Road Trip Rules for Stress Free Family Travel
By Teresa Strasser
- Playlist Parity: Once upon a time, I heard the Justin Bieber song Despacito so many times between Billings and Red Lodge that I was almost going to blame the entire state of Montana. But no, I blame ME. Now, when traveling with both kids and my husband and my dad, each person gets one song pick. It’s a rotation. My boys, now 5 and 8 years old, are not allowed to choose the same song. Trust me on this, time flies by. That being said, some of my dad’s old-timey song picks make time stand still.
- Do Not Improvise: I know this is contrary to the “seize the day” philosophy of many travelers. After road tripping at least four times a year for the past three years with my entire family, I have learned that failing to plan is planning to fail. Yes, I sound like a gym teacher who also coaches JV basketball, but this is a truism. Know where you are stopping for a break or a meal, have car games at the ready, prepare your kids for how long the trip will be (very young kids can’t grasp time, so it may be helpful to give them a ticket, coin or token every 15 or 30 minutes to help them track your voyage).
- Do Not Perspire About Things That are Not Big: I wanted to say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” but that seemed so cliché so I reworded it and now the sentiment is totally original! Okay, whether the kids are fighting over a crayon or eating one too many road trip snacks or whining or singing the same song, it’s not a real problem worth addressing on the road. If you correct every mistake and hold your kids to a “home” behavior standard, you will be miserable and so will the kids. I’ve never been a fan of the advice, “let it go.” Instead, I prefer, “let it be,” at least as it pertains to the vast majority of annoyances kids perpetrate on trips.
- Rent a Car: In some cases, this will make the travel part of your vacation an adventure in and of itself. If it’s in your budget, this has many advantages. For one thing, it’s just nice being in a perfectly clean and well-maintained car that is just plain different from your own. For another thing, you can rent something HUGE (a Chevy Tahoe comes to mind) and that way you won’t be cramming things and people into a vehicle that’s too small. It also makes sense to purchase insurance in most situations, though not all.
- Life Can Be Boring: It took me some time to accept that road trips, like life, can be dull and monotonous. At first, I tried to Pinterest my way through this, making magnet play trays and tin foil balls and you name it. And I’m glad I did those things and that I still do sometimes. However, in the end, I was bored in the back seat and you were bored in the back seat, and I think there’s something worthwhile about letting kids stare out the window. I mean, in the real world, the graphics are amazing!
Recommended Articles
