My family and I just got back from a road trip.  We made the nearly 5-hour trek from Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay Area, where I was a bridesmaid in my cousin’s wedding.  Prior to the trip, I gathered all the necessities I needed to keep my 2 ½ year-old and 4-year-old from having a meltdown mid-ride.  DVD Player, check. DVD’s, check.  CD’s, check.  Snacks, check.  Books, check, and toys, check…check…check.  But, what I’ve learned over the last four years of making this journey is that there are some not so obvious necessities I need to have to make this trip a little less stressful, and a lot more fun.

So, I compiled a list of my top 5 things every mom needs when planning a road trip, and hold on tight because these essentials are not what you think!

1.     A Good Attitude – Yeah, we all know traveling with kids can be tough, but it’s even harder when we anticipate all the challenges that lie ahead of our long voyage.  Expecting the negative is the easiest way to turn a long trip into a negative experience.  Focus on the fun and enjoy the special moments you make with your kids on the road.  You’re in the car with your beautiful family. Sure, they’ll be setbacks and drama along the way, but as the song says, don’t worry; be happy.

2.     Proper Nourishment – I remember one year, on our 6-hour adventure, I forgot to bring enough food, so I didn’t eat much and turned into one irritable mother.  Halfway to our destination I realized it was because I was hungry.  Lesson learned.  Now, I always make sure I’m well fed before hitting the road, and during the trip.  Even if I have to wake up early to make breakfast or eat a sandwich I feel it’s vital I get proper nourishment.  We, moms, get so carried away with helping our loved ones that we sometimes forget to help ourselves.  But remember, our well-being is indispensable.

3.     Rest – Moms, it is imperative that you are well-rested for an extended trip.  Not only do you want to be attentive to keep extra eyes on the road, or help out with driving, but you’ve got to be prepared to attend to restless and needy little ones at the drop of a hat.  I don’t know about you, but I’m hard-pressed to get any shut-eye when I’ve got a car full of people who constantly need my attention.  Normally, unless the kids are napping I’m up along with everyone else, so, I might as well be alert for the drive.

4.     Patience – It’s been said before that patience is a virtue and that could not be more true than when you’re in a cramped car for hours with some anxious kids, constantly asking, “Are we there yet?”  You want the trip to be as pleasant as possible, and yelling and getting snappy does not bode well for an enjoyable ride.  If your kid has an accident or is whiney don’t get upset.  Try to keep the environment light and fun, so the journey can be a meaningful experience.

5.     Mommy Entertainment – Yes, I’m talking about you.  And, what better way to entertain than when you are well-rested, well-fed, patient and have a good attitude?  So, while my husband is driving I often play various games with the kids to get their minds off of the time.  My son’s favorite game is a game we made up called the ABC guessing game.  You may want to count trees or cows or do an in-car sing-along.  Whatever it is make it fun.  It will make the trip fly by and provides lasting memories that you’ll cherish forever.

If any moms out there have more road trip essentials to share, please feel free to leave your ideas in the comments section.

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