Oh no, what’s lurking in the depths of your vehicle? After a long road trip or even just a regular Tuesday, you might find yourself pulling out your kids’ car seats and peering—or worse, reaching—into the shadowy corners of your floorboards. From an eerie Barbie head to a moldy piece of a chocolate chip bagel, the treasures you uncover will tug at every emotion. Spoiler: that was just a plain bagel once.
Get ready to discover these 10 items:
- Those kitchen tongs your toddler has claimed for their rock collection. You used them to flip gluten-free chicken nuggets, before resorting to your fingers, and eventually realizing that not every nugget needs to be crispy on both sides.
- Various types of soil—white sand, red clay, black dirt—accumulated from all the adventures your car has been on, as if it were a rugged Land Rover following the narrator of Blue Planet.
- A pair of your sister’s sunglasses that you were sure weren’t hiding under the seat. You told her to check her purse because your car doesn’t just devour sunglasses, right?
- A blue crayon melted over a battery, creating a fascinating yet concerning spectacle that will have you reminiscing about your middle school science class, feeling like a genius with a Bunsen burner.
- A gluten-free chicken nugget, perfectly crisped on one side, just waiting for its moment of glory.
- The elusive gray LEGO brick that would have completed the 500-piece set you almost tossed in frustration after a failed search.
- A receipt for a grande latte with two pumps of pumpkin spice—because you’re too shy to ask for a pumpkin spice latte outright, but they’re just so delicious, even if it’s been out of season for months.
- A collection of coins totaling 37 cents, even though you haven’t used cash in years.
- A solitary Cool Ranch Dorito, shockingly intact and free of decay—perhaps due to its impressive lack of real ingredients.
- A popsicle stick, half-stained purple, reminding you of that day at the pool when your two-year-old bravely jumped off the diving board, leaving you both proud and a little teary-eyed. He’ll never be that small again, and yet here you are, holding that popsicle stick close.
Now, as you prepare to tackle the mess, grab your handheld vacuum to suck up those crushed Goldfish crackers. Wipe down the car seats with water, as experts recommend (chemicals can weaken the plastic). And take this advice: avoid putting the car seat cover in the dryer. You’ll buckle everything back in, promising yourself it’ll only be a couple of weeks until the next clean-up, knowing full well it’ll actually be two months. In the end, you’ll toss out all the junk—except that popsicle stick. That one goes in your pocket.
For more insights on parenthood and family life, check out our other blog post here. And for those trying to conceive, don’t miss this resource.
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- What to find in your car as a parent
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In summary, your car can become a treasure trove of unexpected finds as a parent. From forgotten toys to remnants of snacks, each item tells a story. Embrace the mess, laugh at the chaos, and remember the moments that come with raising little ones.