Traveling Through the Unknown

Cassidy Van Slyke Blenke found a way to turn her fear of flying and her worries about traveling with children over to God.

My family of six, with four kids five and under, were about to embark on our first trip together. Before having children, trips were vacations filled with plenty of rest, blissful moments, and relaxation. After becoming a mother, I soon realized that taking trips were just “displaced chaos.” No longer was there time for adult naps, meals sitting down at a table, or calm moments of solitude. From preparation to coming home and the plentiful loads of laundry that follow, traveling with the entire young crew is exhausting, and often the whole process rests on my shoulders.

I often find myself consumed with worry instead of excitement, wondering: do I have everything I need? Will the children be safe in a new environment? Will they have fun? Will I survive?! The answer is most likely yes to all of those questions, but my brain tricks me into thinking that all will not be well on our trip, and I then spiral into an anxiety-ridden rabbit hole.

I suffer from the phobia of flying. Pile on top of that traveling with little ones, and my anxiety skyrockets. While phobias and anxieties surrounding travel and flying in airplanes are common among many people, the commonality of the fear of flying doesn’t lessen the burden of trying to power through it each time I fly. Phobias, fears, hesitations, worries, unknowns, and the gamut of all types of anxieties, some more brain chemistry rather than environmentally influenced, surround us every day, especially as parents. Empowering myself to overcome these inconvenient burdens requires enlisting the support of my higher power, communities, providers, and loved ones who encourage the positive growth of my family and myself.

Leaning on my fellow Catholic Mom community, I shared my weekly prayer intention that I was struggling with my family’s approaching trip. Our editor suggested I enlist the support of Venerable Patrick Peyton, who devoted his life to traveling around the world, sharing the vital message that "The Family That Prays Together Stays Together." Before boarding our plane, I passed around the prayer cards and faithfully placed them in our backpacks. Choosing a patron whose true devotion was to strengthening family life gave me the courage I needed to separate myself from my phobia and focus on what was most important: spending precious time with family and embracing the gift of being able to travel together.

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Choosing a patron devoted to strengthening family life gave me the courage I needed to separate myself from my phobia and focus on what was most important. #CatholicMom

Next time you embark on an adventure or work to overcome a fear, I implore you to pick a patron saint and turn over your worries. I need to gently remind myself that fears don’t just fall away once we turn them over; it’s a continued practice of patience and faith to those that walked before us. To channel the holiness of Venerable Patrick Peyton, pray the following prayer for a favor:

God, our Father, your wisdom is displayed in all creation and the power of your grace is revealed in the lives of holy people, who inspire us to trust you more fully and to serve others more generously. In a unique way, you blessed the life and work of your servant Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., and made him a fervent apostle of Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary and Mother of us all. Through his intercession, we ask for this favor…

Please grant it, if it is for your honor and glory, through Christ Our Lord. Amen

Imprimatur: Most Reverend George W. Coleman
Bishop of Fall River
April 25, 2005

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