Q&A: How Do You Survive a Road Trip With Your Kids?

Ah, the family road trip. 

The car is overflowing with luggage, coolers, strollers and bikes. The kids are poking each other and fighting. The adults are scrambling trying to gather up all the stuff that DIDN'T get on the packing list (usually it's the most important stuff like wallets, cameras and cell phones).

All this and you haven't even backed out of the driveway yet. 

Joy.

I know for me as a child, our road trips were less than joyous. In fact, a few were downright disasters. My parents and brother, along with our two dogs, often did road trips to the Oregon Coast in the summer. We'd pack up our ridiculously long and wide 1976 blue Lincoln Continental and hit the road with my brother, the dogs and me in the backseat.

Doesn't sound bad right?

Well, my brother and I were notorious for getting really car sick. In the back, it was difficult to see over the seats to see out the front window. So, we had to take turns having one sit in the middle and we had two dogs sandwiched between us. Personal space? Forget about it.Typically, this practice ended up in a hitting match.

To add insult to injury, one of the dogs was prone to throwing up and the other was prone to passing huge amounts of gas the entire trip. Awesome.

Then my dad would listen to the same K-Tel Hits disco eight rack tape over and over again. I swear, to this day, if I hear a Donna Summer song I literally cringe. Mom wasn't immune from driving us nuts either. She insisted that we drive on Highway 101 to take in the scenery. Trouble with that was that every time that big rig lurched around a bend in the road, the car kind of fishtailed, making us even more car sick.

Good times.

So, you'd think after my experiences as a kid road tripping with my family would have taught me a thing or two. Not really. My husband and I made some blunders when our two kids were small. In fact, so many, I'd like to share them here. Learn from us.

1. When your child tells you they are car sick, BELIEVE THEM. Have the sick sacks and towelettes in fast reach.

2. If you value the interior of your vehicle, NEVER give your toddler ink pens, crayons and play dough. EVER.

3. Snacks that are gooey, greasy, drippy, smelly and oozy should be consumed OUTSIDE the vehicle at the rest stop NOT in the car. Beverages need to be spill proof. Big time.

4. When the children are whining about when the travel is going to be over, avoid at ALL costs of giving them the EXACT time allotment. If you have a six hour drive, give the squishy answer: It will be a little while. We have a way to go yet. We'll let you know. The real answer may be tough to take. Also, don't repeatedly say, soon. Soon doesn't happen fast enough for a kid, and you will say it so much that you will lose your mind in no time flat.

5. You have kids. You will bring way too much stuff. It always happens. And then you will find that you forgot the most critical item (diapers anyone?) when it's too late.

So, don't be like us. In fact, check out this newsletter from the Parenting Network. This document gives you some great strategies and ways to come out of a road trip actually unscathed. The link will get you there with ease. 

However, let's hear from Patch readers. How do you handle car trips with your kids? What's worked for you? Let us know.

Oh, and happy travels. Really.