The Family Car Trip

Written by Jennifer Redmond

Parenting

Did your heart skip a beat when you read the title above? Was it fear or excitement that quickened your pulse?

Before I launch into my point here, I must make a confession. Shortly after the birth of our third child, the mere thought of a family vacation made me announce to my husband that we were NEVER going anywhere ever again. Period.

He reminds me of this occasionally with a chuckle. “Remember when…?” Oh, yeah. I also remember what prompted me to say such a thing. Something to do with a two-year-old screaming for 50 miles through the Smoky Mountains “Get me OUTTA here!”

Nowhere to stop. Nowhere to go but over the edge of the cliff, which I did consider more than once. It takes years to get over that kind of trauma.

Now I will reveal my not-so-tender-age when I say “You young parents don’t know how good you’ve got it!” The DVD player in the car thing has made your life so cushy. I also hold that it’s probably ruined the essence of the family vacation.

Children are missing the lessons learned just from looking out the window at the actual landscape of our great country. Horses, barns, train tracks, fields of grain. That kinda thing. Not to mention the healthy conversation between parents and children. Trust me; these exchanges will be treasured memories when your sweeties reach those loquacious teen years.

Fond Memories

My siblings and I recall family vacations in the car, sleeping bags in the back of the station wagon (not a recommended or safe method of travel, by the way), no air conditioning, sticky vinyl seats and Dad’s creative routes that didn’t always get us there as planned.

When I asked my own children what they think of when I say “family car trip,” one of my sons said, “a lot of arguing where feet are gonna be.” My daughter said simply, “Panic.” (My husband thinks of gas prices, an issue better left to another article.)

But when they recovered from these unkind gut reactions to what I deem a treasured family experience, my children recollect lots of bingo games, sighting a dust devil and road runners in New Mexico, being awed by Savannah’s moss-covered trees and staring at lounging sea lions on Monterey’s coast. Finding a herd of elk in Colorado or glimpsing Corolla wild horses along North Carolina’s Outer Banks are experiences impossible for even Disney to duplicate.

Oh, and we all collectively laugh at the thought of the mandatory mood music, a tradition stemming from their father’s need to create “atmosphere” relevant to the terrain. For example, a trip through Arizona’s Painted Desert would not be complete without Native-American spirit music. Say “Kentucky” and they all think Bluegrass tunes (Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time specifically).

Game’s On

To salvage an American tradition that’s as treasured as baseball and apple pie, I challenge all of you to turn off that DVD player, take away the beeping video games and, for older kids, the cell phone and the ear buds. Take a stab at an old-fashioned in-the-car-for-hours family trip. Listen to the music of the region and talk about history and wildlife.

And most importantly, try letting your kids get a little bored. Down time spurs creativity. Escape from this generation’s need to be constantly entertained.

But let’s be honest. Our idea is not to torture the grown-ups here. It would be cruel if we were not to provide you with the tools for such an adventure. When the road is long and the scenery is repetitive, you gotta be creative! Here are some tried-and-true activities to get you started:

Auto Bingo

This is a great game! You can still find the basic version in the travel games section of some discount and retail stores. www.familytravelgear.com also carries this classic as well as a number of other travel games.

Preschool magazine game

This is a fun way to recycle old magazines, as long as you don’t mind the clean up later. Give old magazines and preschool scissors (no pointy edges!) to your kids and let them cut ‘em up. Invent a theme like “animals” and have them cut out and “collect” appropriate photos from the magazines. This game has absolutely no point-although it can become a timed contest to get the most pictures- but it keeps kids busy and they can practice their cutting skills safely. (Warning: One of my sons got bored with this game and cut his baby sister’s hair instead. Watch them closely!)

Word finds and crossword puzzles

If you’re really creative, try making a few individualized ones yourself. You can have fun with this by choosing themes like “Dad’s favorite foods” or “Grandma’s cookies” or even “Things we do with our cousins.” Print the puzzles in advance and pass them out when the time is right.

Books on tape/CD

What a great way to share good literature with your children! See the box at left for one astute parent’s recommendations.

State license plate game

How many different states can you find? Or the ABC sign game. This one comes from Joanna N. in Boston: “Everyone has to find the letters in ABC order on any sign, license plate etc. outside the car. Only one letter credited per word.”

Books!

This is not a unique idea but if your kids can stomach reading and riding at once (car sickness is a risk for some), then go for it! Hit the library , discount or second-hand book store before you set off and load up. Parents can also exercise some influence here by providing kids (especially teens and tweens) with books they might not otherwise choose. (Hey, they’re trapped in the car, aren’t they? Encourage them to explore the classics, books that focus on the area you’re exploring or something like The Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett, which is bulky but well worth the space it requires.

For a more thorough (and quite creative) resource of driving activities for children and parents, check out www.momsminivan.com. Now turn off the DVD! The time together will bring you closer or send you over that cliff. I bet you all survive and learn something.

Have a great car travel idea? Send it to us at Editor@InspiredMother.com.