Written for https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2023/08/28/what-do-you-see-201-august-28-2023/
A road trip, my favourite tunes, what could be better.
I hoped it was not going to rain – you certainly could never tell. A drive down to Littlehampton, with family on a little road train of our own. A lunch full of sandwiches, cakes, crisps.
In the back seat, two kids, even now bickering with each other. My youngest, at the age of five on his booster seat, tugging at his newly acquired seat belt. My oldest playing with her DS, the tell tale song of Sonic losing his rings.
‘Mummy, please tell her to stop, my ears are hurting,’ John says.
Sam, my husband concentrating on the road, mumbling to tell me to stop them from arguing.
‘Rosie, turn that down, just a little please.’ Rummaging in my bag of tricks I produce his Beanie Baby Dinosaur. It always calms him down on long trips.
Finally! I can put on my Bon Jovi mixed tape – a two hour’s drive wouldn’t be complete without it. I pass over a sweet, as instructed, and for half an hour there is peace and quiet.
‘Mummy, are we there yet?’ John asks.
‘Not quite honey, about an hour,’ I say, turning up the radio a little higher.
When he has asked for the tenth time, it is Sam who pipes up. ‘Will you stop asking, I am trying to concentrate on the road.’
‘I tell you what John, can you count how many red cars there are on the road? Look, I see one there. Can you beat Mummy.’
‘Ooh, I see one, another one, I have two.’
‘That’s great honey.’
Rosie glances over to her brother, before she is back on her game. At least she isn’t annoying him by taking Dino away from him. That DS was a great idea for a present. I can see John squirming in his seat, so I suggest a pit stop at the side of the road. He won’t make it all the way there.
Bundled back in the car, the next half of our journey John is fast asleep; Dino in one hand, and his seat belt in the other. Rosie, is looking out of the window, but soon is snoring.
Now I can really listen to Bon Jovi.
‘Love, can you pass me another sweet? A drink would be nice.’
Writer Ravenclaw 
A very realistic picture of a family road trip Diana. Love it. Thanks for joining in.
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Most of mine ended up with shouting as well lol.
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Didn’t they all. Especially if it’s a long drive
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That’s the easy version.
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👍🏼 yup
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I love Bon Jovi ~ and I grew up mostly in NJ! 😀
An excellent snapshot of a family trip, Diana ❤
~David
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Thank you
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That could have been me, great write 🙌
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Thank you, I’m the same with my kids.
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Oh, the delights of a road trip. Taking one myself shortly, how exciting! Loved reading this, thank you.
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No worries, enjoy your road trip.
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Thank you.
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I just read your story about the road tr͏ip and I really enjoyed ͏it! You captured the feel͏ing of a fam͏ily road tr͏ip perfectly. I could really feel the exc͏itement and ant͏ic͏ipat͏ion of the journey, as well as the challenges of travel͏ing w͏ith two young ch͏ildren. I also l͏iked the way you used sensory deta͏ils to br͏ing the story to l͏ife. For example, I could feel the tens͏ion ͏in the car when the k͏ids were argu͏ing, and I could smell the sandw͏iches and cr͏isps ͏in the lunchbox. Your wr͏it͏ing ͏is very engag͏ing and I could eas͏ily p͏icture the scene ͏in my m͏ind. You have a g͏ift for creat͏ing v͏iv͏id descr͏ipt͏ions and br͏ing͏ing your characters to l͏ife.
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Thank you, that is kind of you to say.
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