“Crack!” On the morning we were about to leave Melbourne and start our road trip in a rental campervan, Xiaoyuegege accidentally broke a glass. I had a vague sense of foreboding. Sure enough, several unexpected things happened in the days that followed.
1 “Murphy’s Law”—The more you fear something going wrong, the more likely it is to happen.
On the first day of driving, our campervan’s engine had problems, almost causing us to miss seeing the little penguins return to their nests. The next day, the van’s condition was erratic, constantly affecting our travel progress. Eventually, on the day we were to drive onto the Great Ocean Road, this old vehicle could go no further.
That day was supposed to be the highlight of the Great Ocean Road trip. We had planned to stop at scenic spots along the way to take photos, enjoy coffee leisurely, admire the views, and arrive in the evening at the Twelve Apostles to watch the sunset. But all of that turned into nothing but a dream. At that moment, I was extremely frustrated and kept complaining.
2 “The Secret Rule”—Everything gets better the moment you change your mindset.
“Mom, are we having bad luck? What should we do?” Xiaoyuegege looked at me helplessly, clearly upset. In that instant, my heart ached. I realized that anxiety and negativity not only didn’t help but also made Xiaoyuegege feel very insecure. Moreover, I had set a bad example—when facing problems in the future, she might become just as flustered and complain as much as I did.
“Of course not,” I quickly hugged Xiaoyuegege, trying to calm myself down and said softly, “We’re not having bad luck, we’re just encountering things that are different from our original plan. Let me tell you a secret: when something unexpected happens, if you keep thinking negatively, you really will run into bad luck. But if you relax and actively look for solutions, luck will stay with us. So thank you, Xiaoyue, for reminding Mom at this crucial moment. I’m going to discuss a new plan with Dad right now. Trust me, everything will get better.”
3 Embracing the Unexpected—Helping Your Child Grow Stronger Inside
From that moment on, things miraculously began to turn around. While waiting for the tow truck, a kind grandfather at the golf club warmly invited Xiaoyuegege to practice putting with him on the beautiful course. The waiting time was no longer tedious but turned into a wonderful experience.
My husband, Old Wang, and I also started seriously discussing how to make better use of our limited time. Sitting in the huge tow truck, we laughed and remarked that it was the first time in our lives we’d ridden in a Transformer—it was quite a unique life experience.
After switching vehicles and hitting the road again, we unexpectedly found a four-leaf clover by a picturesque pasture. Xiaoyuegege excitedly shouted, “Look, it’s a lucky four-leaf clover. Mom was right, luck really is following us!” Yes, things truly started to improve from the moment we changed our mindset.
I’m very grateful for this trip. It gave me unexpected insights into parenting and life. On subsequent trips, I even began to deliberately make travel plans less detailed, so that Xiaoyuegege and I would have more chances to encounter the unexpected. This helps guide her to face changes with equanimity, solve problems—whether on the road or in life—with a more positive and optimistic attitude, and even learn to enjoy the unexpected, gradually making our hearts stronger.