However, I learned a valuable lesson. If you're traveling with three littles (aged 3, 18 months, and 11 months), don't decide to head home at 5 pm. When no one has had dinner. Or an afternoon nap.
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| All loaded up, 3 carseats packed in the backseat |
4:45 pm: We were loaded into the car, ready to hit the road for the 2 1/2 hour drive, where dinner awaits at the other end. Snacks in hand for tiding children over.
5:01 pm: Break out the snacks because each kid is already restless. Spend the next 30 minutes doling out snacks (most of which are now between the carseats, I'm sure).
6:10 pm: 18 month old and 11 month old begin to cry. 3 year old says she has to go potty. Decide to stop for dinner, but there aren't any exists for another 10 minutes. 3 year old insists she can't wait. 11 month old screaming at the top of his lungs during the whole time.
6:25 pm: Stop at Wendys. Comfort frazzled children. Take turns ordering food. The 3 year old who had to go potty so so so so so so bad is distracted playing and says she doesn't have to go right now (ha!).
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| Refueling |
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| Antics at the table |
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| Squishy had his first fast food |
7:45 pm: Leave Wendy's, after spending 15 minutes trying to rebuckle all 3 carseats in the back seat.
7:45-8:30 pm: Drive the remaining 45 minutes home, while the 11 month old screams the majority of way. My sweet friend Christina glanced at me, laughing, and over the ruckus we reflected on the differences between our present experience and our college road trips "back in the day."
8:30 pm: Finally home. The backseat is quiet.
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| All tuckered out. |
Do you have any chaotic "road-trip with little kids" stories? You can probably tell I'm still a newbie at this...
You can link up your recent adventures below. Link up to your blog post, link back here, and then visit around!
Last September I drove with both girls (under two and under 3 months at the time) through 5 states over 36 hours with just my high school best friend (Jon was already at home). Whew. That trip wore me out! Hannah cried the last two hours. I don't blame her. I nearly cried! Haha. But I've learned a few trick (lots and lots of food and driving during naptime).
ReplyDeleteWow...36 hours. That makes 2 1/2 hours sound TOTALLY wimpy.
ReplyDeleteI'm very happy with the portable DVD-players when we drive long hours!!! Tried one holiday without and it wasn't a succes... I always take a lot of little presents and snacks, kids-CD's, little books etc. And we stop every few hours and make them move around and pee... I learned a lot the last 4,5 years of being a mom! (oh and I always make them wear a diaper just in case we can't stop in time, makes me sit a lot calmer in the car ;-) )
ReplyDeleteLove Amelie
Wow! I am not that brave. Rest up! =)
ReplyDeleteI am going on my first car trip for several hours alone with the kiddies tomorrow! We're heading upstate to visit family while Hubs is down in Miami on a big business trip. We're all meeting back here at home on Monday night, but wish me luck that I do ok on the road trip alone with 2 munchkins! I've got plenty of crackers, milk, and am timing it so they will both hopefully sleep for the three hour ride! Great post!
ReplyDeletePlanning the car ride for during naptime is ESSENTIAL...at least that's the conclusion I'm coming to! :D Hope it goes well, Ammie!
ReplyDeleteThis is great, Alicia, and fun to look back on and smile. :) Love you!
ReplyDeleteYou're newly famous friend,
Christina
moms, kids, road trip...priceless
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like something to laugh about when your kids are driving and taking road trips together. :) "Remember, back in the day...?"
ReplyDeleteMy new adventure this week is my beginning to take on some office work for my mom, soon-to-be-published author. I think I need to go to time-management boot camp.
When my kids were 2-1/2 and 4 months old, we drove from Atlanta to Leesburg, VA to attend a funeral. On the drive home, we made it in 13 hours and drove until 2 a.m. I was SO glad to be home!
ReplyDeleteHello, Alicia
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great adventure. You are very brave, lol.
1kiss.
PS: I've known your blog this week, and i'm totally hooked on it. I'm reading last posts, and they are very interesting. Congrats.
I miss, miss, miss crazy times like that. Unfortunately, they'll be over before you know it. Enjoy all that it is and the honor what is to be a part of it.
ReplyDeleteI love trying new things! It's exactly what I'm doing as well. I feel so invigorated when I'm stretching myself and becoming the best person I can be. :)Thanks for your post :)
ReplyDelete