<Insert chorus of sympathy here>
Honestly, I’m so stoked about finally getting out of here
and going to visit family that I’m actually looking forward to it. No doubt
there will be some hair-pulling moments, but at least we will be out of this
house…out of this town…traveling toward our old home…toward everything and
everyone we love and miss so much…
Yes, I’m ready. Bring it on.
But I definitely need to do everything I can to make this
trip go as smoothly as possible. We’ve road tripped with a youngster a few
times, so I know how important it is to be prepared for anything. Here are some
things I’ve considered so far:
1)
Bring medication. No, not to knock the kids out
(as tempting as that may be at times), but because you never know when illness
might strike. Once, when Hannah was about a year old, she and I both came down
with the flu just a couple of hours into a road trip. You haven’t lived until
you’ve searched for an open urgent care in the middle of nowhere after
surviving fevers and chills overnight in a hotel during a snowstorm.
2)
Hannah will be wearing a pull-up. She’s potty
trained, but not while sleeping, and I’m not risking it. I don’t think I want
to add “cleaning and sanitizing a car seat at a gas station in the middle of
nowhere” to my “you haven’t lived until” list.
3)
We’re bringing the iPad, complete with newly
installed kid movies. Hannah should be thoroughly entertained.
4)
I don’t know how Abram is going to be thoroughly
entertained. In fact, I’m pretty sure he’s not. I know I will end up wedging
myself in between two car seats in the back of our little Mazda and making
silly faces at him while he squawks at me.
5)
I’m trying to decide if we should find a hotel
before Abram’s 7 p.m. bedtime. He’s a very habitual little guy and gets pretty
upset if his beauty rest doesn’t begin on time. I know it’s possible that he
will simply sleep in the car, but it’s also quite possible that he will get
cranky and overtired.
Is making good time
worth the potential headaches? I’m thinking the answer is probably no,
especially after we’ve all endured about twelve hours of road slavery.
6)
Keep snacks handy! And diapers. And wipes. And
toys…oh dear, it’s getting crowded.
I think some wonderful family memories can be made on road
trips, even when things go a little wrong, but it’s certainly nice to feel
prepared! Do you have any tips on traveling with young children?
