Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Mom My Ride

I'm pretty sure just about everyone who reads this blog is a mom and can, therefore, relate to my agony on this issue. Messes in the van.

How many times have I said, "The van is not a toybox. Please take your things inside with you!"? I have all but forbidden any form of eating, or drinking anything but water, while we're driving because I get so tired of cleaning up the messes. Nevertheless, toys, Uno cards, papers, and lots and lots of crumbs somehow find their way onto the seats and floor. Once, I climbed into the back of the van get somthing and I almost couldn't find my way back out for all the mess surrounding me. It was scary!
I've gotten to the point of periodically going through the van and throwing away anything the kids have left behind. It even brings me joy to get my oil changed because they vaccuum the floors, too. (How pathetic am I, that I get excited about an oil change?!)
Sometimes I get a little crazy and I park the van right next to the kitchen door, haul out the vaccuum cleaner, and really clean it out. For the next few days, I'm extra picky about what the kids bring into and take out of the van. I get really strict about the eating policy. I live in my fantasy world thinking maybe, just maybe, the van will stay clean this time. Then I wake up.

I'm realizing as long as I have kids, the van will be messy - just like the house. I'm not going to bother trying to take the stickers off the back window that "Nobody" put up. The scratches on the side will serve to remind me of the hard work Matthew put into learning to ride his bike. When rocks - which have been stored in the back - are rattling around, I'll try to admire my kids' desire to collect things they think are interesting and beautiful.
Yes. I will try to maintain a positive attitude in spite of my messy van. And when I don't think I can do it any longer, I'll click over to this link so I can at least laugh about every mom's messy van. Many thanks to my friend, Lori, who shared this video with me. It's great!

Karen

8 comments:

KarenW said...

That video is hilarious! Now I know what has happened to mine. LOL

Heather {Desperately Seeking Sanity} said...

I gave up on a clean car a long time ago... ::Sigh::

last night I pulled out gifts that we brought home from my mothers at CHRISTMAS...

I dropped them off at the Goodwill on the way to dinner... ::sigh::

The only comfort I have is knowing that I am not alone....

Karen Hossink said...

Karen ~ I honestly think the funniest part of that video is how "hubby" fixes the mirror.

Heather ~ I often have "gifts" for Goodwill in my van, too. You are definitely not alone!

momteacherfriend said...

Loved the video!!
In fact so much that I had to blog on it myself.
We have had duct taped mirrors, gum on the window, toys shrewn everywhere. French fries and much much more.
Thanks for sharing!

Suzanne said...

I don't know how old your kids are, but my 7 year old is responsible for vacuuming the car; this has made him much more careful about what he drops on the floor.

Also, we have Toy Jail at our house. I'll post about it later today or tomorrow.

eeMOMS.com blapher said...

The video is such a crack-up! Thanks for the link and the laugh! By the way, we love to laugh at eeMOMS.

Jen @ irrationallove said...

Oh my goodness...I laughed out loud at your post and the video!

I related to the whole thing and
these two bits I could have written word-for-word myself!

"I'm not going to bother trying to take the stickers off the back window that "Nobody" put up....
When rocks - which have been stored in the back - are rattling around, I'll try to admire my kids' desire to collect things...."

We attend a little country church with a stone/gravel parking lot. My husband has said more than once that if they keep up their rock collecting, the church parking lot will be missing.

Thanks again for the laugh!

Karen Hossink said...

I'm so glad you all enjoyed the video so much. Laughter is such a good thing! :)