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Holiday Driving Stress

Posted 9th November 2007 by Drivetime Mama, tagged holiday driving

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I'm getting ready for some long distance drives over the next few months and wondered how other moms deal with that stress?

My son is now 11 but I can recall the strain of an 8 hour trip with a scrambling two year old in the back seat! Things are easier now that he's older but there are more psychological difficulties, like complaining and moodiness (he's becoming a teenager already!). I take time for regular breaks and keep him engaged in looking for interesting side trips, truck stops, picture opps and such. So our travels become more about the process instead of just getting there. I'm also a single mom which means no back up!





4 comments so far...

  • Hi Daisy,
    New Years Resolution - blog more and stay in touch. Hope you got your reports done. Tomorrow my son goes back to school and life just might take more of a regular shape.

    Just now read your reply about road trips with your daughter. I grew up on the road with mom and dad and siblings for weeks every year. Don't know how they managed it but I still have a nostalgia for the open road. That's great that you and your daughter enjoy the time together. My boy likes to keep it simple and stay closer to home. We've had a couple of great journeys that I'll remember fondly and perhaps he'll come around yet.

    Happy New Year!

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Drivetime Mama on 7th January 2008

  • I'm with you there -- making the trip about the process as much as about getting there is part of my solution. My 15-almost 16-yr-old is blind, so doesn't drive. We enjoy road trips together, though!

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Daisy on 12th December 2007

  • Hi Nataly, That's hard with the car sickness. I always envied those Moms whose kids nodded off once the motor started! I'm going to be taking a much shorter drive than you - out to the desert, about 2 1/2 hours. We're blessed here in that the weather allows for running around easily whenever the car stops. I just keep breathing consciously and now have my son doing some driving yoga along with me. He's past the distraction stage but you still have that going for you. I know that pit-stops about every hour are a necessity, for your sanity, to relieve muscles and for your daughter.

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Drivetime Mama on 9th November 2007

  • I am really stressing about it - our daughter is 3 and a half and gets car sick still. She also never takes a nap in the car so the trips are pretty stressful. We are invited for Thankgsiving dinner in NJ (we're in Boston) and seriously considering not going because the driving, the traffic, the whining:) I am not sure is worth it.

    How far are you traveling?

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Nataly on 9th November 2007

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