Twelve open and half-gone suckers. That is (so far) my personal record of sucker findings while cleaning out my car. Some may find that disturbing. Others, specifically mothers of picky 2-4 year olds who can turn from monsters to sweet, sticky children at the sight of a new sucker, will get it. You see, once I had children, my vehicle shifted from “my” vehicle to a mom ride — making my backseat no longer inviting for any passengers over the age of 10.
In fact, I’m not sure any part of my car is enticing for people other than the girls and I. It’s “our” space now — our comfortable area that gets us back and forth to the babysitter, the store and all our adventures. I remember a time when I loved to be the taxi driver for friends and family. If we were going somewhere, we were taking my car, and I was driving. Now, one of my most feared requests is to take someone — anyone — anywhere without at least a day in advance warning.
I mean, I need time to prepare my car for visitors — even front seat riders. During the work week, I rarely have a passenger in the front. Therefore, my front seat is an explosion of the diaper bag and my purse. At any given time, wipes, bills, water bottles, fruit snacks, gum, lip balm, lotion and (of course) suckers can be found loitering on my front seat. While it may look like a mess to others, if you ask me for just about any mommy necessity, I can find it in a flash.
The back seat, on the other hand, is a war zone. The girls have made that their area. In doing so, I have found that moving the kids’ car seats for someone to sit can be somewhat appalling. Seriously, have you seen what is under those things? It looks like my children are hoarding food for a snow storm. Last time I moved the kids’ car seats, I swear there were about two bags of goldfish, three packs of fruit snacks and some other unknown melted goo. Even after I scooped up all the snacks, I still felt it was necessary to lay out towels on the seat for guests.
And good luck seeing out those back door windows. Between stickers and finger prints and those winter time foggy window drawings, it’s a wonder that the sun even finds its way through!
Oh, and the back seat feet/leg room is pretty much non existent. Every toy that had to come on a ride with us for the last two weeks can be found covering the back seat floor. When I clean it out, it’s like Christmas with all these “new” toys for my kids to play with. It’s a good day when you can actually see what color the carpet is on my floor. You know, beyond the incidental stains.
And let’s not forget, although I too often do, about the black hole of the back/trunk. Long-lost items always find their way back there — a missing left shoe that I searched the house high and low for, a pair of old shorts, diapers two sizes too small, and if you have been to any sort of beach in the last two years, sand. Because no matter how many times you vacuum it out, you cannot get it all out. Thankfully our guests don’t sit back there.
Yes, I am aware that limiting the toys on trips and not allowing my children to eat in the car would resolve many of these issues. However, sometimes it’s a challenge to get my picky kids to eat anything, so if they will snack in the car then I feel a little accomplished. (I mean judging by the mess they leave, it’s not much — but still.) And quite honestly I would rather rip half-eaten suckers off my carpet and clean out some toys every couple of weeks than listen to a screaming toddler as we drive across town. Battles, people!
One day I will have my dream car without stained seats, finger-printed windows or toys covering the floor. In a distant dream it appears tidy, with that new car scent, and, at last, my songs on the radio. It will be wonderful and freeing and mine again.
But it will be so quiet and so lonely.
So for now I’ll take pride in my mom ride. And I will happily drive around my sucker-slinging sidekicks, as we are more than comfortable riding in our own creative clutter. One day I will long for the noise and chaos of my current vehicle, and at that time, I will gladly taxi around other passengers on adventures again. Until then, unless you’re into sticky seats, kids’ toys and stale snacks, I think it’s best for all of us if we just meet you there.
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