Short Trip Planning Help

[Pencil Pusher]

My favorite hs bookstore in the metroplex used to be about 20-30 min away & half-way between me & my g'parents, so I could meet them there for lunch or stop in on my way to see them. Couldn't go TOO often, but reasonably so.

Now it's an hr away. And it's not really on the way to anything. At all.

So I need to go at some point, & you know how it is, when you're planning...there are things you need to *see* to make decisions. I like to hang out. Spend all of our money. I mean, er, *look* at things.

They ship for free, I think, so if I just knew what I needed, I could order. But in the same town is my favorite thrift shop. And I know you're probably thinking they're all the same, but they're not. In my old town, you could get new clothes cheaper at Ross or WM than at the GWs there. This one that I love is an off-brand, & they have SALES. There are $1 racks, & half-off stickers.

So you understand.

Wed I've finally got my 1st mw appt., & it's an hr away. If I go to the hs bookstore on my way home from that, it would only be another 20-30 min out of the way, saving about an hr of gas/drive time.

However, my appt is at 1, dh has to be dropped off at work at 11:30, & I won't be headed home until 3-ish. Iow, we'd be at the bookstore at naptime, dc would be at peak crankiness, & I'd have less time to look. Plus, I'd have an hr to drive home in rush hour.

Now, my dc are usually friendly enough, even w/out naps. I don't need FOREVER to look, & I'm not a stickler for naps or schedules or anything. I mean, they help, & I see that, but I'm not their slave or anything. Rush hr doesn't completely freak me out, but I don't see any reason to join it unless necessary, kwim?

Otoh, I could go to the bookstore tomorrow. I have to drop dh off at work at 10ish anyway, so I'll have the car. What do you think? Extra drive time on the one hand, rush hr, missed naps, etc. on the other?

Hint: I want to go tomorrow. ;)

[Eliana]

Wed I've finally got my 1st mw appt.,


Hurrah!! You must feel so relieved to have the decision made and be ready to start seeing your midwife!


& it's an hr away. If I go to the hs bookstore on my way home from that, it would only be another 20-30 min out of the way, saving about an hr of gas/drive time.

However, my appt is at 1, dh has to be dropped off at work at 11:30, & I won't be headed home until 3-ish. Iow, we'd be at the bookstore at naptime, dc would be at peak crankiness, & I'd have less time to look. Plus, I'd have an hr to drive home in rush hour.

Now, my dc are usually friendly enough, even w/out naps. I don't need FOREVER to look, & I'm not a stickler for naps or schedules or anything. I mean, they help, & I see that, but I'm not their slave or anything. Rush hr doesn't completely freak me out, but I don't see any reason to join it unless necessary, kwim?

Otoh, I could go to the bookstore tomorrow. I have to drop dh off at work at 10ish anyway, so I'll have the car. What do you think? Extra drive time on the one hand, rush hr, missed naps, etc. on the other?

Hint: I want to go tomorrow. ;)



If you don't get to go very often, and you could combine it with a trip to the thrift shop (which would sort-of pay for the extra gas, right?), I would definitely go tomorrow. I wouldn't want to *feel* all hectic and rushed, kwim? Bookstore trips should be *fun*.

Would you pack a lunch for the family? Or stop somewhere and get something?

The only problem I can see is if your kids would have trouble with two car days in a row. (My twins were like this for their first year and a half; they wanted to be at home... all the time, ideally, but at least not out int he world two days running. Then they shifted gears and loved expeditions as much as all the others... I joked that it was decompressing from being born away from home. :))

[snickelfritz]

If I *must* run errands at nap time, I allow extra drive time for a nap. I'll bring a snack for the older one, a few books, etc..... I drive to the destination (during which time, she has usually fallen asleep) and we park under a shade tree or leave the AC on. She has always been my flexible one, so a 20-30 minute nap (and then maybe carrying her on my shoulder) and she does fine.

Otherwise, I would definitely do it when the kiddos will be happiest. It will just be more fun for everyone involved. Nothing like trying to browse with cranky kids.


ETA: Just wanted to clarify that we all wait out in the car together. :)

[Pencil Pusher]

Hurrah!! You must feel so relieved to have the decision made and be ready to start seeing your midwife!





If you don't get to go very often, and you could combine it with a trip to the thrift shop (which would sort-of pay for the extra gas, right?), I would definitely go tomorrow. I wouldn't want to *feel* all hectic and rushed, kwim? Bookstore trips should be *fun*.

Would you pack a lunch for the family? Or stop somewhere and get something?

The only problem I can see is if your kids would have trouble with two car days in a row. (My twins were like this for their first year and a half; they wanted to be at home... all the time, ideally, but at least not out int he world two days running. Then they shifted gears and loved expeditions as much as all the others... I joked that it was decompressing from being born away from home. :))

Actually, I've decided I'll call my grandmother & see if she wants to meet us for lunch. We haven't seen her since Christmas, & even if it's not as close for me, if I'm going to be there anyway, it's just as close for her--I think if I'd thought of that sooner, it would have been an easier decision.

And, yes, it is a relief to have the other thing decided at last. In many ways, that turned out to be less of an issue than I thought, too.

[Pencil Pusher]

If I *must* run errands at nap time, I allow extra drive time for a nap. I'll bring a snack for the older one, a few books, etc..... I drive to the destination (during which time, she has usually fallen asleep) and we park under a shade tree or leave the AC on. She has always been my flexible one, so a 20-30 minute nap (and then maybe carrying her on my shoulder) and she does fine.

Otherwise, I would definitely do it when the kiddos will be happiest. It will just be more fun for everyone involved. Nothing like trying to browse with cranky kids.


ETA: Just wanted to clarify that we all wait out in the car together. :)

Yes, they'll nap in the car, but if I go tomorrow, there won't even be time for that! They'll have to nap in the car, even if I go today!