We've been on a few road trips as a family. Those trips have been to California for vacation and both times we did it, our kids wore diapers. We went on a much shorter road trip today, but it wasn't easy. Abby is potty trained -- no problem. Lauren isn't potty trained -- no problem. Leah is potty trained -- mostly. But she refuses to go potty on the toilets that have a sensor flusher. So we put her in pull-ups and ventured on.
We left my office on our way to Jackson, WY, today at 11:15am. We got to Farmington when Leah decided she was ready for the potty. However, the gas station was nice enough that they had auto-flush toilets and she refused to go potty. So we got back on the freeway and got to south Ogden before Leah decided to crap her pants. (FYI, pull-ups don't work as well as diapers for full-on craps.) Change #1. We got back on I-15 and went approx. 1 mile until the next exit when Leah decided she was ready for the bathroom again. I pulled over to a McDonald's, but by the time she got out and in the restaurant, she wouldn't go.
We repeated this for about an hour: three stops, two dirty pull-ups, one angry and frustrated dad, and a laughing mother. Jen saw the humor in this, but I was just thinking, "You've got to be kidding me. There's no way I'm hauling the kids along with me on another business trip."
We finally made it to Brigham City (60 miles north of SLC) around 2pm. Things calmed down, but we didn't get to Jackson until about 6:15pm, 7 hours after leaving SLC on a supposed 5 hour drive. This would be much easier if either all our kids were potty trained and not afraid of public toilets, or if they were all diaper wearers.
8 comments:
I can't help but laugh. What a funny, funny story. Sorry the trip was so annoying. It makes for a great story though. I hate driving with my boys on road trips--like the time we drove to Utah. Those were some good 20 hours.
Yes, I certainly have an appreciation for those who have made long journeys or will in the near future be making them. Especially with pseudo-potty-trained kids!
We actually spent FHE last night talking about ways to alleviate the stress of being cramped together for an extended period of time.
Remember, never feed your children home made fruit roll ups before a long trip, right Adam?
That's funny, Jess! Hope the rest of the trip was worth it.
I think we all remember that story Jason! Poor Adam. Jess, wasn't Abby afraid of auto-flush toilets too? All my kids were, and I can't say I really like them any better because they never seem to flush at the right time! You boys don't have to sit all the time, so us girls have to deal with the misfiring toilets! Good luck on the drive home!
I am absolutely laughing my head off!! Of the joys of parenting!
You made my day.
Mom
(Who has put up with lots of "crap" in the family travels -- and lots of nasty gas from a group of boys that couldn't seem to calm down between Laramie, WY and Lincoln, NE.)
All I can say is that practice makes perfect. I could not even count the number of trips we made from Nebraska to Utah, Indiana to Utah (lived there twice you know), New York to Utah, Oregon to Utah, Califronia to Utah, and lots of other shorter ones. We always had kids. There are a lot of you. We loved traveling and loved you kids, even if it was tough at times. Just remember smokies, rolls, and softdrinks out of the cooler. I feel bad for the Utah kids who have not had the long trip experience. I miss the traveling myself.
So just put on a smile and get going again and again. That is what memories are made of. Kids don't remember those times when you are away, only the times when they get to go. So grin and bear and enjoy it.
We didn't even have pullups either!
More power to you Jen, and I hope you can get that man to laugh and enjoy.
Love, Dad Clark
I totally remember the fruit roll ups and Fallon, NV. And I remember the stinky back seat of the van where Adam and I were passing gas non stop and couldn't stop. It was the funniest thing ever! (To us, at least.)
I can't help but remember the few times we actually stayed in hotels on our epic family road trips. I only have three girls and they're actually pretty good, but like to get riled up and throw tantrums every once in a while. However, when those tantrums come, I keep expecting to hear a knock on the room door saying, "Mr. Clark, we've had complaints of noise in this room and we're going to have to ask you to leave."
The weather here in Jackson is gorgeous (~40 in the morning; 65 in afternoon). The trees are changing colors. The Tetons were screaming under clear skies today (first time I've actually seen them w/o cloud interference). And the talks about the 20 year anniversary of the Yellowstone fires were very interesting to hear.
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