Wow. It feels like we can all finally take a deep breath, you know? With the weather getting warmer and things feeling a bit more normal, the world just seems... lighter. Summer’s coming, and I don't know about you, but I am so ready to just go somewhere. Anywhere. Of course, vacations for me now are a whole different beast with two little ones running around, and everything still feels a little weird after the last year or so.
It looks like we’re not the only ones thinking of sticking to the car this year. I saw a survey somewhere that said most people are planning on road-tripping. It makes sense. It just feels easier, safer. And honestly? It reminds me of being a kid. We had this huge minivan, and my family—all eight of us, cousins and all—would cram into it and drive down to Florida. It was pure chaos, just a mess of pit stops and sibling arguments for two straight days. Things are different with my own kids, but I feel like I learned a few things from all those years on the road. So, I figured I'd share some of them. Maybe they'll help you too.
Â
Prepare for stops
Okay, let's talk about the dreaded pit stop. Before we even think about pulling out of the driveway, I make everyone go to the bathroom. One last time. No arguments. It’s also been a long, slow process of teaching the kids to actually tell me when they have to go before it's a full-blown emergency. I mean, it's a work in progress.
This is what I try to stick to now:
We’ve found that planning for a real, 15-minute stop every two hours or so is the way to go. It feels like a lot, but it’s saved us from so many meltdowns and, well, accidents. I used to think we could push it to three hours, but that was just me being overly optimistic. Sticking to the two-hour rule just lowers the stress for everyone. And for me and my husband, it’s a chance to get out, stretch our legs, and not feel like zombies behind the wheel. It really does help you stay focused.
Pack small healthy snacks
Snacks. My god, the snacks. They are everything. But I've learned the hard way that the type of snack is what really matters. I could easily just load up on chips and candy from the gas station, but then I'm dealing with sugar-crazed kids who crash an hour later. It's just not worth it.
So yeah, I'm that mom who packs a whole grocery bag of healthy stuff. I try to get a good mix of things with protein and fiber to keep their little energy levels from going all over the place.
Here’s my usual go-to list:
-
Fruits
-
Nuts
-
Dried fruits
-
Veggies
-
Whole wheat pita chips
-
Popcorn
-
Hummus
-
Guacamole
-
String cheese
I have this one little trick that makes me feel super organized—I put everything into individual Ziplock bags. It’s just so much cleaner and easier to hand back a little baggie of popcorn than the whole giant bag. I also keep a few extra empty bags in the glove compartment. They’re great for garbage, obviously, but they've also come in handy for, uh, moments of car sickness. Trust me on that one.
Allow for spontaneity
This one is really hard for me sometimes. I’m a planner, I like to know where we're going and when we'll get there. But the best parts of a road trip are almost always the things you didn't plan for. You know, you see a sign for some weird-looking diner that looks like it's straight out of the 50s, or an antique store that’s probably full of junk but might have something amazing. Or my favorite—a sign that just says "waterfall" with an arrow pointing down a random road. Road trips are about finding those little things. Letting yourself actually pull over and see them is, I think, just as important as getting to where you’re going.
Make room
Ugh, packing. Sitting in a car for hours is bad enough without having your knees jammed into the dashboard. I used to be such an over-packer, but with kids, there's just no room for it anymore. I’ve learned to be pretty strategic. For a week-long trip, I'll pack a bunch of tops for everyone but only a couple of pairs of pants or shorts that we can re-wear. I can always wash things if I need to. For shoes, it's one good pair of sneakers and maybe some sandals for the beach or pool. That's it. Packing less just means more legroom, which means more sanity. And, you know, more space for whatever treasures you find at that random antique store you decided to stop at.
Be prepared - motion sickness
And now for my old enemy: motion sickness. I recently learned that something like 1 in 3 people get it, which honestly made me feel a little less alone. I've always had issues with it, but sometimes it's so bad that just being in a slow-moving car can make my stomach turn. It’s just awful. A few years ago, when I was pregnant with my second, my husband planned this sweet "babycation" cruise for us. I spent basically the entire time lying flat on my back in the cabin, feeling completely miserable. And because I was pregnant, I couldn't take anything for it. I learned my lesson. Now I am always, always prepared.
For me, the only thing that really seems to help is a combination of lemon and ginger. That’s actually why I started making my own candies—I couldn't find anything that worked quite right. I always have a bag of them with me on our trips now. The kids love them too, which is a bonus, and it's made our drives go so much more smoothly.
Â
So yeah, that’s just what I’ve been thinking about lately. Road trips are never perfect, and half the time it feels like we’re just making it up as we go. But we’re together, and we’re making these weird little memories. And I guess that's the whole point, isn't it?
Â
