I am up very early this morning to allow for time to pack and get ready for the drive to Slidell today. If you’ll recall, NikkiZ hates being in the carseat with every fiber of her being. My 30-minute drive from her daycare produces fits that allow me to know something not all parents know about their children. What it sounds like if they were suddenly turned inside out and barbecued. The screaming…my god, my child has a set of lungs on her.
So, were allowing plenty of time on this trip for stops at random Wal-Marts throughout Alabama where we can let her walk around and forget car-trauma for a little bit. I say Wal-Mart because if there is anything you can be sure to find along the highways heading south: It’s Wal-Mart. I’m also hoping to use those opportunities to refill my flask since I’ll be self-medicating my anxiety with whiskey.
LilZ is the one who has it the worst. We can sit in the front and do our best to pretend like she’s not screamy bloody effin’ murder in the backseat. We just won’t turn around and look at her. We can try to carry on conversations or listen to music. LilZ will be stuck back there with her where she can stare at him while she’s screaming and he has no other choice but to see her in her misery. Pray for him. And let me know if you think I should share my whiskey with him.
I’m not one to promote tv watching or anything but we used to live in Arkansas and make the 8+ hour trip to Austin, Tx every other month or so. My mother got us a DVD and PRESTO CHANGO no cring. They love it and they are happy the whole trip. Sanity. It’s the one child item that I wouldn’t trade for the world, excluding bourbon when I am not pregnant.
Ps- if you lived near me I would let you borrow it. I’m sorry we aren’t closer.
Good luck!! Hopefully she will zonk out at some point! Just think of all the wonderful food and family that lie on the other end!! Hope to meet ya!!
Whiskey may be a little strong. I would recommend a crisp, hard apple cider for the boy. And a good pair of headphones.
Share with LilZ, because I feel the pain.
Have a safe trip and a happy holiday!
This is just a shot in the dark, but could it be the car seat straps? I help install carseats at our fire department’s carseat safety clinics and we commonly find that parents don’t adjust the straps often enough because their kids grow so frickin fast. You might try loosening the straps and see if that helps with the screaming bloody murder. Or, better yet–give NikkiZ the wiskey! (I just flashed back to the part in “Meet the Parents” where the baby glued his hands to the rum bottle..)
I have nothing to offer except Heather’s suggestion of giving NikkiZ the whiskey! My grandpa used to give us little sips of beer and we turned out alright… hic…
Seriously, I hope everything goes well and that you have a wonderful trip!
Love the new look, too!
Clearly, the kid needs his own flask.
Have a good trip, or at least drink enough that it appears great in your memory.
Definitely share with LilZ. You know who I feel REALLY bad for? Mr.Z. He has to drive in the car with drunken Zoot, screaming Nikki and either drunk (lol) or delirious LilZ. Yuck. lol
love the design, Zoot. my fave since the HP skin.
I say yes, share your liquor with him. He’ll need it. Plus, it’s not like he’s driving.
Check her straps, I just saw on a show where the mom said her baby did the same thing, but then they realized the straps were too tight. Now, no screaming. It’s worth a try.
Good Luck.
Whiskey. Interesting plan.
I’ve always dosed our boys with Gravol (officially for car sickness, usually has a lovely sleepy side effect) on long drives. Works like a charm.
Good luck!
Crap! My Bloglines hasn’t updated you since the 21st! I’ve missed a week of Zoot. I should have known better than to think you just weren’t posting. I mean, you blogged labor, live.