Road Tripping with the Family

By Lucky Tomaszek

When I was little, long car rides inevitably led to boredom and carsickness. A few road trips gone very bad as a teenager (can you say engine fire?) sealed my already brewing dislike for automobile travel. But after moving the kids two states away from home, I was forced to reconsider my position – the children need to see family and friends back home.

I dreaded that first big trip when Jeffrey, our youngest, was just six weeks old. Three kids (two still in diapers) in the car for a seven-hour trip did not sound like a good time. I tried to plan ahead and be prepared for every possible surprise. Of course, I missed a few unforeseeable events as I was overfilling our mini-van with things we didn’t really need. In the end, we learned lessons as a family that are still helpful four years later.

All new road rules.One of the best lessons I learned was from my stepdad. An out-of-state birthday party impelled the kids and me to travel, with my parents, for hours in a big Chevy Suburban. My deep-seated dread of family car trips had typically led me to push through every journey as fast and as hard as possible. Not so when we traveled with Grandpa Kenny. He was very patient, and at pit stops, would even encourage the kids to run and play a little. Every time I would bring up the time or fret about being late, he would remind me that the kids were little and needed some fresh air. Not surprisingly, the kids managed that trip better than any we had ever taken.

Another thing I learned on that trip was the joy of car games. As an adult, my desire was to put on some music and tune out for the ride, but child travelers need some interaction to pass the time. Scratch that – children need a lot of interaction to survive the monotony of a long drive. We usually start each trip by playing games and singing songs. After a couple of hours, the kids are bored and ready for some quiet down time. At that point, when the kids settle down and doze off, I can put on my favorite music and watch the road go by.

Comfort is imperative when spending many hours in a confined space. We always make sure to have a blanket in the car for each child. One year, my best friend made all the kids quilts for their birthdays. They are a little bigger than a baby blanket and not very heavy, making them perfect for road trips. Dressing the kids comfortably is just as important. Sweat pants and t-shirts are all kids need to wear. Everyone seems cheerier when not so bundled that they can’t move. But for winter trips we always have coats, hats and mittens close by in case of an emergency.

The way to their hearts…Perhaps the most important single decision is what kind of food to pack for the road. It’s crucial for everyone’s survival to make sure there are single-serving portions ready, whether purchased pre-packaged or divvied up beforehand into individual baggies. This cuts down on both squabbles and spills.

Everyone feels better when they eat healthy food, and this seems to go double for traveling children, so pack foods like dry cereal, pretzel sticks, grapes and bananas. Water is the best beverage to bring along. Not only is it the healthiest choice, it doesn’t stain or make a sticky mess if spilled. And if you leave the sweet treats and sugar drinks at home, it gives you something to offer the kids on a pit stop when they need a little distraction (or a little bribe). Nothing is better in the middle of a long July trip down a hot highway than ice cream. Similarly, a stop for hot chocolate can be a real pick-me-up on a cold December day.

One more for your bag of tricks.Now there are times when we’ve played all the best car games, we’ve eaten our snacks, we’ve sung campfire songs, we’ve enjoyed a little music and had a little down time. But in spite of our best and sometimes exhausting efforts, boredom sets in. This part of the trip used to throw me into a panic. But then I remembered the magic of books on tape (available at your public library). I’ve never been a fan of watching movies in the car, although I understand it’s becoming increasingly popular. Books on tape are different. All children love to be read to, and we know listening to stories makes kids better readers. Books on tape have the added benefit of pleasing everyone in the car, including the driver. During our many road trips, we have listened to lots of great classics, including The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Little House on the Prairie, Charlotte’s Web and Chocolate Fever.

In the end, car travel can be relatively painless, even with kids, if you do a little planning and stay flexible. I have to admit, it can even be really fun! Children enjoy spending time with you, especially when they have your undivided attention as you roll down the road, looking for the next best place to get out and stretch your legs.