Moms in Minivans
Written by Jen Saturday, 31 January 2009 16:56
Blog
The streets were still icy yesterday but passable so I gingerly ventured forth. Wandering no further than a three-mile loop from my home, I encountered several of the nastiest creatures on the road: moms in minivans.
Have you noticed this weird vibe? A greater number of minivan drivers (noticeably women) are becoming increasingly impatient and aggressive.
First off, let's make it clear that I love my minivan. Also, I am a cautious driver, even more so when I've got children in the car. When navigating pot holes and ice slicks, I regulate my speed (no, I'm not going 10 mph in a 40 mph zone) and I avoid turning left in front of oncoming traffic. This bugged the woman in the blue minivan behind me, who repeatedly hit her horn. Not an endearing trait, you know. The woman last week who gave me the universal happy sign was a real charmer, too.
In all fairness to my van-driving mom buddies, we are the drudges on the road. We're transporting loads of smelly football players and equipment home from practice, or toting crying little ones who spill their juice cups or suddenly vomit on the car seat. I, too, have rushed from a meeting to school to the orthodontist in the rain with a griping kid who has too much homework and hates the Latin teacher. Add to this the fact that the cell phone is ringing, Grandma needs help, your husband is out of town, your throat is sore and there's nothing for dinner. Yeah, you can get crabby and impatient on that kind of a day.
My guess is that moms in minivans are mean exactly because of the above. It's not the van, it's the pace. But c'mon, mommies, we're all in the same boat. Cut me some slack!
Conversely, the nicest people on the road are older guys in pickup trucks. Think about it. Little kids can't fit in a truck cab (or they shouldn't). There's no whining. Guys with trucks are hauling things that don't argue, get hungry or ask why you're late.
Solution to road rage: Sell the van and get a truck.
