Trips with kids take 3 times longer!

Published on August 4, 2004 By JillUser In Home & Family

I got the opportunity today to spend some time on my own and boy did I get stuff done! My hubby worked from home and kindly took over care of the boys so I could venture out sans children. In 1.75 hours I ran to 4 different destinations one of which was to get a pedicure and manicure. I feel so exilerated now!

Monday my parents helped me finish some lawn work and watched the kids so I could run out for a couple of things. I was in and out of the market in 20 mins! I also only bought what I intended to by and didn't have to visit the bathroom once. Freedom!

Don't get me wrong, I love having my kids with me 99% of the time. It is just really nice once in a while, especially if you are pressed for time, to run out on your own to get a couple of quick things done. I think I am probably with my kids more often than most parents (unless they home school and never ever go anywhere). I consider myself very fortunate to be able to be at home with them. I just forget how quickly I can get things done when they aren't with me.

Comments

dharmagrl

on Aug 04, 2004

I do the same thing...Shea is old enough to watch her brothers for a couple of hours, so if I need to run errends I'll have her stay home with them...I can get everything I need to accomplish done in under 2 hours. If I take them all with me, it takes almost twice as long. We're usually not halfway into the list of stuff that needs to get done when they start complaining, or worse still fighting and bickering.

We got stuck in traffic for less than 15 minutes this afternoon, and less than 2 minutes into the wait they started squabbling with each other. We have to travel over a thousand miles in 13 days...we're hoping to do it in 2 days. I'm dreading it...if they can't even be in the same backseat together for 15 minutes without fighting, what the hell is it going to be like when they're trapped together for hours?

I think I am going to be much greyer by the time we get to Indiana.

JillUser

on Aug 04, 2004

We have to travel over a thousand miles in 13 days...

Best of luck on that! I don't envy you at all there. I am sooo thankful we have a DVD player in our minivan. The boys are pretty good as long as they are distracted or asleep.

Zoomba

on Aug 04, 2004

I did 1200mi in two days earlier this summer... I felt dead for several afterwards, but it was just me in the car all by my lonesome... I can't imagine having two bickering kids behind me, you would have seen me in the news if that happened.

crimson

on Aug 12, 2004

I've gotten really good at 'the bribe'. Since Kole is with me 99% of the time when I am not at work, I know exactly what to promise to give, or take away, if she decides to take her time instead of keeping up with me. I wonder if this is working so well because I've only got one child... I can't see it happening with two or more, actually. Another thing that really takes a lot of patience is mealtime. I am always done a good fifteen to twenty before her, which isn't so bad at home, but when dining out is just impossible to deal with. or so i thought. Now, I always bring a long a book or a pen and paper. Multi-tasking at its finest.

JillUser

on Aug 12, 2004

Nicky, you are very right that your strategy works well with one but not more. My first was an only child for 3.5yrs so I had things down pat with him. That all changes with #2 or ^. As far as dining goes, the multi-tasking is a great idea but you can also ask the server to bring the child's food out first. That way Kole will get a head start on you

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