If It Can Go Wrong....
Dec 13 '00
Ah, yes, "Murphy's Law". Most of us are familiar with it, and those of us who travel with children bravely tempt it. I'm a special case. I have "Ellen's Law" which is very similar but goes like this, "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong, at the worst possible time....and then one of my kids will puke".
With my entire side of the family living a state away, I travel often to visit. Usually it's just me, the kids, the open road, and an economy sized bottle of extra-strength Tylenol. Car sickness, noise, boredom, restlessness, disagreements, obstinance, spills, discomfort, whining--I don't care how good your kids are, drive long enough, it's in them.....
Play Defense
The most we can do is to be prepared-for anything. After so many trips I have the advantage of being able to anticipate recurrent problems, some of which can be addressed before you ever leave the house:
Along with reminding your kids of the regular "ground rules", you can work out some car rules with them. Seating arrangements can alone can wreak havok on a trip, so it's a good idea to divide your trip into miles or hours and make arrangements before you go as to who sits where and when. All rules are null and void with regard to seating if "Ellen's Law" goes into effect-nauseous kid rides shotgun!
(If you haven't already told the metaphoric "little boy who cried wolf" story , now would be a good time for it, though.)
Packing
* Pack your children's suitcases in the trunk last, so they will be easier to get to. Kids are more likely to need something from them during the trip (change of clothes, etc).
* Staples, the 'must have handy' kind include: trash bags for each side of the car, paper towels (spills), toilet paper or kleenex (you know why), wet ones or hand sanitizer, small pillows and blankets. The one thing I will not leave home without is a couple of large Ziploc Storage bags. Again, "Ellen's Law". It's been my experience that once a child has uttered, "Mom, I gotta hurl" its already too late to pull over. If Ziploc thinks those deadly bees in a bag make for good advertising, they should film me nonchalantly driving down the road with a safely zipped bag of unexpected ralph beside me. No clean-up, easy disposal, no problem. Stop at the nearest trash facility-allow the child to walk around and get some air, and back on the road again..
If you have a child who is prone to car sickness (as I do) it does help to let them sit in front, discourage reading, and if the problem is severe you might consider Dramamine. Chewable tablets for ages 2-12 are available, and will likely make your child sleep for quite awhile. I personally don't like to use it (nothing quite like seeing a 4-yr look "high") but in some cases it may be neccessary for the child's comfort. I find that planning my trip during specific times of the day helps immensely. (If we leave just after breakfast, we'll be seeing it again).
* Depending on the ages of your children, it can be a good idea to allow them to pack for themselves. I give my 10 yr. old a checklist to follow (lest he'd pack precious Pokemon` toys and baseball cards-but have no clean underwear). I give him a specific amount of "space" inside the car to bring a few things to entertain him during the trip. I give each of my kids a rubbermaid container with a lid for their 'car things' and ask them to keep up with their own. Magazines, small toys, paper and pencil are good. Crayons can melt in hot weather-not good. Reading while traveling seems to bring on or worsen nausea, so books aren't a good choice for my family.
* Lidded containers are also good for snacks, if allowed in your car. Dried fruit and fruit rollups are great, as they are healthy, not too messy, and aren't filling (in case your child wants to eat something out of boredom). Drinks obviously need to be in a container with a lid or a spillproof cup.
Entertainment
Car trips can be a lot of fun. Car games, singing out loud, or just talking about little things can turn into quality time spent with your children.
Games
Most folks play well known games like the ABC game (find things that begin with every letter of the alphabet) or "Going on a Piknik" (I'm going on a piknik and i'm bringing a tablecloth--next person adds one item, and so on) Others include : Name that tune, I spy, and Car Charades. If you travel much you'll find your children will make up their own games that can be surprisingly creative and educational. Or maybe just fun-like my son's "Name that Roadkill" or my daughter's "spot the hottie".
Older kids
A portable radio/cd/cassette player with headphones is a must. If you don't have one, it's worth buying for one trip alone! It's unlikely that everyone in the car will agree on the music. If you are depending on the car radio alone, areas without good reception/stations will drive your teen to distraction!
Younger kids
I call it the "goody bag". If all goes well for 150 miles, I let them have something out of a grab bag that I bring along-a surprise. Inside are cheap, dollar store toys ($1 apiece) and though it is technically a bribe, I prefer to call it a reward. Usually just takes one reminder to avoid a potential problem between them.
Other
* Some kids like maps so they can see where they are/were/will be. A child's road atlas is great, as it has games and activities as well.
* Stop often. They're kids, and after hours of stillness they need out! If time allows you can select a park somewhere on the way to stop at. Instead of dining in at a restuarant, grab some to go and sit outside while they play. Bad weather? McDonalds playground. That extra half hour could make all the difference with regard to the rest of the trip.
We aren't defenseless against Murphy's Law. Anything that can happen just might, but being prepared renders it virtually harmless. And sometimes, that bottle of Tylenol is still full when I get where I'm going.
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