Summer Road Trips

Jacki N. is a Peer Navigator on the Family Engagement Team at Grandview Kids. Her role is to support the Family Leader programs, provide families with support after a diagnosis, and show the importance of self-care. She is a mom of four. Her second son was born with a rare genetic seizure disorder, and it is her mission to allow her son’s diagnosis to open and not close doors.

Summer is here, so let’s go on a road trip. Here’s what I have learned from driving hours with my four kids:

I have always loved travelling. As a child, I spent countless March breaks driving backward in my parents’ station wagon across the USA. After my second son started having seizures, I became mentally locked into our home, and my love for travel took a necessary break. As time passed and we became more comfortable with our son’s medical needs, we started to slowly venture out and take road trips to some of our favourite places, Bay of Quinte, Scugog and the Kawarthas. March break 2014, we decided to cross the border and head south for Myrtle Beach on the longest 13-hour road trip. Honestly, that drive was a disaster; we were under-prepared for what driving with a 6, 3 and 6-month-old would involve. Let’s put it this way: it took us so long to get there that we decided it would be easier to drive through the night to get home, and we have not done that since. It did not deter me, though; we have taken many road trips all over the world, and the following are some tips that have made our trips enjoyable and memorable.

First off, preparation is key. It does not matter how far you are travelling. A good packing list and an organized, packed vehicle will set you up for success. I have several different packing lists on my phone that I reuse all the time. Baseball tournaments, camping trips, and Florida vacations all require me to pack different items, and through the years, I have added items to each list that I wish I had brought. Doing anything with 4 children requires bringing items, and without a list, I would certainly get distracted and forget something. For longer trips, make sure wheelchairs, strollers, and medications are easy to access. I also use a drink caddy that fits all our water bottles so they are all in one location, and I can monitor fluid intake. A 3-hour drive will take much longer when you have to stop multiple times for washroom breaks.

Speaking of breaks, plan for them. If travelling with an older child who wears diapers or needs assistance in the washroom, I highly recommend using ON route stops. They have companion washrooms, plenty of accessible parking, and are open 24/7, and you do not have to spend any extra time accessing them as they are right off HWY 401. Use www.onroute.ca for locations and what is available at each stop. Our family rule is when we stop, everyone uses the washroom; this has saved us travelling time. If travelling into the USA we use Rest stops, they are located right of the highway and have accessible washrooms and picnic tables. These locations allow us to stretch our legs and have a snack. Plan those breaks into your travel time, I have learned over the years it may be better to stop before the 4-year-old urgently needs to use the potty.

My children love snacks, so for road trips, I create snack bags for them. Each child has a labelled bag with multiple snacks in it. When it is snack time, I hand them the bag, and they can choose something to eat. I learned the hard way when I gave my then-8-year-old control of his snack bag on one vacation. Snack bags have prevented extra stops and ensure they will be getting a variety of snacks (healthy and non) over the trip (sometimes our destination is 22 hours away). Pro tip, also pack and bring your lunch. We always bring our lunch, it is much quicker, healthier and cheaper to bring. Nowadays, a stop at Mcdonald’s costs $50 for a family of 6 and takes an hour by the time you order, eat, and use the washrooms, so I have learned sandwiches or a cheese and cracker platter are much easier and save us money. During warm weather, this is more doable as Rest stops often have picnic tables, and this gives my children a safe place to move around, and fresh air does us all good.

Lastly, when we back out of the driveway, the journey begins. Some of my favourite memories are all of us in the vehicle. We are laughing, playing games and singing our hearts out to “Old Country Road” while driving through the mountains of West Virginia. We reward good car behaviour with prizes and challenge our children to spot the first Target store, Bald Eagle or palm tree. When we stop for a break, we switch seats so our children get to sit next to a different sibling. We have different playlists of songs for different road trips that we have taken, a baseball playlist, a Florida playlist and even a birding playlist. When I hear the song “Gone Country,” I think of our drive to Tennessee, and “Cruise” always makes me laugh as I reminisce on Colton singing along down the highway with windows open. The best part is when my kids hear one of the songs, their eyes light up!

This summer, get in the car, hop on a bus or train and take a day to explore. It will be good for your soul. Happy road-tripping!