The Parent Test

Yesterday was quite an adventure. We left my dad´s in Luray, VA around 11am. The trip is generally 5.5 - 6 hours. With the girls, you have to add at least an hour for a feeding stop. Natalie also had a very bad diaper rash that we wanted to stay on top of with frequent changes. We figured we'd be home about 7ish.

We were moving right along despite multiple stops: several diapers changes, two feedings, and a fussy Abby who we checked a few times just in case of a poopy diaper. Around 6pm, we were about 35 miles from Durham. We were very happy. The girls, who are really amazing travelers, had had about enough and were getting fussy.

Just ahead, we begin to see the bright lights of the big ole city of Durham. But wait, that's not Durham. It's the site all parents traveling with children dread: the tail lights of slowing traffic.

We were around exit 212 on I-85 South. We were in the left lane and our first mistake was not immediately getting over and taking the exit before it was too late. But, it was too late. Much too late. Through conversations with Jeff and my mom, we learned of brush fires in the area closing down parts of the interstate as well as other highways. Traffic was being re-routed at exit 209 onto highway 158 to a spot further down 85. So, 3 miles. That can't take but so long, right?

Almost two and a half hours, a road-side pee break, and a half-a-dozen broken traffic laws and behavior that would initiate a DCS investigation, we finally made it to Highway 158. We reached our home around 9:30pm - 10 hours later.

10 hours in a car with two screaming babies is not a lot of fun. I can't say that I blame them. They were so tired of being cramped and strapped into their car seats. On the plus side, both girls had a chance to practice driving with Daddy.

It was certainly quite a trip. But, I suppose you aren't really a parent until you've been trapped in a car with a screaming kid. Well, we've passed the test. For the traveling gods keeping score, we no longer EVER need to take that test again. We consider ourselves to have passed with flying colors. No further instruction needed.