once again gives thanks for being an only child

Those of us who remember being self-sufficient on trips probably were, but we're not gonna remember how we were at 20 months or 4 years old when we needed the most attention. There's a big difference between under-fives and older kids.

A friend of our took her 5 and 10 year old to New Zealand to visit their dad on a movie set last year. 18 hours of travel. The DVD player helped a LOT, but feeding, chatting, distracting and potty breaks for the little one still took up a good 12 hours of time. The older one didn't need to be ditracted, but he did need to be watched, to make sure he didn't ask for a million cokes from the stewardess or annoy his little brother too much. But that's how it is when you travel with kids and parents, bless 'em, learn how to cope and thrive. They had a lovely time when they got there.

I think it's important to note that admitting the realities about kids requiring effort and sacrifices is not the same as calling for a referendum on the idea of parenthood. My dad will freely admit that he and his siblings were a vast brood of devil children, but I think on most days my grandmother would have said they were worth the trouble.

My brother and I did too. This is why my parents build a wall out of sleepingbags between us. And we could still sense the other's evil intent.

Can't believe I forgot about lisah's big orange bruisers!

ION, my bathroom sink exploded.

No, really. I came home to a sink that looked like its drain had violently disgorged... stuff. Ruined a roll of tp, but didn't manage to spew on anything else.

I have no idea. The drain hasn't been slow or anything.

Gross.

I gotta run (pick up the kids--ha!) but yeah, kids do need to be entertained on car trips (plane trips too I assume) but mine have been pretty good so far. Portable DVD player wasn't even needed this weekend. We just listened to Cat Stevens and looked at the stars.

Speaking of entertaining, does anyone remember that Steve Martin routine that includes something like 'the individualist's creed'? I promise [I promise], to be unique [to be unique].

My google fu has failed me.

I was forcibly reminded of the routine's irony by this photo [link] where McCain's supporters put the 'ick' in Maverick.

Please forgive the skip to the end if someone else has posted this.

Sometimes parenting seems like a slog but remember, Nature is usually merciful and if you have kids, you're hard-wired to think they're adorable. And they end up doing some pretty hilarious things to entertain YOU, too.

If you play your cards right, they might pick a nicer nursing home to put you in.

Tommy nailed it for me. I know some people who are not only anti-kid for themselves, but pretty much anti-kid (not here). I remind them that their mothers wiped their asses and wiped their noses with love so they need to back off. Parents love their kids (in spite of complaints of their lost "lives") and we keep the world working into the future.

I think it's important to note that admitting the realities about kids requiring effort and sacrifices is not the same as calling for a referendum on the idea of parenthood.

The kids are great, I have absolutely no regrets even when they spend a car trip bickering and yelling.

I've been elbow-deep in a toilet once or twice that made me reconsider for a few seconds. But not enough to drive to Nebraska.

admitting the realities about kids requiring effort and sacrifices

I hear this so often, I wonder about our definition of 'sacrifice'. Giving up things we expected to keep? Not having things that we want?

This is genuinely confusing to me because I've seen so many parents who integrate their children's needs into their own and everyone gets what they need. Rather than losing something by having kids, they seem only to see parenting as gaining something in their lives.

Reminds me of a woman who walked across the country with me in '86. She strapped her 6 month old to her back and kept on trucking. That kid? The coolest, most grounded child I ever met.