The kids and I had big plans Monday when they were out of school. We had our annual MLK Day lunch and playdate with friends, an afternoon at Bounce U and gymnastics in the evening.
My big kids – 7 and 9 – always have to have SOMETHING to do in the car, be it a book to read, a movie to watch or an electronic device to play with. It was a 20 minute drive or so to our friend’s house so I knew they would grab a few things.
Little did I know what the inventory on that trip would be until I counted at the end of the day: one Nook, one iTouch, one LeapPad, my smartphone, and yes, we have a DVD player in the minivan.
Oh, and I grabbed my laptop in case I had time to work.
SERIOUSLY?
I try to keep several books in the car for, you know, READING when we run errands. But this, I think, was overboard. I didn’t realize all of it until later in the day. The kids have catchall bags they take with them, so nothing gets left in the car. Needless to say, we were lugging heavy bags with us.
I think next time, I’m taking inventory BEFORE the trip. And a few things need to stay home!
So later in the week, when they had NONE of that in the car, they proclaimed: We’re bored.
I turned on the radio and reintroduced them to music. You know, the stuff that comes out of the radio sometimes when mommy doesn’t have it on the news? Yea. It’s a GOOD thing.

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