We all have our list of “nevers”, things we’d probably never do. Mine includes driving 2 hours each way with a newborn for an event that only lasts a few hours. No matter the event or the people involved, it just doesn’t sound like something I would like to do.
But then I got an invite for a baby shower for one of my dear friends from Dublin who I haven’t seen since we left over a year ago. At first I didn’t think I was going to go, the shower was all the way on the other side of Florida, a nearly 2 hour drive, and I have an 11 week old that isn’t ready to be left home all day. Then I thought about my friend and how much I miss her and how excited I am that she will soon be expecting her first little squishy and I decided I could not pass up to opportunity to see her since there is no telling when our paths may cross again.
I’ve only done one long car drive by myself with my children before. In October I drove back from Orlando with the girls by myself but that was only one hour and just under 3 hours. I’ve also flown many times by myself with the girls but flying is very different from driving where you can’t entertain them, can’t take them out of their seats, can’t easily pass them snacks or drinks. So yesterday was my official first mommy-alone road trip.
Even though the drive is just under 2 hours so making it all the way between feeds should have been easily achieved. But to get across the state we take a road known as “Alligator Alley” which goes right through the basically uninhabited Florida Everglades with no services for over 50 miles. I was worried if Doodle woke up early we would both be a mess before we got back to civilization.
Luckily, baby boy slept all the way there and all the way back. While I don’t like driving long distances and especially don’t like doing it by myself, it’s comforting to know we can and that it’s not too stressful for any of us.
I know that feeling whenever we go visit my folks its a 13-14hr drive with all the stops we have to make with kiddos. And I am usually making this trip by myself. We are going there in a few weeks so we will see how asher does. I think I’m going to pump a bunch before we leave and then that way we don’t have to make as long of stops every time for feedings. Luckily this first drive with all three my sister will be with me.
That’s a really long drive. We prefer to fly if going that far, none of us can sit still much past 4-5 hours without getting grumpy! Good luck, hope all the kiddos do well, update us on how they do!