How NOT to move across the country

 

Are you moving this summer? Maybe just taking a long road trip? Here is some great advice that I sincerely wish we had followed. All except the last one, I guess! :)

1. Do NOT let the driver get sick on Day 3 of your trip.
The major stomach issues will make him pull over even more than your 3-year-old in the back seat's potty breaks. It will also lengthen your drive by a day. It turns out that Day 4 is where everyone turns nasty. Give me 3-day car trips forever. 4 days? Not advisable. 5 days? Never again.

2. Do NOT forget to check and double check the day that you can move into your apartment. 
This will make you sit in the leasing office for probably an hour longer than you should while they figure out what to do with you because you are there a day early, and they are supposedly cleaning your carpets (lies, all of it!) which won't be clean until tomorrow. During this eternity, you and your children will be barely tolerated by the office staff, obviously not used to seeing a family with 3 obscenely cranky kids under age 4 in their office. You will then need to get back in the car because you still can't get into the apartment for another 4 hours. Luckily there are beautiful parks and the breath of fresh air will be good for everyone, even if your children act like zombie monsters at McDonald's.

3. Do NOT have a baby 5 weeks before you move.
Contrary to popular opinion, babies at this age actually travel very well in our experience. The drive is not the issue here. It is the sudden upheaval of everything your older 2 children know and care about all at once. You may do this, but be prepared for a solid 3-4 weeks of not recognizing your children and really not wanting to own that they are yours in public. Seriously.


Now we did do some things right. First of all, we made a sweet pulley system to go from the front seat to the back seats where the bigger boys were (thank you, pinterest). I could relay snacks or toys in a bucket to either of them at any time. We also only ate out one meal a day to cut costs, and we had a few activities and prizes to give to the boys throughout the drive. They loved playing "Guess what animal I am." Anyway, for good or for bad, we'll chalk this one up to experience!