How to Survive Life in the Suburbs

Sweet Surprises On A Road Trip With My Teenage Daughter

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Once upon a time. road trips with my kids meant extra laundry, copious amounts of packing, arming myself with gazilllions of distracting activities and perhaps a little bit of prayer.  A good word asking for a smooth ride free of diaper blow outs and car sickness. 

This past weekend I had the opportunity to take a wee trip with my oldest, just the two of us, on an over night adventure of sorts, as she had a volleyball tournament out of town.  You know that moment, when you look at your baby and are dazed and amazed at the intelligent, witty and fabulous person she has become?  Yeah, that happened.

Our original plan had us leaving our home before 4pm, the hope to get our 2 1/2 hours of driving under our belts before darkness truly set in.  Due to stressful circumstances beyond my control, we were not able to leave until closer to 6pm.  When we did finally make our exit it was with a quickly packed bag, a rushed feeling and a heavy heart.  Not the way I wanted to start this adventure.  We left as the winds picked up and the snow started coming down.  Fabulous (insert sarcastic font).

BlueEyes2012I am a confident driver.  I actually enjoy driving, but I don’t love the white knuckle driving.  The wind, the snow and then running over the already dead and squished possum did not make my ride anymore enjoyable.  What did turn my trip around, my girl.  She chatted, she joked, she complained….about all things teen.  We snacked and we laughed.  She played navigator when my GPS punked out and tried to get us good and lost.  She appreciated my stories and perhaps even thought I was funny? A huge step in the Mama- Daughter relationship.  And when we arrived at our destination she quickly declared “Amazing Race Mom!” as an entire Hockey Team had the nerve to pull up in a big ass bus in front of us.  We parked, we ran, we tripped and giggled, we beat that Hockey Team to the check in counter.  We declared ourselves the winner of that leg of the Amazing Race.  No wrong turns, fastest rest stop ever, and beating Hockey Players in Canada?  Victory. 

Bigger Victory, quality time with my girl and being ridiculously, over the top, proud of her. 

My blog, so I declare her brag worthy. 🙂

Hope your weekend was as packed with sweet surprises as mine was….

    • Comments

    5. Truly the sweetest post! Sounds like a definite adventure, but such a fun memory you created! I’m planning a mother/daughter trip for my Mom this x-mas, and can’t wait! 🙂

    6. She is as beautiful on the outside and inside as her Mom is. And I mean that. I’m so glad someone beat out that dang smelly hockey team.
      I love my time with my girls….they are my favorite people. Wait….it only gets better.
      XOXO

    8. That sounds truly awesome! You know I usually dread the teen years with my kid but this post actually made me look forward to it. And good job beating the hockey players 🙂

    10. Totally brag worthy – she is a great kid! Having special one on one with them is wonderful, especially at this age! 🙂 Glad you had a nice weekend!

    11. Road trips great time for this sort of bonding. Pressure Is off, no eye contact required, teens feel more relaxed about it, great opportunity taken despite the difficult start and the weather. Well done you xxx

    12. Totally brag worthy. That Mother Daughter thing just keeps getting better every year. I miss those Canadian sport event drives and those giggles. B

    14. I remember road trips with my son when he was about that age – they can be the best traveling companions once they grow up a little. I hope her team won!