Oh the Horror... of a Minivan?
The journey by one Contra Costa County parent into the minefield of membership in the minivan clan.
We parents like to argue about a lot of stuff. Perhaps you’ve noticed?
From the moment of conception, there are any number of parenting debates you can unsuspectingly find yourself in the middle of —drugs versus no drugs in labor, breastfeeding versus formula, crib versus co-sleeping.
The list is long, and can be as difficult to navigate as a minefield.
Many people I know try to steer clear of the contentious issues that a lot of parents seem to have strong opinions about, and are all too willing to share.
But, there is one critical parenting debate that I’ve found that seems to draw out even the controversy-adverse parents—minivans.
Last week I saw a photo posted on Facebook by George Takei (of Star Trek fame) that read, “Condoms Prevent Minivans.”
After an honest to goodness LOL (laugh-out-loud), I promptly re-shared it, and watched my Facebook notifications light up.
For the record, I am an unabashed lover and owner of a minivan.
I didn’t have much of a cool factor to lose to begin with (shocking, I know), so I personally jumped for joy when we drove that miracle of multi-functional engineering home from the lot.
But before your eyes roll too far back into your head, factor in that I had been rocking the early 1990s compact sedan I got when I graduated from college, with two babies and all their stuff. I even somehow found a double stroller that fit in what I called my magical bottomless “Mary Poppins trunk.”
When offered the opportunity, I willingly—giddily even—sold out, and capitulated to the car that inspires venomous scorn in so many of my peers.
I didn’t, and don’t care.
No more wedging my kids into their car seats next to goliaths, parked ridiculously crookedly or close to my itty-bitty car. No more getting soaked in the rain, while I wrestle, half in and half out of a car door, with coats and car seats.
No matter which direction I am parked, a door beautifully slides open with the touch of a button. And oh my goodness, two words: seat heaters.
And, even if all that hadn’t convinced me, the day I folded down the third row, popped out my kids’ seats and fit an entire bunk bed and dresser into the back, earned this tragically unhip mom's undying loyalty, to a minivan.
Do you have a stand on the minivan issue? Or are you sitting this one out?
Tell us in the comments.
Catherine Krueger
7:45 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Well I have crossed both boundaries of owning a minivan and a prius!! I get it on both sides. I agree that the convenience of a minivan is so nice and the "funny" thing is those criticizing me for my minivan are more than happy to "borrow" it for big pieces of furniture!! I have definitely seen the careless minivan drivers and bad prius drivers but luckily we are not made in the same mold!
Kirsten Branch
8:28 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Yup, Catherine, when someone needs something hauled, suddenly you become popular. :)
And, no doubt about it, some people should not be behind the wheel, of a minivan or otherwise!
Thanks for your comment!
Astrid Broberg
5:40 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Yes ..that,s what it is about for most americans....convenience...god forbid we,d get wet so we drive our vans down to peets for our latte or across the whole Bay Area in search of the best school or swimclass or art or dance...day in day out...I for one wonder what that teaches our kids? What kind of world ae we leaving behind for them?.no wonder there has been no snow in Tahoe..where people drive there minivan just for the weekend..or let's see about the drought this summer...hooray..let's glorify the minivan
Kirsten Branch
7:58 am on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Well, I haven't been to Tahoe (I'm pretty sure my Bay Area card gets revoked for that) so I can't say for sure, but I think those businesses are pretty happy to see that line of minivans climbing up the mountains. I could be wrong, perhaps we should get all historical and recreate the Donner expedition?
And, it's true, I did hike two miles up a hill and over the plains through rain, sleet and snow to get to school when I was a kid, so these days I hop in my minivan and search all over the Bay Area for the best pair of rain boots I can find. They come in handy for wading through other stuff too.
Astrid Broberg
1:01 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Next time try the bike..can find some good rainboots with that too
Kirsten Branch
1:09 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sure, as long as people don't get offended when I take up the bike path with my big old trailer loaded up with kids. We have classes to get to!!!
I kid, but in actuality it's just fine if people hate my minivan, and thanks for adding to the conversation!
Astrid Broberg
7:04 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
I don,t hate the minivan..just don,t like the glorification of any car...except the electrical and veggi one....we have a van that runs on veggie oil for the big things and I hav not encountered any problems flying down the path or even sidewalks with my cargobike which has a box in front and traile bike or trailer at times in back...we have classes to go to too..the best thing I can give my kids is to try and leave them the best world I can...that,s a topic that is mostly overlooked in most parenting debates and decisions that people make....unfortunately