When our children reached the age where they required full-price airline tickets (what a rip-off!), we decided to embark on more road trips. During some of our longer journeys—like that fateful time we thought we could manage a 12-hour drive in one go (facepalm)—I witnessed a fascinating transformation in my kids. They morphed into various personalities that characterize the quintessential road trip experience. Who’s with me on this?
9. Hiccuping Henry
Oops! It turns out ice cream is dairy. It’s unfortunate when you forget the ingredient that sends poor Henry on a spinning ride in the backseat (yet another reason to fly: they provide barf bags).
8. Chatterbox Mia
Mia just won’t stop that adorable, chubby little chatter, even though it’s way past her bedtime. She’s not even close to drowsy. Perhaps she’s destined for a career in the CIA or as a daytime talk show host.
7. Neck Flopper Nora
You’ve practically invented a new yoga pose, stretching into the backseat to adjust her floppy, lifeless head, trying to prevent a future crisis over “sore neck.” The moment you return to your seat—BAM! It’s flop city again.
6. Just Get There Jenna
Jenna is only focused on one thing: when will this endless journey end? Everything in the car is dull—the toys are boring, the snacks don’t interest her, and don’t even think about playing the radio. Just get us to the destination already.
5. Naptime Neil
Neil falls asleep the moment we pull out of the driveway and doesn’t stir even when we stop for gas. He snores with his mouth wide open like a carefree college student, and honestly, it’s hard not to love him for it.
4. Film Buff Fiona
Once the screen lights up, Fiona is locked in. She watches every scene with unwavering focus, despite having seen the movie at least 30 times before.
3. Messy Maddie
Maddie has a talent for dropping things—markers without caps, half-eaten snacks, you name it. It’s as if she’s on a mission to cover every inch of the backseat in chaos.
2. Frequent Pee Pippa
You’re stuck making a tough choice: ration out tiny sips of water for her or stop at every rest area.
1. Screaming Sophie
Sophie wails like it’s the end of the world for hours. She’s been fed, changed, sung to, and entertained, but she’s just not having it in that car seat. Someone get that child on a plane, pronto.
This article is brought to you by the all-new Chrysler Pacifica, the vehicle designed to embrace all your kids’ road trip personas (and it even features an optional built-in vacuum powered by Rigid® to clean up after Maddie). For more on starting a family, check out our post about the Baby Maker Home Intracervical Insemination Syringe Kit Combo at Make a Mom. Also, don’t miss Intracervical Insemination for expert insights on this topic. For outstanding resources on pregnancy, visit Womens Health.
In summary, road trips can bring out a variety of personalities in kids, from the sleeping beauty to the incessant talker. These experiences can be chaotic yet memorable, making the journey just as important as the destination.