When I was in my twenties and thirties, the thought never crossed my mind that by the time I reached my mid-forties, I would be hauling kids around in a Honda Odyssey. While I never owned any sleek sports cars, my Ford Explorer was dedicated to weekend road trips in the country and taking the dogs for a ride.
Right after the twins were born, we decided to trade in the 4X4 for a minivan. We knew that it would make life a bit easier to maneuver two babies in and out, along with all of the necessary kid gear.
Fast forward to 2011 and the infant car seats are long gone, only to be replaced by candy wrappers, library books and iPods. What I didn’t realize, was how driving “The Mommy Van,” would affect me. Sometimes I feel like I’m just another part of the minivan parade. We all share some of the same necessities in our rolling vans, Starbucks, check… Wet wipes, check… snacks, check… good music, check! Sure it bugs me occasionally to drive something the size of a small school bus. It’s a beast when it comes to tight parking spots, but it’s a great vehicle for separating the bickering kids on a road trip.
When I drive my husband’s zippy little Honda CRV, black and shiny, with a moon roof, I notice the difference in my attitude. It doesn’t make the midlife blues suddenly disappear, but for a while, I’m no longer a link in the minivan parade.
I have to convince myself that safety is key for my family, even if it means I just forfeited some of my coolness! I try to look on the bright side. It’s a roomy, comfortable place to have a midlife crisis. I’m protected from the world in this huge hunk of steel, and it rides pretty well too. Plus it has plenty of room for my coupons!
I have a choice. I can either let the midlife blues get to me, or I can join in the parade of “Minivan Moms.” We’re all working toward the same goal, raising our kids and keeping them as safe as possible.