To my absolute favorite Sharvu Boy,
When we packed our bags for Switzerland, I thought we were getting ready for your first international trip. We had lists to tick off, itineraries to follow, Airbnbs to check into, trains to catch, mountains to admire, and a tiny human to keep fed, rested, and happy through it all.
Your papa, of course, had planned everything to the T. From our stays and tickets to the little details that make travelling with a baby easier, he had thought of almost everything. And me? I was excited. A little nervous, perhaps. Mostly, I was looking forward to showing you the world.
What I didn’t realise was that, somewhere between the Swiss trains, the mountain views, the stroller walks, the playgrounds, the endless berries, and your many on-the-go naps, you would end up showing me a different world altogether.
I went to Switzerland thinking I was taking you on an adventure. I came back feeling like you had taken me on one. Here are a few things my little travel companion taught me without saying a single word.
1. The world doesn’t have to be conquered. Sometimes, it just has to be enjoyed.
Before you came along, I measured a good holiday by how much we managed to see. But travelling with you changed that rather quickly! Suddenly, a successful day meant making it out of the Airbnb on time, catching the right train, finding a spot for your nap, and leaving room for little detours. Watching you discover your first playground and sandpit reminded me that a place isn’t memorable because of how much we see, but how deeply we experience it. I learnt that we don’t always need to do more to make a day meaningful. Sometimes, doing less leaves us with so much more.
2. Motherhood has taught me that slowing down isn’t falling behind.
Travelling with a baby is like travelling with a tiny, adorable tour manager who has absolutely no respect for schedules! Between naps, feeds and stroller-friendly detours, I learnt to let go of the rush. The mountains weren’t going anywhere, the trains would keep running, and the world would still be beautiful if we arrived a little late. You taught me that life isn’t always about racing towards the next thing. Sometimes, slowing down is the only way to truly be present.
3. Love is not always a grand gesture. Sometimes, it is a well-packed diaper bag.
This trip showed me love in the little things your Papa did, from planning every detail and lugging suitcases to managing your baths, naps and everything in between. It reminded me that love isn’t always flowers or grand declarations; sometimes, it’s carrying the heavier bag, taking over when someone is tired, and quietly making sure everyone is okay. And perhaps one of the greatest gifts we can give you, Sharva, is letting you grow up seeing that love isn’t just what we say, but how we show up for each other, every single day.
4. I learnt to see the world through your eyes, and it was a much more beautiful place.
While we marvelled at Switzerland’s mountains, lakes and little towns, you found magic in swings and slides at Rosengarten, your first sandpit in Oberhofen, and exploring Chillon Castle in Papa’s arms. You reminded me that wonder doesn’t always come from seeing something extraordinary, but from seeing ordinary things as if for the first time. I hope you always hold on to that curiosity, Sharva, finding joy in the little things and magic in the everyday. Because sometimes, the world’s greatest wonders aren’t mountains or lakes, but a swing, a berry, or simply being outside with the people you love.
5. A perfect family holiday isn’t one where everything goes perfectly.
Travelling with a baby isn’t all picturesque views and adorable photographs. There are naps, feeding schedules, changed plans and tired parents. But through flights, trams, buses and countless adventures, you were our little travel pro, and we learnt to make it all work together. We adjusted, took turns and learnt not to sweat the small stuff. You reminded me that a perfect holiday isn’t one without hiccups, but one where the imperfect moments don’t overshadow the joy of being together. And perhaps that’s true of family life, too. We don’t need to create a flawless life for you, Sharva, just a loving one.
6. Motherhood hasn’t made my world smaller. It has made it bigger in ways I never expected.
Motherhood may have changed my routines, priorities and the amount of luggage I carry, but it hasn’t taken away my love for exploring. Watching you experience your first international flight, playground swings and sandpit made even familiar joys feel new. I wasn’t just rediscovering Switzerland; I was building memories with you and learning to see the world differently. Motherhood hasn’t made me want to explore less, Sharva. It has given me a new reason to keep going. Now, I don’t just want to see the world. I want to show it to you, and one day, discover it all over again through your eyes.
7. Love is taking your home with you, even when you are thousands of kilometres away.
Amid Switzerland’s beautiful landscapes and unfamiliar places, it was our familiar little routines—your meals, cuddles and the arms you reached for—that made everything feel right. You reminded me that home isn’t just a place, Sharva; it’s the feeling of being loved, comforted and safe, even when everything around you is new. As you grow older and explore more of the world, I hope you always remember that home isn’t just somewhere you return to. It’s also the love you carry with you, and the love that will always be waiting for you here.
8. The best souvenirs are the versions of ourselves we bring back.
We returned from Switzerland with photographs, memories, and a camera roll that was probably 80% you (including a few where you looked ready to file a complaint with Switzerland’s management!) and gifts for you (some you wanted like the toys, some you didnt care about like the bottles and bags and some you hated like the woolen cap). But my most precious souvenirs were the things I brought back within me: a little more patience, a deeper appreciation for Papa, and the reminder that motherhood and exploring the world can go hand in hand. I learnt that I can give you both roots and wings, and that we don’t need perfect plans or perfect circumstances to make beautiful memories. Sometimes, we just need to show up, figure things out together, and enjoy the adventure along the way.
You were just a little baby when we took this trip, so you won’t remember the train rides, mountain views, your first playground or the sandpits. But we will remember how you napped on the go, ate at random places, charmed strangers everywhere, and explored this new world with curious little eyes.
One day, we’ll show you the photographs and tell you the stories, hoping you’ll see more than a baby in Switzerland. You’ll see two parents who wanted to share the world with their little boy, not because he would remember every moment, but because they wanted to experience it with him. And that was more than enough.
But here is what Switzerland really taught your mumma.
– It taught me that life doesn’t need to be rushed to be meaningful.
– That love is often found in the smallest, most practical acts of care.
– That travel is not about collecting destinations but about collecting moments.
– That a happy family doesn’t need a perfect itinerary, only the willingness to adapt and enjoy the ride.
– That I can be your mumma and still be the woman who wants to explore, learn, dream, and discover.
– And that the world becomes a little more wonderful when you have someone you love beside you, seeing it for the first time.
But perhaps the most important thing I learnt is this: I thought my job was to show you the world. I didn’t realise you would change the way I see it.
Thank you, Monkey boy, for being my tiniest travel companion and one of my greatest teachers.
Thank you for reminding me to slow down, to notice, to laugh at the little things, and to find joy in the moments that don’t make it onto an itinerary.
Thank you for giving your papa and me a whole new reason to explore.
And thank you for making even the most ordinary parts of life feel like an adventure worth remembering.
This was your first international trip, my love. But for me, it was also a little journey into a new version of motherhood, a new understanding of love, and a new way of looking at life.
I don’t know where our next postcard will come from. Perhaps another country, another little town, another beautiful corner of the world. But wherever we go next, I hope we carry these lessons with us. To travel slowly. To love generously. To be present. To make room for wonder. And to remember that the most beautiful part of seeing the world is getting to see it together.
All my love, always,
Mumma ❤️
P.S. Sharva, when you are old enough to read this, I hope you take us on a few adventures of your own. But please remember that your papa is still in charge of the itinerary, and I am still in charge of making sure we stop for photographs. Some family traditions are simply non-negotiable.
