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Last year, my husband and I decided to drive 1,000 miles in a car with two children. We took a road trip from New Jersey straight down I-95 to sunny Florida. Let me repeat:
1,000 miles.
In a car.
With two kids.
What the hell where we thinking???
The drama went way beyond the normal every-ten-minute episodes of:
“Mommy, are we there yet?”
“How long is it going to take?”
“I’m hungry…”
“I have to go pee…”
“She’s bothering me…”
“No, I don’t want to sleep…”
And let’s also not forget the loud and torturous cries of my daughter peppered throughout the trip, and I mean the whole trip.
So we weren’t even an hour into the drive (on the way home) and my son began to say, “Mommy………..”
“What sweetie?”
“I don’t feel so good.”
“You don’t? What’s wrong?”
{silence}
{a little more silence}
Suddenly, within moments of turning around to find out why my son was complaining of not feeling well I looked at his face and I had that split second instinct of knowing what was about to happen, but there was absolutely nothing I could do to prevent it from happening. I quickly placed my arm out toward him (like that was going to do anything) to try and stop it from coming, but it didn’t matter.
It was too late.
Vomit spewed from his mouth like an erupting volcano.
It splattered over his car seat, onto near-by toys, and continued to fall to the floor. Some of it even managed to reach his sister in the seat next to him. It all happened in about five seconds, but the cleanup would take over an hour.
Immediately pulling off 1-95, we reached a remote gas station to wash the kids (and everything else) and in the midst of wiping everything from the head rest down to his shoe laces, at the time, I truly didn’t know how I was going to survive the next 19 hours in the car.
In that moment I really thought I was going to vomit myself, especially for thinking I could drive a thousand miles…with two children.
So after a brief trip down memory lane with the hubs recently, the decision is unanimous.
This year, we’re flying.
{ 128 comments… read them below or add one }
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Twitter: wannabewahm
February 11, 2010 at 3:20 pm
WTH were you guys thinking?!?!
My mom and I drove from Florida to NY and I was the one that wanted to vomit! Seriously! How many hours of sitting in a moving car can one person take?
Twitter: ThetaMom
February 11, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Sophia’s Mom – Seriously, how many hours can you do that will kids, right? I’ll take the 2 hour flight vs. the 20 drive any day after that drama!
Thank you.
Why?
Because we are entertaining that same fun little road trip ourselves.
Now?
Well we are still going to do it because my husband and I haven’t flown since 911…I know..Wuss Patrol!!! But can’t help it.
But……I’ll have lots of towels and plastic bags on hand!
(-: You rock!
Oh I can relate. I was one of those kids who couldn’t even drive from the driveway to the corner store without spewing.
About air travel, take some suckers for their ears. I had to listen to my daughter screaming for 1/2 an hour when sucking on a straw didn’t do the trick for her coming out of Maui. We had 15 hours of flying ahead of us and two connections. I was a mess worrying about her every time we went up or down. Luckily that first ascent was the worst and she didn’t have nearly as much trouble with the other two flights.
Twitter: weliveinazoo
February 11, 2010 at 4:11 pm
I will wish you the best of luck for such a trip as I have just returned from our trip (flying) to Florida. May your flight go a million times better than ours did going out there. Or at least as good as ours did coming back.
PS-I have given you an award on my blog, due to the great appriciation I have for your blog and the many times you have made me laugh out loud ;D
Twitter: thismamaworksit
February 11, 2010 at 4:53 pm
We were going to drive to florida this summer which is also about 1000 miles for us. Heck no. I can barely drive 20 minutes without losing my mind.
You are a brave soul. We have problems driving the 3 hours to our little cabin in New Hampshire. My husband’s approach is to leave at 4 in the morning so they sleep the whole way there!!!
Lindsey Petersen
http://5kidswdisabilities.wordpress.com
Twitter: womansvoice
February 11, 2010 at 6:52 pm
I have to give you a lot of credit for even trying it at least once. I think you’re being smart by flying this time.
Twitter: christianmommy
February 11, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Wow! Road trips are never fun with young children. I’ve drove cross country with a 15 month old. Thankfully, we didn’t have to worry about vomit…just poop.
Have a great weekend!
I know times have changed and this was before car seats but and please don’t hate me or black ball me but I loved traveling with my kids.
Twitter: salt_says
February 11, 2010 at 9:28 pm
I can’t even deal with the drive to FL with another adult in the car and NO kids! You are a braver woman than I!
I remember when I was about 10 my family and I did a 4 day road trip. With 4 kids and a cat in the car. Yeah, we bought the cat. looking back I haven’t a clue how my parents managed it.
Also quick question, The last couple of weeks I haven’t been able to view your Theta Mom Thursday post. I can see it in my blog roll but then I get 404′d. Just wondering if this is a common problem or I’m doing something wrong!
Twitter: lornadEnt
February 12, 2010 at 7:10 am
Unlike you, our 3 weeks of camping in Europe with 3 kids, 9, 10 & 14 was the best vacation ever! I’ll never look at a map of Europe again without thanking our lucky stars that we were able to experience this time together.
Twitter: ThetaMom
February 12, 2010 at 7:19 am
Wow Lorna d’Entremont – That does sound like you had an amaing time. Let’s hope my flight is better than the drive!
Twitter: Geezees
February 12, 2010 at 10:01 am
I give you guys credit for driving that long with kids…i am sure it’s something they will remember forever!!
Twitter: alexisAKAMOM
February 12, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Yup flying all the way! No a good one with puke even if it’s my kids, you’ll talk about me gagging like crazy … lol
Vomit is the worst. The worst. Of course, when I flew with my daughter once, she threw up on the guy next to me. And then I wanted to move my seat because he smelled so bad. But at least a flight is shorter than driving a 1000 miles. You are BRAVE.
Twitter: jleighdesignz
February 13, 2010 at 7:51 am
Oh, that stinks! We have a condo in Southern FL and in October Hubby and I drove from MA to FL (28 hours) to deliver a car down there. I could not and would NOT ever do that with my kids! NO WAY! Whenever we’ve gone with the kids we fly!
What a trip this must have been! We have gone on two road trips with Niko – one when he was 2 months old and one after his first birthday. I have to say that they went well because he was too little. My husband wants to go on another one when Niko is three, but I am not so sure of that!
Twitter: kellyjorichards
February 14, 2010 at 2:55 am
Oh my. The furthest I’ve ever traveled with both of my kids is roughly 180 miles from Portland (area) to Seattle- that was more than enough. You are VERY brave!!!
Your poor baby! Once you got past the gross factor and the clean up, didn’t your heart just break for him? Being car sick is AWFUL!
Am glad that all my kids are in their teens now. But since my grandchild just turned one, am sure I’ll be seeing vomit sooner than later
From FFF at MBC
I am sorry I know the trip was painful but your description was funny…this is something that would have happened to me! I think we must be neighbors. I live in NJ (right outside of Phila.)
Twitter: thegrownupchild
February 15, 2010 at 8:33 am
Somehow I was blessed with two good travelers (don’t be jealous, they’re also both crappy sleepers). So far our car rides and plane trips have been uneventful with the exception of one. When my daughter was only about a month old we decided to take a six hour drive in one day. We figured we would do half of it when they should be sleeping, but instead my daughter cried the whole time.
Fun times.
Twitter: jadedickinson
February 15, 2010 at 3:44 pm
From New Jersey to Florida by car – that’s crazy! At least it gives you some great blogging stories though! I’ve started doing some Memory Monday posts, it’s fun to look back sometimes!
oh my, I think I’ll make sure to bring a bucket for our road trip next week
Happy travels!
Our longest car trip was 1650 miles, done in less than 48 hours with 3 kids (ages 14 mo, 5 and 7). We had a great time. Yeah, the baby was bathed with bottled water at the side of the road once, but I think car trips are all about preparation and distraction. Those large plastic drink cups from McDonalds come in handy for all sorts of problems! I’m also cheap, and just wouldn’t want to shell out the money to fly.
Oh hells ya! FLY girl…. I drove to Vegas once with Chloe and my teens. Chloe was 5 months…. and my sister was driving her kids in front in her mercedes car and me in my neon to catch the witch! Baby crying me honking to stop to change diapers etc.. boys bored… NOW with chloe 4 and kyiah 1 1/2 NIGHTMARE on wheels.
Jeff’s dad lives in Douglas city 5 hours away from us… we drive at night because he would have to drive me straight to the LOONEYVILLE parking lot… kids kicking the seats, I ‘m bored, I have to go pee, I ‘m hungry, my butt hurts..
AVE maria! Good decision on your part……
G
Twitter: genxmomblogger
February 24, 2010 at 4:08 pm
I feel your pain. We do this every year with our three kids (and stat even a bit further away). Actually just got back yesterday! We have been through it all, car sickness, blown tires, car breakdowns, stomach bugs, ear infections, speeding ticket (oops), to name a few! We still continue to do it though. People think we are crazy but we actually kind of enjoy it in a way. It is family time. And, it makes our vacation seem that much longer. The one year we flew it seemed really quick. Call us crazy!
Congrats on your blog. I really love it! You are an inspiration!
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