Improving Family Road Trips: Tips to Make Traveling Easier

Road Trip

When I first met my husband, I was certain of two things that would never change: my love for the beach and traveling, but quite honestly—those passions have taken a bit of a vacation themselves!

Picture this: car rides with Houdini, the escape artist, a professional whale whisperer (because his happy sounds sound like echolocation), and Jacki, with the number of bathroom breaks that rival a pit stop at the Daytona 500, and appetites that could challenge a sumo wrestler in training—no exaggeration!

To give you a little more perspective on traveling with my family, my children are special needs. Not only do we have to manage special diets, but we must also navigate the unique challenges of traveling with kids on the spectrum. With a little determination (and coffee) we've found ways to make traveling doable... for now at least! Here are some tips that may help you be on your way:

1. Early Departure & Packing: We've mastered the ancient ninja art of packing and loading the car. Step one: We turn on our oven exhaust fan at full blast to create the perfect cover of noise. Suddenly, we're not just packing; we're orchestrating a covert operation. With military precision, we pack fresh breakfast, fruit, and enough premade frozen food to survive an apocalypse (or at least a family road trip). It's like planning a heist, except instead of avoiding trip lasers, we're navigating a minefield of toy trains in the dark. Once the supplies are secured, it's mission "Get the Kids in the Car Before Sunrise." We then execute Operation Potty-Time, ensuring all tiny agents are relieved and ready for the road (most of the time we can place them on the toilet and in the car while they are still sleeping, believe it or not). If Hollywood made a movie about this, it would be a mix of "Mission Impossible" and "Home Alone"—because honestly, sometimes it feels like leaving the house with kids is its own epic adventure!

2. Car Toilet: Let's talk about the miracle of the camper's toilet. It's not just a portable potty; it's a lifesaver. My kids have elevated car bathroom breaks to an art form. Who knew a minivan could double as a rest stop? Next up: roadside picnics with porcelain teacups!

3. Pack Snacks: Forget about "are we there yet?" It's more like "are the snacks gone yet?" My car now doubles as a pantry-on-wheels, stocked with enough snacks to feed a school of hungry sharks. If there's an apocalypse, we're surviving on dried fruit and granola bars.

4. Activities: Coloring, magnetic books, puzzles—you name it, we've packed it. And let's not forget the tablets—the ultimate trump card in the "keep the peace" game. Screen time rules are temporarily suspended during travel; it's survival of the sane out here.

In the whirlwind of parenting, remember to buckle up (literally and metaphorically), embrace the chaos, and find humor in the journey. Sure, there are spills, meltdowns, and a few "I spy" games gone awry, but amidst it all, every road trip becomes a shared adventure. Cherish the memories—allow the laughter to echo louder than the screams!

Happy travels, fellow road warriors!