Vance Family’s Global Adventures and Parenting Insights

Watching the Vance family travel the world together is quite a sight. Vice President J.D. Vance, along with his wife Usha, brought their children to the Vatican during Holy Week. He also visited India earlier in the year to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It might sound odd, but seeing their family dynamic struck a chord with me. Perhaps it’s the warmth of sharing special moments with kids during holidays, or maybe it reminds me of the choices my husband and I made to include our children in our public lives.

I am grateful for this job every day, especially where my official duties today brought me to Rome on Good Friday. I have a great meeting with Prime Minister Meloni and her team and head straight to the church with my family in this beautiful city. I wish all Christians…

– jd vance (@jdvance) April 18, 2025

It’s been quite some time since the U.S. had a president or vice president with young kids. The Vance children—a seven-year-old, a four-year-old, and a two-year-old—are at those unpredictable ages, full of wonder but also testing boundaries. Honestly, not many parents dream of taking children this young on big trips, especially with the media watching their every move, yet Vance seems to embrace it all.

There are some takeaways for all parents here.

My husband and I got married young and started our family shortly afterward. We always believed that exposing our children to new experiences was vital. When we had our daughter, there was this notion that kids should stay home until they were older to avoid disrupting outings. But, well, that never really fit with how we wanted to raise our children.

We often faced skepticism about bringing kids out in public—whether at restaurants or events. People seemed anxious, anticipating when our children would misbehave. Yet we were determined to teach our kids to navigate these environments, making them enjoyable for everyone involved. The key? Taking them out into the world.

JD Vance Shop at Jungle Gyms in Fairfield, just as we all do. Our VP @jdvance was shopping with his family this morning.

– Karin Johnson WLWT (@karinjohnson) June 25th, 2025

Take Sunday mass, for instance. It’s a must for us, so skipping it was simply not an option. We often found ourselves in challenging situations, like one Sunday when our oldest had an ear infection and our youngest was just a couple of months old. If you’ve dealt with toddlers, you know how messy it can get. Our oldest wouldn’t sit still, and our baby was being sick all morning. It was chaotic.

While it didn’t always go smoothly, that experience also provided a chance for growth. My husband held our crying eldest while I tried to keep things together with lots of baby wipes in hand. I recall him whispering some gentle reminders to our three-year-old about expected behavior. Just that little preparation made a difference.

It’s truly the simple things that often matter. As parents, every outing—be it to someone’s home or a restaurant—was an opportunity to set expectations for our children. This proactive approach seemed to help.

This was actually the *best* photo we got in the Taj Mahal today as three little kids stare at the sun 😂

– jd vance (@jdvance) April 23, 2025

Kids, in essence, are blank slates. They don’t instinctively know how to navigate the world; they rely on us to guide them. I often think our society is too focused on “gentle parenting” where options replace clear guidance. They need someone to firmly tell them what’s acceptable behavior.

If you’re willing to invest time in teaching your children, they can grow up to be strong and confident individuals. Crowded places like airplanes, restaurants, or churches can be overwhelming for them. Pushing them into these situations without preparation isn’t fair. Yes, things won’t be perfect every time, but practicing these scenarios is crucial. The more they engage, the better they learn.

Happy children don’t just happen by chance. They come from parents who are actively involved in their upbringing. Seeing Vance with his little one in St. Peter’s Cathedral reminded me of those chaotic mornings when my world felt out of control. We didn’t stop our outings just because some days felt like a whirlwind.

My hope is that more parents take inspiration from this, stepping out with their kids. Society could use a bit more visibility on how children can be raised amidst love and structure.

Questions or comments about this newsletter can be sent to goodlife@dailycaller.com. I don’t always respond, but I do try to read each one. Building this community has been one of my favorite parts of the journey, and I might even address your questions in future updates.

Follow Mary Luke on X: @maryrooke