My childhood is packed with memories of driving to Florida with my parents and four siblings.¬† Back then, we’d squeeze into the station wagon, luggage roped atop, with books, games, and music to keep ourselves amused.¬† Perhaps it’s because of my fond memories of sitting in the backseat of the wagon that I’ve continued the tradition of driving to Florida with my husband and three young boys.¬†

This past spring we drove there for the third time in three years.¬† When we tell our friends and neighbours that we’re driving south, their response is typically an incredulous “You’re driving?¬† With three kids? How do you do it?”¬† Well, it’s really not that hard, thanks in part to electronic gadgets, rooftop carriers, and Map Quest. ¬†Over the years, my husband and I have¬†learned a few¬†things about how to survive a lengthy car ride with young kids – without losing our marbles.¬† Here’s the skinny on what works for us:¬†

• Electronic gadgets – Throw your nostalgia for the good ol’ days aside and purchase a portable DVD player (hand-held electronic games, such as the Leapster, are also a worthy addition to the car entertainment arsenal).¬† Face it – if a grown up needs to watch a full-length feature film during a three-hour flight, shouldn’t some antsy kids be allowed to watch a few Sponge Bob flicks over a 22-hour drive?
• If ever there’s a time to break the healthy eating rules, it’s now.¬† Carrots and rice crackers just won’t suffice.¬† I hate buying junk food, but nothing stops a chorus of backseat whiners like a pack of dunkaroos.
• A good throw – the immobility of children fastened into car seats requires an accurate toss to ensure that granola bar (I don’t only buy junk food!) lands on their lap, not in the no-man’s-land between the front and back seat of a mini-van.
• Hit the road before the sun rises – not because the kids will sleep for the first four hours (they won’t) – so you can squeeze in as much of the drive as possible during the first day, and more importantly, before they start asking “Are we there yet?”
• Expect the unexpected.¬† During our first road trip to Florida, we discovered our three-year-old had car sickness.¬† Between Pennsylvania and Georgia, he’d vomited six times (sans barf bag.)¬† A poor sense of smell comes in handy too.
• Keep on driving – don’t “spoil” them with a plane ticket.¬† Our kids have grown so accustomed to long road trips that they barely require our attention anymore.¬† And, as long as they stay naively unaware of the convenience and comfort of an airplane, we don’t have to answer the question: “Why can’t we just fly there?”

A version of this article was published in the National Post in 2007.

Interested in saving some gas money?¬† Well, maybe it’s not quite so urgent now that gas prices have dropped (Christmas isn’t the only reason to cry¬†Alleluia!)¬† Nonetheless,¬†with a recession in full swing and green consciousness burgeoning among North Americans, cutting back on gas consumption is a frugal, if not noble, act.¬†¬†And, buying a hybrid¬†automobile is a luxury that most of us cannot afford¬†given the financial and practical constraints¬†of¬†the typical family.¬† I know my minivan is an oversized gas-guzzler, but¬†with¬†three¬†mini-hockey players, the only way we’ll be driving a Prius is if there are rooftop seats.¬†

Luckily, minivan drivers like myself can still do our part in cutting down on¬†our emissions with what is known as Hypermiling.¬† It was developed by Wayne Gerdes, and is all about following certain protocols to keep your gas bill low and your gas meter high.¬† Aside from keeping your car well-maintained (like keeping your tires properly inflated), the main thrust of this technique is in the pedal.¬† Go easy on the brakes, no screeching at the last minute when you reach a stop sign.¬† Allow your car to coast towards a yellow light rather than race in the hopes of crossing the pedestrian line before red flashes.¬† Then gently accelerate when it’s time to move again – no screeching tires.¬†¬†Don’t speed, rather stay within or below speed limits.¬†

Yes¬†- you risk becoming the most irritating driver on the road, and you may have to turn the other cheek when some young punk flips you the bird.¬† But remember!¬† You’re helping to save the planet (and a few bucks!)¬† According to writer and carblogger¬†Phil Raby¬†in the latest issue of¬†MoneySense Magazine, he was able to cut his fuel consumption by about 30% in city driving and 10% in highway driving (city driving typically guzzles more gas than highway driving) thus¬†creating an annual savings¬†of about $750.

Some additional points to consider to save on the gauge:

• Drive slow and steady
• Start to coast in anticipation of traffic lights so as to prevent heavy braking.¬† Then inch away slowly after stopping, rather than revving forward
• Think about purchasing a aftermarket gauge that keeps provies instant readings of how much gas your car is using
• As for synthetic oil at your next check up
• Properly inflate tires
• Keep away from drive-thru restaurants – park and walk in for your order
• Refrain from blasting the A/C or heater.¬† The A/C can suck up to a quarter of your fuel
• Drive with the windows closed since the drag it creates when they’re open burns more gas
• Remove rooftop carriers when you don’t need to use them
• Keep your trunk clear of any stuff you don’t need

(Source: MoneySense Dec/Jan 2009 issue by Phil Raby)

And -¬†here’s the tough one – get your kids out the front door on time.¬† That way you won’t need to ram your car out the driveway,¬†speed to the stop sign, slam on the brakes and zoom to the school/doctor appointment/piano lesson…¬†without being late.¬†¬†Close to impossible, I know.¬†¬†But no one said saving the world was going to be easy…