I am sitting in the passenger seat of our van playing a game on my tablet and signing softly along with an 80's song that is coming over the radio. The kids are in the back seat watching a movie on the DVD player. My husband is in the driver's seat. We are on our way north. Our destination is about 4.5 hours from home.
I actually love times like these. We don't have to be going anywhere exotic. We don't even have to be going anywhere to stay overnight. Our destination is not necessarily important. It's that we are together. It's that we are creating memories as a family.
Last summer, my daughter came home from girl scout camp with all these plans for the next few summers that include her being gone for increasingly amount of time each year. She will be starting high school in August. These two things have been a huge twist in my gut. It has made me realize exactly how limited our time is with our children.
I have always tried to make sure my children have plenty of smiling moments in time that they will hopefully be able to look back at their childhood with fondness. I want them to be able to have tons of things to reminisce about and talk about when they are older. Those, remember when we... moments. Moments they want to share with their own children.
As I sit in the moving car I breathe in the contentment that surrounds me and cloak myself with love we all share. I glance at the man I am lucky enough to share all of this with and it makes me smile as my chest balloons. He is the reason all of these family times work so well. Because he is a daddy and a husband, not just a man with a family.
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I have a coworker who has some young relatives whose parents don't DO anything with them. She tries to make up for this neglect by buying them things. It has resulted in them being a bit greedy. I'm always trying to convince her that it won't be stuff that those children will remember. She can make them happiest by going on "adventures" and spending time with them. It's obvious from this story that you understand this.
ReplyDeleteSometimes having a parent that didn't really understand it, helps you be a parent that does. But, then again, I think I was just born to be a mom because I don't ever remember not wanting to be a mom and always dreamed of spending time with my own family when I was growing up.
DeleteI love road trips! I think they create wonderful memories for kids and it's great you are doing that. :)
ReplyDeleteWe get extra chances at this since my daughter swims and a lot of her meets require over night stays.
DeleteCar time can be so awesome! I hope you have a great time with your lovely family.
ReplyDeleteWe did have a very good weekend, thanks.
DeleteThat's so great that your road trips are about making memories rather than about getting from point A to point B.
ReplyDeleteI try to make as many things as possible about creating memories and bonding. :-)
DeleteI feel your pain about the gut-wrenching feeling of our babies becoming less and less dependent on us. It's so scary. In December, I left Las Vegas to move to South Carolina, leaving my 22 year old son behind (his father moved to Arizona some years back). I have moments of terror wondering how someone would be able to let me know if something has happened. He has a girlfriend along with her family but that really does nothing to abate my fear. After all, what if my baby needs his mommy? They may grow up and move away, but they'll always be our babies.
ReplyDeletewhen my daughter brought home her high school enrollment package this year it just about killed me.
DeleteI have very few good memories of my childhood. My husband and I are trying to make sure our son has the kind of childhood he'll want to recall and tell stories of. Sounds like you're making some wonderful memories!!
ReplyDeleteI am trying to. I want my kids to look back at their childhoods happily.
DeleteSuch great memories! My oldest is a junior and I'm freaking out that I only have a year and a half before he moves out! The time goes so fast, good for you for enjoying your road trips.
ReplyDeleteThe time goes by WAY TOO fast. One minute we were bringing home a 4lb preemie and the next she is enrolling in high school. How does that happen????
DeleteEnjoy the time you have. Make those memories. The simple ones are so often the best of them. My kids are both away at school (one just called with mono) and you miss those road trips. My favs were road trips when we didn't have much money. We had love. My favorite line is "he is a daddy and a husband, not just a man with a family." I have one of those and they are keepers.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am amazed all the time at how lucky I am to have the husband I have. Considering how I grew up, the odds were way out of my favor for this happening, but some how it did and I am thankful every day.
DeleteAwwwwww, very heart warming. The old saying really is true. "It's the journey, not the destination." Great piece!
ReplyDeleteThe journey can always be fun, if you let it be so.
Delete:-)
I have many memories of traveling across country with my family. I hope my kids will someday feel the same.
ReplyDeleteI only have a few memories of road trips growing up and most of those are of my parents being stressed and not really talking. Although the 4 hour trips up to my grandma's bring up some comforting memories. But, I think that was more about getting to see my grandma and aunts more than anything.
DeleteWe love road trips too!! Our children are a tad younger than yours (7,3, and 16 months), but we take them out a few times a year. I hope we can continue to do it more as they get older.
ReplyDeleteGreat reminder of what real memories are made of!
We try to go to as many places as possible. We love to do day trips to places that are just a matter of hours away. We have a ton of great state parks that we are trying to get through before my daughter graduates.
DeleteWe're going to be going on a road trip next week and that's how I feel too. I love that we're all there together. I love what you said about your husband being daddy and husband and not just a man with a family. Beautiful piece, Chrystal.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope you have a great road trip.
DeleteYou're one of the moms and dads that get it. I am grateful that my parents were too. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear your parents were like this. It makes all the difference in the world.
Delete"Because he is a daddy and a husband, not just a man with a family." Beautifully said!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I really appreciate that!
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