the car is my second home

(Note: Total stream of consciousness . . . beware)

The car makes me tired. Loading. Unloading. I swear the car is like my second home. I have a second of everything stashed away in there--wipes, clothes, underwear, bags, sunscreen, toys, books, even plastic spoons. I rarely clean out the car so it smells. My husband has tried to forbid me from feeding the kids in the car because it stinks so bad. Yes, that's right. On the floor you'll find smooshed up pretzels, crackers, raisins and maybe even an old apple. Yes, it's that gross. But feeding my kids in the car keeps them quiet.

Back in the day, my car was filled with toys for the kids and reading material for me--just in case someone was sleeping when we got somewhere. I would call friends and write blog posts in the car. If I had an iPhone it would be my mini office, except for the smell of the forgotten milk bottle.

When they were little, I couldn't wait to get kids into the car after a long, exhausting trip anywhere, fought kids into carseats as they wriggled around resisting the buckle, rolled my eyes as everyone screamed because we waited too long to leave a place, and then rejoiced when we finally got out of the car at home. Sometimes taking a few minutes to just stand outside the car and take a very deep breath.

I load people in and out all day driving them to camp, school, classes and playdates. Before they were in school, we drove to playdates and sometimes just the mall. Hell, sometimes I just drove so at least everyone was strapped in and couldn't get hurt. But now they are old enough that the just LEAN into each other and it makes it yet another chore. I guess before that they just hurled toys at each other. So really, it's the same.

I am pleased to announce that I finally reclaimed my radio after 4 years. Somewhere around the time my son was one, he started to prefer The Wiggles, Sara Hickman or Laurie Berkner. And for almost 5 years that's what I heard when the car was in drive. But I finally put my foot down and said, "NO!" Sometimes Mommy needs her own music.

The car (Ok this the third car in 5 years--blame it on moving) has seen many car seats and heard many fights. My kids have been fighting since the day they both could talk. Ok, even before that. The car seems too loud to me and I often wish I had a minivan so they were at least THAT much farther away from me (and my ears).

But at least I'm not driving a stick anymore. Nothing is worse with a Bunch than learning (yes, learning) to drive a stick with an 18-month old and a 2 month old. Phone ringing, bottles dropping, toy throwing...all while trying to change gears. Not a pretty sight. 

The car is difficult for me to understand. I use it now to get from point A to point B and sometimes we have great discussion and a good time. But really, now, I prefer to walk. It just seems so much easier.

Do you love your car trips, too?

Comments

[Melissa]

I feel your pain. Truly. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. We started early on with car trips for vacations, so now that our kids are school aged, they're pretty good about it. Still, it's not for everyone. LAst fall, my husband traded in the mommy-mobile (complete with cloth seats and the sour milk smell) for what I like to refer to as my adult car. You WILL get there. :-)

[Jen]

Your car sounds like mine...but cleaner.

[Mama Cas]

i agree jen...

i kid you not... i found ants in my car the other day.... i was like, um... EWWWWWW... so EVERYTHING came out and i finally... finally removed the car seats to vacuum under them... i don't understand.... it's been less than a year since we last did this... i sucked up crumbs and ants and dried up strawberry milk... and that was the best of it... many mysteries under those seats... i tell you this chose is NOT for the faint at heart (or stomach)

[Mama Cas]

chore... i meant chore there at the end

[Serena28LANCASTER]

People in every country take the business loans from different banks, because this is comfortable.