Confession time.I’m now the proud owner of… a minivan. I know, for some of you, I’m late to the party. For those who are where I was a few months ago, let me tell you why:
I’ve had some great cars…and some not-so-great cars. I’ve pulled my muffler off on the side of the freeway to stop it from dragging. I’ve programmed the bluetooth from my heated leather seats and loaded the DVD player in my expensive SUV.
So life was fairly predictable until child #3 arrived and suddenly our “seats 5” car was cramped, which made for cranky kids, fights on the way to church, etc. Having also driven a Chevy suburban while passing up the good parking spots in order to find one we fit into and spending $$$ to fill up the gas tank, I knew a full (see: giant) size SUV was not what I wanted.
I have always wanted to avoid the minivan; my husband and I used to joke about them! To give into that type of vehicle means that you have to come to terms that you are now older, more mature, and thus have entered a different stage of your life. Minivans are meant for one type of person, parents. SUVs and crossovers are for people that go on “adventures” and fill their car up with “antiques.” But I’ve been a parent for 12 years…and as much as I want to think that you are one of those “cool, hip, new-age, daddy/mommy blogger” parents, the fact remains that when you transport children, their friends, and their gear, convenience and safety will soon take priority over some fleeting sense of youth.
My children literally squealed with joy, so excited for the space, the ability to haul friends around. My son kept looking in the garage saying, “I can’t believe we have a VAN!” (To which I would mutter…”yeah, me neither”.)
But here’s the thing- I LOVE my van. My name is Nicole, and I LOVE my minivan. Why? You wonder. How did this happen? You might ask. Ok, here are three reasons:
- It’s SO smooth. I glide around the school drop-off lane like a high-class valet.
- Secondly, SLIDING DOORS. My kids are not toddlers, but sometimes we pull into a parking space and feel like telling them to crawl out through the trunk to avoid the inevitable door ding.
- Lastly, CAPTAIN’S CHAIRS. Most minivans will give you the option of getting “captain’s chairs” for the second row seat. I say this is a must-have feature. Children, especially those over the age of 8, will benefit from a designated “separation zone.” No more crazy invasion of personal space and haphazard “touching.”
So there are two kinds of people reading this little post…those who are sad for my being a sellout, and those who were already “on the other side,” nodding knowingly. To those who knew how awesome minivans can be, I forgive you for not telling me sooner. Wait, you tried? Then I’m sorry for not listening! To those who haven’t yet crossed over…think about it, take comfort in the fleeting years of childhood, carpools, and soccer games. You can drive a van on a “temporary basis” for the next 10-15 years and dream of a sporty coupe in your future.
