I have travelled long distances with one child and I have travelled alone with a baby, but the two of them together? Well, that was an experience enough for my husband to exclaim, “Not again until they are much older!”

I flew into Kenya with a four-year-old and a nine-month-old and left with an almost five-year-old and a one-year-old walking toddler. Just those few months we stayed in Kenya were significant enough to make a difference with our travel.

Travelling with kids is like preparing for Armageddon; you don't know what’s coming but you have to be prepared for it. That’s why you see people who are travelling with kids at the airport are always frazzled and have about 10 pieces of hand luggage that may or may not be essential for the trip.

For starters, one has to pack multiple clothes for each child. Then diapers for those of us travelling with babies or toddlers. Wipes and diaper creams follow suit.

Toys are next. One must be prepared for every level of boredom your child encounters. Books and activity books to recycle their focus and energy.

Earphones, medicines, mats, snacks and food are some of the things you have to be armed with because you just never know when the need will strike. And when it does strike, it strikes as a need, one where if you don’t have it, prepare for disaster to break out.

I was about two days too late from getting caught up in the airport madness that struck Nairobi during the strike carried out by airport workers. I imagined myself being stranded in that horror show with two little kids and no reservations or money to stay at a hotel. Just the thought of being in a place like that packed with discontented travellers and confusion and anger with small kids is enough to make me break into a sweat. I could not imagine just how bad it would be if we were actually stranded there.

Alas, that is the reality of travelling with kids. One must plan for delays, disruptions, illnesses and anything in between. Never mind that we have to keep up with our children’s energy and deal with their fussiness of being strapped down for hours.

Remember when you are travelling with children that you can always underpack but you can never overpack. Expect the unexpected, prepare for the challenging and hope for the best!