1. Sit in the backseat. I was foolish and sat up front for the first hour or so. Mom fail.
2. Bring toys. LOTS and LOTS of toys. A week or so before the trip, I "took away" some of Jamie's favorites. When I busted them out in the car you'd think it was Christmas morning. He played with Scout pretty much the entire trip. Here we are on the way home, hour 11, still clapping at the same song. Scout may just have to go into retirement for awhile, cause if I hear "Me and my pal...Jamie...we like to do everything together" one more time I may hurt myself.
3. Bring snacks. Not just for eating, but for entertainment as well. Cause apparently, Puffs stuck to your forehead is the funniest thing ever. EVER.
4. Pray for naps.
5. When in doubt give them things they aren't supposed to have. My cell phone saved many a meltdown.
6. Make lots of stops. It sucks when a drive you used to be able to do in 10 hours now takes 12, but those four extra 30 min stops will save everyone's sanity.
7. There will never be a good time to leave, so stop toiling over it. On the way there we left late in the day hoping to take advantage of driving through the night. Maybe if you have a normal child who likes sleeping in the car this would work. It just left us with an overtired baby who refused to sleep. On the way home we left in the wee hours of the morning. Didn't notice much difference. 12 hours in the car is a long time for anyone let alone a baby so leave when it's most convenient for you.
8. Don't make too many plans. God laughs at plans. You'll get there when you get there.
9. Prepare for the worst. Hope for the best.
Happy Travels!
14 comments:
Love this! I should forward to my brother who won't come visit KY because he's afraid of the trip with their 20 month old. I keep telling him it will just get worse, not better. From what I've heard from my mommy friends, the real fun begins when traveling with a potty trainer!
Now I have that Scout song stuck in my head too! We hear plenty of that at our house as well. Great advice.
Look at all his teeth!! Such a big boy. Ohhh Scout. I'm singing that song now. Does he say Jamie - "Jamie?" Like it's a question? Haha, that's how he says Cooper - "Cooper?" We always laugh at that.
Soooooo funny! We just got back from a 12 hour treck to FL...I really expected worse but honestly prayer is the only thing that got me through the last 4 hours..You are so right on with frequent stops though. Puff on the forehead is hilarious!
Thanks for sharing! I will be making a 9 hour car ride with my 1 year old at the end of the month. Not looking forward to it.
Okay....I'll let you know how to survive a 9 hour car ride with a 10 year old next week. I think that may involve sticky puff snacks to. Please give little man a big hug and kiss from Ellie & Me. Give yourself one too for surviving this trip and for being awesome!!! :D
That puffs-on-the-forehead picture is just too, too cute! I can't believe he has all those teeth! And it's so true.. There never is a GOOD time to leave.. These kids are just mega unpredictable!! I have a four hour drive home to NJ that I take rather often and I've learned that although C will sleep the full four hours if I leave at night, he'll be up and WIDE AWAKE for FOUR HOURS the minute we pull in the driveway at 10pm and turn the car off.. Does NOT bode well for exhausted parents!
I totally don't sit in the back seat. Not even on our long 9'ish hour trips. But she also is turned around now so it's easier. :) I agree with snacks though. If she has snacks and water she is golden for a LONG time.
Like jump up and down.. jump, jump, jump.. let's wag our tails, wiggle wiggle waggle! Snuggle Up! Snuggle, snuggle, snuggle! Me and my pal.."
Wow, you deserve some type of an award. I dont think I would brave a 12 hour trip with my 11 month old. You go girl!
Looks like a fun ride to me, lol! Great tips. I've been a mom for going on 3 years and somehow I've never been in the car with them for longer than 2 hours. And even that was a disaster! Here's hoping ;)
p.s. I just wanna kiss his poor little face. But it looks like it's healing nicely.
I love this post. Hilarious really. And now I have that song stuck in my head. Isn't it creepy how the dog says their name? Maybe it's just because that's what wakes me up over the monitor. Gives me the shivers for a moment!
Haha - good tips. I will have to remember these if Dave and I ever decide to visit my mom in Cleveland!
I hear you on all of that....it was a mess...but Jamie looks happy in all of these pictures- so so cute!
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