Monday, November 29, 2010

A Peaceful Road

I don't know about car trips with your children, but mine can get rather harried at times.  Bickering can run rampant between S and J - especially when they can't agree on the DVD to watch.  A three and a half hour trip between our town and Pawleys Island can seem endless.

But this trip home was different.  This photo I found online was titled "A Peaceful Road". 


I had met "Fun Dad" (aka biological father) on Friday to take the boys and myself for a weekend with my parents, sister, and her girls at the beach.  (S and J spent Thanksgiving with his family.)  The weekend was too short as I packed up the boys and myself for the trip back to reality.  Of course none of the headphones worked for the DVD, but instead of whining, my boys found other things to do.  S was engrossed in The Horse and It's Boy, and J played multiplication and spelling games on my Droid.  Reading?  Math?  Spelling?  Yes, and they were content as could be for a good hour or so.  I loved peaking in the rear view mirror at the two of them.  You could just see their minds working.  They were oblivious to the world around them...

Now I know that a good DVD can do the same thing.  Believe me, we have between five and ten of them at any given time in the Odyssey.  But it was the fact that this time, they were not just "plugged up".  They were "plugged in".  And plugged into something that made them better.  I know that sounds ridiculous, but it made me happy.  I can remember reading and working out brainteasers (until I got slightly carsick) on car trips as a child.  It just brought back memories of my childhood.

I was also able to really look outside the window and marvel at the beauty of the trees with their beautiful leaves outside.  I was able to think about the fun the boys had with their cousins, creating their very own USC/Clemson tickets for the Pawleys Island "satellite stadium" before the big game Saturday evening.  I was able to smile as I thought of my short visit with my sweet friend, Laura, at church that morning.  I played car games with S and J, quizzing them on South Carolina and United States history.  I planned with them how we were going to decorate the tree and house over the next few days.  I got excited with them as we talked about their upcoming hunting trips with their grandfather at our cousin's plantation.  We laughed and talked and planned the whole rest of the ride.

And finally, I was able to to see that sometimes the best part of a trip can be the trip home...

14 comments:

  1. What a sweet post! I love this. Your boys are precious.

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  2. What a great account of your weekend! I'm sure you created some wonderful memories and so glad to hear that the boys enjoyed themselves on the way home. Sounds like a great Thanksgiving!

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  3. Such a thoughtful post- I love those times in the car when nobody is arguing, but instead happy and working together at something. I have fond memories of playing the letter/word game with my son and now we play it with my daughter. Great way to pass the time and learn. Thanks for making me reflect on those good things.

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  4. Sounds divine!
    Just as a true "road trip" should be!
    I don't think kids should be zoned out on the "boob tube" as my Grandmother called it all the time.

    Love,
    Mrs. Kindergarten

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  5. See? Sweeter than pumpkin pie! (Well, except for that stadium bit! At least, y'all were warm--and winning!)

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  6. Great post!! Thank you....

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  7. Sounds GREAT. I agree kids are to "plugged up" these days. Harry ad I just stared a Horse and its Boy this week:) He loves the Narnia books.

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  8. A great moment of peace to begin your holiday season. . .

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  9. Enjoying the journey! Hard to do but so important!!!

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  10. What a peaceful ride! That is the exact reason why we often travel late at night or early in the morning...for the quiet ride! Glad you had a great weekend! Thank you for your sweet comments onmy blog! You always make me smile. :)

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  11. You are spot on with this ~ you have such a talent for telling it as it is!

    Jo

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  12. oh, i HEAR ya on tough car trips! muffy gets car sick on a straight highway, so the thanksgiving trip to VT on winding (albeit beautiful) country roads takes its toll on our family too!

    i love roads, tho and had a very vivid dream about 20 years ago of myself on a particular tree-lined road, colorful fall leaves crunching beneath my feet. Just a couple months ago, after taking Muffy's first day of kindergarten photos that dream came to life -- seeing her walk down the street was the exact picture i had in my dream! (crazy, right?!)

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  13. It is so nice that you appreciate the small things amidst our crazy world. Your boys are GEMS!

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  14. Bevy,
    Sounds like a nice trip! I read your previous post and certainly understand your not liking the holiday shuffle of the boys! I was in Warner Robins for Thanksgiving. Mama doesn't live in Augusta anymore--she lives with my brother.

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Thanks for your sweet comments... They make my day just that more Golden!