My Life So Far…

Just reading the title of this post makes me cringe.  Okay, so I do have twin babies that require two of everything, but I am still fighting the idea of the minivan.  I will say, before we get too far, that I acknowledge that there are benefits to owning one of these “my life is over” vehicles.  I know the door clearance is great, you can tote about more crap, gas mileage and safety ratings, etc., it is just not me, I am still struggling with the fact that I am an adult and also a parent. 

Now you are probably going to choke on this next line, but… we actually do own a minivan, however it was not I (the wannabe hip SUV mom) that settled into this vehicle it was my husband.  The large and powerful quad truck is now but a memory to my wonderful husband who could not wait to be a dad.  Many years ago I rented a minivan (during my rent-a-car disaster career choice) for a trip to the U.P.  (Upper Peninsula of Michigan for those of you scratching your head) and ever since then my hubby has been singing the praises.  I still never thought it would be me pleading with him on the show room floor to “Get out of that van right now!” as he joyfully sat in the “captain” chair.  I am happy we have the van and even enjoy it on the weekend or on a trip but come the work week when I am taking the kids back and forth to daycare, I am all about the kick a** Jeep Commander I picked out for myself. 

My husband went through an  ”I love my van” phase and “we can not be parted”, it was during this time that a guys only camping trip was scheduled.  I did not have my new vehicle during his trip and had no room for car seats in my old one, throw in a visiting mother-in-law and well you get the picture.  The logical choice should have been for him to leave the van, especially since he was meeting everyone at the location and driving ALONE in a 7 seater…..I gently hinted, but as usual when dealing with a man preoccupied or using selective hearing, the hints (I am not that subtle) went unnoticed and the van pulled out of the driveway with me waving on the doorstep.  I did survive the weekend even though we had horrible storms and my husband even ended up sleeping in his beloved van by setting up his cot (stow and go seats) and adding a portable (battery operated) fan for comfort because his tent was demolished during some of the storm produced high winds (he will say tornado). 

Well here we are several months along and the “honeymoon” is over, every now and then a story is told involving his truck and he looks wistfully into the distance,  or he sees his old mode of transportation joyfully passing us by on the highway and says “I miss my truck”.  I just have to smile after all I asked him not to get the minivan, I can enjoy all the comforts now and still keep my rough and tumble “Jeep” girl attitude (I am not really this cool).  We do have a vacation coming up and I am sure once he is in full packing and organizing mode he will be patting himself on the back for his smart vehicle choice.  I do not however,  think we will be seeing a van again in the driveway after the lease is up, unless the stars and universe come together again at that exact moment when we are forced to make a purchase decision, after all you never can tell.