the pasta water boils. Maybe you just sit on the porch and talk.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be you, showing up. Because at the end of the day, the greatest gift you can ever give them is your presence.
We’ve got this. Together.
