Burb Life

You're either a Van Mom or Suburban Mom.

Whichever you are, you're definitely against the other. When I was young, my mom drove a van and when she made the switch to suburbans, she never went back. One of the first suburbans she ever drove was actually my first vehicle at 16. Smart parenting move by my safety freak dad; he could sleep knowing that I was in a gigantic ball of metal safe on the roads. What he didn't think about was that since it was bigger, it held WAY more people. Pretty sure my max was 17 in there at one point. Whoops! I can't tell you exactly when the burb switch went off in my brain, but I've always told myself, I will never drive a van. I could care less whoever else drives them, but for me, I would never. Anyone else? No? Just me? Ugh.

I drive a suburban and I LOVE it. It's like dodge people, you know the kind. Their vehicles are the greatest inventions. I'm like that with my suburban. I went completely broke from it. Who knew buying a used, old suburban would still break the bank? I guess everyone was in the loop, but me. Damn it. After our third was born, the car seats were getting squished to capacity in my husbands town-car. The car hunt began for a second vehicle to fit our growing family. We looked for Acadias, Tahoes, Explorers, etc. Unfortunately, we kept coming up empty handed.

THEN. One day I'll never forget. My husband drove up the driveway in a van. Remember back to when I said I didn't care if anyone else drove them? Well, I guess I cared if he did. I always told him if he got one, I wouldn't ride in it. He thought I was kidding I guess. He had to take the kids to soccer practice solo one day because I was too stuck up to ride in it. It was literally one of the most embarrassing moments of my life to realize I was that stubborn.

After that day, we had a few very lengthy conversations trying to figure out why I'm the way I was; pretty sure we never got to the bottom of it besides finding out that I'm immature. My husband talked me into driving down the driveway alone in the van. YOU GUYS! I cried. I actually shed tears. How fricken mortifying is that?! I'm totally throwing myself under the bus because nobody should be that ridiculous about a vehicle. It's a really nice van, it really is. Is it a suburban? Umm not even close. I mean .. I won't be getting a van for myself anytime soon, but for my husband - it's super nice and convenient. It only took me about 20 rides hiding my face in the front seat - I'm good now! I've accepted it.

Who the hell knows why I'm this way. The van is actually very functional. The doors open with the touch of a button, it has dual movie players. BUT Nope. I thrive on that struggle to get the seat up and I'm content with just one little movie player. Filling up my gas tank? PSSSHHH. I love blowing my full paycheck on that one tank of gas. You're either mini-van or suburban person and very stone-set on one. WHY IS THIS!? Why is it one or the other? We're all so biased with no good reason why.

Weeks after finally after accepting the van, my husband tells me one day "You know, I've been thinking, I don't think I'm a van guy". Seriously? (insert palm to face). Heated convos that could have been avoided, but so glad we found out who I truly am deep down. An immature stuck up stubborn suburban girl who will now accept the unthinkable. Something that I didn't necessarily want people to know about me has now become public knowledge. On a brighter note, we decided that if we have one more kid, then the van will stay; otherwise, it's peacing the F out. How long can we give ourselves to make this decision? I'm back to not so patiently looking for my sign - stillllllll waitttting....

XO

Hells