Ladies and gentlemen - please help us settle this domestic spat. Please visit The Conaway Family Road Trip Survey to weigh in on this matter of pressing importance to the American people. Thank you.
Hi April, I didn't realize you had a blog! Anyway, we're taking a big road trip to Utah in July and the ONLY reason we're driving is because it's cheaper than buying 5 full price plane tickets. Otherwise, there is no question - we would fly.
Driving is going to be a NIGHTMARE!!! I'm scared to death to do it. We have a sedan with three kids in the backseat. If you can afford to fly, do it!
Also, gas is probably going to be closer to $4/gallon by July.
Because of the George W. Bush/Dick Cheney gasoline tax, I do not think anyone should drive anywhere. Having run out of ways to make money off of military contracts in Iraq, they have created a money laundering scheme. It involves borrowing billions of dollars from China and then giving it to the American people so that they can, in turn, give it all to the oil companies as they raise the prices and line their pockets.
Why would we want to support that? I used to drive to Buffalo once or twice a week. It is a 25 minute drive. I am now down to once or twice a month. In fact, I was going to buy a new car. Now that I have nowhere to drive I am putting that off.
So I would say bike to the country and camp instead.
As one of the grandparents, I can only reflect that Addie will probably remember little to nothing and Charlotte will remember nothing. If you fly, albeit political, you will be able to spend more time in each location and create more memories for the whole family. Something about the dead aunt on top of the station wagon is lingering in the back of my mind. A road trip with two small children and attending t their needs might be questionable. But, who listens to what I have to say anyway?
I am torn. Having just made a considerably longer trek in a cramped truck cab with only myself and the hubby, obviously I am a smidge biased. My body insists you fly. As do the memories of a nine year-old sibling who knew how well a two year-old and less-than-one year-old don't do in a car long-term.
On the other hand, the shameless and talented propagandist has a point. I am, at heart, a road trip fiend. I had many long, long, LONG hours to reflect upon the essential truth of American family culture, and decided (even prior to reading your posts, oddly enough) that the roadtrip is, in fact, a necessary and sometimes neglected family bonding ritual. And did I mention how poorly two-year-olds tend to fly?
Ignoring price tags, the trip is about what the adults want to do. All else is pretty much equal. The Propagandist apparently wants to enjoy the beautiful scenery between Houston and Montana as part of his vacation. In which case, Mommy should drive and Daddy can take care of the screaming, crying, soiled kidlets from the backseat. ;)
i gotta say i'm with the hubby on the road trip. i make my hubby do all kinds of things he doesn't want to. he thanks me for it. and flying with two young kids. more than once in a month. um, nope. at least in a car you can stop when they need rest. and you won't be annoying other passengers (parents don't count as passengers, it is your children's JOB to annoy you) with their childish behavior. take the road trip. it'll be worth it.
No question, get those plane tickets. I am with your grandma the kids aren't going to remember, and you can spend more time with the family than on the road if you fly. Plus the price of your plane tickets are amazing. I just paid $1400 in tickets to fly home for the summer. We debated driving but chose not to because we would spend about 5 days each way and hotel costs. April I support you in your decision:)
7 comments:
I propose a compromise: Bicycle!!!
Hi April,
I didn't realize you had a blog! Anyway, we're taking a big road trip to Utah in July and the ONLY reason we're driving is because it's cheaper than buying 5 full price plane tickets. Otherwise, there is no question - we would fly.
Driving is going to be a NIGHTMARE!!! I'm scared to death to do it. We have a sedan with three kids in the backseat. If you can afford to fly, do it!
Also, gas is probably going to be closer to $4/gallon by July.
Because of the George W. Bush/Dick Cheney gasoline tax, I do not think anyone should drive anywhere. Having run out of ways to make money off of military contracts in Iraq, they have created a money laundering scheme. It involves borrowing billions of dollars from China and then giving it to the American people so that they can, in turn, give it all to the oil companies as they raise the prices and line their pockets.
Why would we want to support that? I used to drive to Buffalo once or twice a week. It is a 25 minute drive. I am now down to once or twice a month. In fact, I was going to buy a new car. Now that I have nowhere to drive I am putting that off.
So I would say bike to the country and camp instead.
As one of the grandparents, I can only reflect that Addie will probably remember little to nothing and Charlotte will remember nothing. If you fly, albeit political, you will be able to spend more time in each location and create more memories for the whole family. Something about the dead aunt on top of the station wagon is lingering in the back of my mind. A road trip with two small children and attending t their needs might be questionable. But, who listens to what I have to say anyway?
I am torn. Having just made a considerably longer trek in a cramped truck cab with only myself and the hubby, obviously I am a smidge biased. My body insists you fly. As do the memories of a nine year-old sibling who knew how well a two year-old and less-than-one year-old don't do in a car long-term.
On the other hand, the shameless and talented propagandist has a point. I am, at heart, a road trip fiend. I had many long, long, LONG hours to reflect upon the essential truth of American family culture, and decided (even prior to reading your posts, oddly enough) that the roadtrip is, in fact, a necessary and sometimes neglected family bonding ritual. And did I mention how poorly two-year-olds tend to fly?
Ignoring price tags, the trip is about what the adults want to do. All else is pretty much equal. The Propagandist apparently wants to enjoy the beautiful scenery between Houston and Montana as part of his vacation. In which case, Mommy should drive and Daddy can take care of the screaming, crying, soiled kidlets from the backseat. ;)
i gotta say i'm with the hubby on the road trip. i make my hubby do all kinds of things he doesn't want to. he thanks me for it. and flying with two young kids. more than once in a month. um, nope. at least in a car you can stop when they need rest. and you won't be annoying other passengers (parents don't count as passengers, it is your children's JOB to annoy you) with their childish behavior. take the road trip. it'll be worth it.
No question, get those plane tickets. I am with your grandma the kids aren't going to remember, and you can spend more time with the family than on the road if you fly. Plus the price of your plane tickets are amazing. I just paid $1400 in tickets to fly home for the summer. We debated driving but chose not to because we would spend about 5 days each way and hotel costs. April I support you in your decision:)
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