Riding in Cars with Kids

goYou’re reading Modern Motherhood Musings, a weekly newsletter written from one mom to another. Each week I share an honest reflection on motherhood, and a collection of things bringing me joy. I’m passionate about community, and I hope that by sharing our stories, we all feel a little less alone. Disclosure: Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

📝 This week’s musing…

Earlier this week I took my oldest son Will to swim lessons, and those 20 minutes in the car were the best part of my day.

I was rushed, and stressed, and annoyed to be sitting in traffic, but Will? He was soaking up every second.

As we drove down the street he pointed out his best friend Avie’s school and the donut shop we go to on the weekends. He noticed every single truck that we passed, not just the truck, but what kind of truck it was. He pointed out the tree trucks, going to remove the limbs leftover after the hurricane, and the electricity truck driving to fix the lights.

This was his life. It wasn’t an everyday moment of annoyance or frustration driving through traffic, but big important memories in his life that he was getting to relive. These are the things and places that give him a sense of belonging, and grounding.

He asked me deep questions on our drive, like how the doctors got him out of my belly 😳 and lighthearted questions like “Why is my cousin Bennett so big?” and “How many teeth do you think he has?”.

How do these little ones have such an ability to carry the conversation from lighthearted to deep, and hold the same sense of importance to the answers of both?

He’s starting to form his own opinion about what kind of music he likes. He definitely loves The Rolling Stones, but isn’t too fond of my taste in Nashville Country, and has grown a strange affinity for jam bands this summer thanks to his dad.

I treasure these moments of time with my firstborn. He’s still so full of innocence, and joy, and filled with wonder at everyday moments of life.

He’s my best friend, and I want him to stay this little forever.

I love riding in the car with my kids. You get a front row seat into their mind and their unfiltered perspective of the world. You hear the things they hear and the thoughts they have, and witness life as they’re experiencing it in that specific moment in time. It’s incredible.

They notice their surroundings in ways that we don’t, and they take in all the things that we’ve learned to tune out or turn off as adults.

If you’re in the car with your kids this week, I want to encourage you to tune-out the traffic, disengage from the annoyance, and focus on the world through your kids eyes. I guarantee it’ll change your perspective.

✨ Friday favorites…

🍑 This Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken with Peach Salad recipe is the perfect way to use the very last of those summer peaches. I love recipes that create an entire meal!

📖 I read Beth Moore’s memoir “All My Knotted Up Life” earlier this year and was blown away. If you’ve heard of Beth, you might expect her book to be full of frill and fluff, but it was shocking and vulnerable and very honest.

🧊 I’m loving this freezable bag to pack and take snacks on the go. It’s perfect for those days you’ll be out of the house for a while between work, and school, and kids activities.

👯‍♀️ From one mom, to another…

Your words of wisdom, best piece of advice, and favorite hacks can make a difference in another mom’s journey. What has helped you survive this season? Email me to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

I’m looking for more tips, advice, and hacks for this section - so send me an email if you’d like to contribute!

Happy Friday, Friends! Thank you ALL for being here, it means the world.