A Mom’s Guide to Enjoying (or just surviving) a Family Roadtrip

Rise & Shine!

SUGGESTED: Get up before everyone else. Take a shower. Put on make up. Sit and eat breakfast and drink a cup of coffee while you read your Bible.

OR: Roll out of bed after hitting the SNOOZE button 3 times. Hit the highlights with some deodorant and throw the hair into a ponytail. Grab a pack of crackers and a bottled water.

Packing the Car

SUGGESTED: Play some fun music while everyone grabs a bag or two and takes them out to Dad. Dad smiles, laughs, and maybe even sings as he packs the car while frequently commenting on how roomy & spacious your vehicle is.

OR: Yell at the kids for yelling at each other. Roll your eyes at your husband when he asks for the 10th time: how do we have this much stuff?

Hitting the Road

SUGGESTED: Take turns playing songs on the radio. Enjoy playing iSpy or 20 questions and laughing together.

OR: Insist on playing your AudioBible app so you can listen to your daily Bible reading (because, no, you didn’t read it earlier this morning) and pray that the Scripture coming through the car speakers calms the feral children in the back seat. Then try not to roll your eyes when your husband says, “ya know, I’d really like some coffee. Let’s stop for coffee. Then we can travel until lunch.”

Traveling Until Lunch

SUGGESTED: Alternate activities to keep the kids entertained. Conversations, car games, making up imaginary stories, telling jokes, etc.

OR: Thank God for devices and headphones, which all 3 kids own. Actually enjoy an uninterrupted convo (or argument) with your husband. Then try not to get angry when he says, “I shouldn’t have had that coffee. I’m not gonna make it until lunch. We gotta stop soon.”

Grabbing Lunch

SUGGESTED: Ask for suggestions for a lunch location. Take a vote if necessary. Find a compromise and stop at the agreed upon location. Everyone helps each other unload and the kids hold the doors for one another. Lunch is ordered and obtained without incident and everyone enjoys a fast food lunch together.

OR: Argue about where to go to lunch. Dad ends up making the decision and says, “We’re going to ____________. You can either eat or not.” Dad’s selected fast food establishment gets everyone’s order totally wrong, and the only thing worse than the food is the condition of the restrooms. 

Back in the Saddle Again

SUGGESTED: After lunch, everyone loads back in the car. The kids thank you for lunch and everyone (except the driver, of course) drifts into a sleepy silence.

OR:  You, your spouse, and all the grumpy passengers pile back into the car. Not 2 minutes down the road, the youngest announces she forgot to go to the bathroom while the oldest hollers “SHOOT! I just spilled my Dr. Pepper.” You ask your husband to grab napkins (because you keep stacks of napkins in the driver’s side door for situations just like this). He sputters and swerves as he tries to reach the napkins. “How am I supposed to drive and find napkins at the same time? This isn’t safe.” He says a few more choice words, grabs a stack of napkins, flings them backward and says, “that’s ridiculous. You have enough napkins in here to choke a horse.”

Arrival at your Destination

SUGGESTED: You finally arrive at your destination. Your kids cheer and thank Dad for the safe journey. They get out of the car, stretch, smile, and wait patiently to help unload.

OR: You finally arrive. The instant you pull into the driveway, the kids spill out, kicking each other and yelling at each other. They disappear before you can even exit the car. The extended family comes out to greet you, commenting on how late you are. You exchange hugs all around and they ask about your trip. In response, you smile, exchange a quick glance with your husband and say, “We’re just really glad to be here.”