Welcome to Mommy’s Grounded, where every week, I will be sharing confessions, opinions, and anecdotes from my journey through parenthood as a mom of three. Expect an against-the-grain, honest, and humorous take on the hottest topics in parenting. “Grounded” can refer to “in trouble/punished” or “well-balanced/sensible” depending on the reader’s discretion. I embrace the happy chaos that is life with kids, and look forward to sharing my perfectly imperfect adventures with all of you.
Many have witnessed it first hand: the burst of a baby’s cry as the bride walks down the aisle, a flower girl making a run for it during the vows, or a ring bearer picking his nose and giggling loudly as the bride and groom fumble their way through their I Do’s. As adorable as they may be in their pretty pinafores and miniature tuxes, there’s an element of risk when it comes to incorporating children into a wedding, which is why my husband and I opted out entirely, taking the safer route with an adults-only celebration.
I joined the millions of viewers who witnessed the royal union of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle last weekend, and while all eyes were on the bride-to-be’s modest gown and the sea of fashionistas donning fanciful fascinators, I was most fascinated with the women who kept their composure while herding the brood of bridal babes through the day’s events.
A total of 10 bridesmaids and pageboys escorted the bride down the aisle – all children, and all under the age of seven. To me, this would have been a royal recipe for disaster, but the trio of moms who led the kids into the chapel, including soon-to-be sister-in-law Kate Middleton and the bride’s bestie Jessica Mulroney, managed to keep their cool while keeping the kids at bay.
Children of Prince William and Kate, George and Charlotte, were joined in the wedding party by twins Brian and John Mulroney, who carried Meghan’s veil down the aisle; their little sister Ivy Mulroney; Meghan’s goddaughters Remi and Rylan Litt; Jasper Dyer, the son of Harry’s friend Mark Dyer; and Zalie Warren and Florence van Cutsem, Harry’s goddaughters – a gaggle of giggling cuties who managed to make it through the ceremony incident free.
How did they do it? Extensive etiquette lessons for the kids, a whole lot of practice, help from the royal nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo (known as “the child whisperer”), and good old fashioned bribery. In an interview with Hello magazine, a wedding guest who witnessed the herding of the little helpers commented, “One little girl was upset but being comforted by the promise of Peppa Pig and Smarties later.”
It’s comforting to know that even royal moms need to resort to the promise of treats to get through a big event with their kids.
It takes a lot of planning, patience and prep for me to brave a public outing with my trio of tots. The thought of a dozen or so onlookers witnessing the onset of a meltdown in a grocery store, or the stress of being the one with a sobbing baby on an airplane, is enough to make me want to hole up and hide away until my children are fully grown, so I can’t imagine the stress level of the heroic mothers who faced the ultimate motherhood challenge with millions of eyes watching their every move.
Throughout the event, there wasn’t one crinkle of a candy wrapper, or a squeal to be heard, and for that, I think it’s the wedding moms who deserve the crowns.
Bianca Bujan is a mom of three, writer, editor, and marketing consultant. Find her online at @bitsofbee or bitsofbee.com.
