I have lots of mom friends with all different working lives:  full-time, part-time, recently back-in-the-workforce, volunteers at school and elsewhere and of course, unpaid driver.  Yes, it is week two and I completely understand mini-vans now.  Today, I was up bright and early to car pool two kids to school.  Back home by 8:00, breakfast, job hunt.  Grocery store without the crowds I thought, but alas, the snow forecast for Tuesday night had everyone shopping early.  Back home, call at 11:00, more job hunting, lunch and before  I knew it, my son called to be picked up at school with his friend.  Get home, telephone call with recruiter at 3:00.  5:15, back in car to take son and friend to Jazz band rehearsal.  5:30, pick up daughter at friend's.  Dinner, and 7:00 pm, back to work tweaking the resume.  Now I'm tired. 

Over the years, I have always depended on the kindness of...other moms and dads.  (my son did just finish reading "a Streetcar Names Desire).  Evening pick-ups?  Weekends?  That was us. Everything else meant rides from other parents.  So here is my official shout-out--THANKS!!

So now the strong sales of  mini-vans really makesense.  My friends often commented on how much time they spent in and out of their cars, and  how quickly the mileage would add up.  Our cars haven't even hit 30K yet thanks to all of our train commuting.  Its certainly better to spread the driving around more people.  But in view of the latest snow storm on the horizon, I'm not trading my all wheel drive Subaru in quite yet.