Skip to main content

Minivan Swag



I once thought "minivan moms" were a certain kind of mom and by golly I was bound and determined that I wouldn't be one of them. Truth is, minivan moms can encompass any type of mom. Of course you have the "soccer moms" and the moms with a lot of kiddos in tow, but let's not forget the rest of us. From the hot mess moms, to corporate moms, to stay-at-home moms, to the mom who looks super glam at drop off, to the mom rocking the yoga pants, we can all rock the minivan in our own ways.

It hit me that it's been two and half years since we signed the papers and brought home what I like to call our "hot mess express." I avoided it for years. I declared loudly and proudly that I would never drive a minivan. I was going to be an SUV mom. That is until I quickly learned what a royal pain in the ass the third row seating can be. I watched my then four year old struggle daily to climb back there. Half the time I couldn't tell if he was properly buckled, because he was blocked by the monstrosity of the full second row. Sometimes I even felt oddly guilty that he had to sit back there (Is that weird? Eh probably!) in the space that was hidden from mommy's view and often times right next to the stroller.

We powered through with that SUV for three years and by then I came to the realization that it was time. Many of us moms will have that awakening moment and next thing you know, you're at the dealership with two minivans side-by-side making a decision on which one to take home. It was a sad day when that minivan first rolled into our driveway. After all, I was still in my 20's and trying to stay hip. Here's the thing. I gave it a solid year of embracing that van and now (hear my cough as I say this) I kind of love it. Better yet, I love that my kids love it. I love the sliding doors, I love the stow and go, I love the deep trunk, I love that my kids can ride in silence while watching movies so mom can listen to her choice of tunes, I love the sound system, I love the 13 cupholders and heck I love that it's the ultimate tailgate mobile. There I said it! I like it, okay?

That all being said, here are a few signs that you might be ready to become a minivan mom from my personal experiences:

1. You haul tiny humans and/or a lot stuff.
2. You plan to have a big family or in my case you were surprised with twins.
3. You have ever struggled to get your kids into your car, because some jerk parked on top of you.
4. You are willing to let go of the "minivan mom" stereotype. Just buy larger sunglasses!
5. You don't mind driving a long vehicle. Honestly, it doesn't feel that big after a while.
6. You enjoy road trips. I do not, but it's nice to have when you plan to spend a lot of time on the road.
7. You need a place to hide Christmas and birthday gifts. Love that stow and go!
8. You buy a crap ton of groceries.
9. You like to be able to get Starbucks and jam out while your kids sleep comfortably in the back.
10. You want to be able to watch your kids hop into the car with just the push of a button while you are holding all of the things!

I've embraced the minivan life, while at the same time I am hoping the van we purchased will last through the minivan chapter of this mom life. Sometimes I'll be driving down the road, rocking my big sunglasses and a Nelly song will come on (while my kids are glued to their film). I start to jam 90's style, but then all of a sudden it dawns on me that I'm jamming in a minivan and I'm like NOPE change that tune. Then there are moments when I forget that I'm even driving one. Other moments I look in the rearview and see the relaxed, happy faces of my kids and I know that I made the right investment.

All aboard the hot mess express!



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

No One Prepared Me for This

This is the part of motherhood that I feel no one prepared me for. Perhaps you can't really be prepared at all. I didn't think it would happen as quickly as it did.  I'm talking about the day you wake up and your firstborn child is looking you in the eye and well on the way to surpassing your height. Can we not?  Seriously!  Sending Rhylan to middle school last year was a very tough concept to grasp. I've come to terms with being the mother of a middle schooler. I mean...what choice do I have? In doing so, I've had a front row seat to extraordinary growth (and I'm not just talking about physically). I've watched him overcome so much. Whether it was constant encounters with a bully (no one prepares you for that either), watching him navigate tough decisions, strengthening his sportsmanship or taking accountability... I'm constantly amazed by him. Last year was fifth grade. He seemed like a baby walking into that giant middle school. We're currently im...

You, My Friend, Matter.

Are you someone who has put herself on the back burner? Maybe you're like me and you've neglected your healthcare needs for years? Today is the day that you make a change. Okay? Say it with me.  I matter. My health and well-being matters. How did that feel? Was it hard to say? Did it leave you with a pit in your stomach? That pit in your stomach is your body's way of telling you that you need to make a change. I decided that a new year was the perfect time to push myself to make an appointment and take the first steps toward medical wellness. Self-care is a topic that we hear about almost daily. We're told to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of others. Make time to rest. Eat well. Exercise. Have a good skincare routine. Declutter our spaces. Listen to our bodies. Meditate. Be mindful. The list goes on and on....and while I have mastered many of those things, I also realize that medical wellness also fits into the equation (whether I want to admit it or no...

What I Learned from Frugal January

While I don't believe in new year resolutions, I do believe in goals, aspirations and dreams. As a society, we're made to feel that with each new year, we must make resolutions, which more often than not, fade by March or set us up for failure. The feeling of failure is never good for the spirit, so a couple of years ago, I decided to stop giving in to that societal pressure. I have found that self-reflection is an excellent place to begin a new year and set realistic goals. This year, I started by challenging myself to what I named Frugal January. It's exactly what it sounds like. I challenged myself to only spend on necessities. I gave up runs to the coffee shop and trips to TJ Maxx. I gave up frivolous, careless and impulse-based spending, no matter how big or small it was. I asked myself one question with every single purchase decision, "do I really need this?" If I could live without it, I declined it. Did this cause me physical pain at times? Yes! There were...