Riding in Vans with Kids

There really is nothing like it. Usually when I'm trapped in a vehicle with my children, it's for a very short period of time...like driving the one mile down the road to Food Lion, or the five miles to the gym. Or, heaven forbid, when I'm wanting to live life on the edge, the 20 minutes to the nearest Wal-Mart. I'm always taking my life into my own hands when I attempt that trip.

I mean, chances are one of the kids will be fine on any given car trip...but the chance that both kids will just sit back and enjoy the ride? You guessed it. Nope.
So recently when we traveled to Florida...I was in a panic thinking of all the screaming that I was going to endure. And already a bit embarrassed about what everyone else in my mom's 15 passenger was going to think. (Can't this lady control these kids? Actually, no. I can't. I do try...they just inherited mule-like stubbornness. Where from? No idea. Surely not me. Hopefully they won't also inherit my tendency to follow rabbit trails while writing.) Merrick is a free spirit, which means the car seat straps seem to be burning a hole in his limbs, to hear him tell it. Tirzah just doesn't like to go anywhere without being held...and car seats just don't count when it comes to holding.

The trip down was actually ok. We traveled through the night, and both kids slept almost the whole night through. Tirzah did the best of the two...even sleeping longer than she does at home. Merrick just woke up at 6:30 am and wanted everyone else in the van to be just as awake as he was. They were not of the same mindset. ;) The trip back was during the day. I call that day: the day the crying never ended. Tirzah was NOT a happy camper. She was awake, and no one was holding her...this is not acceptable. Merrick was also awake, and was strapped in to that abominable car seat...also not acceptable. I didn't realize it was possible to hear the words "Mommy gee out" so many times. *which is actually supposed to be: Mommy, get out.*

We were crammed in there like sardines, but we finally made it back home after the 12 hour trip. All kidding aside, I'm grateful that we had a safe trip there and back. I'm always grateful for safe travel...even if it isn't safe for my sanity. And I really don't mind hearing "mommy, gee out!" as long as we get where we're going. What I'm not going to be ready to hear is: "Mom, can I have the keys?" Thank goodness I've got a few more years of car seats...