What I’ve Learned – 2 and ½ years: Special Vacation Edition - Anna

What I’ve Learned – 2 and ½ years: Special Vacation Edition

1.     Taking a long road trip with a two and a half-year-old by oneself needs to be an Olympic sport. 

2.     When taking a long road trip solo, have lots of snacks and toys in the passenger seat ready to hand off.

3.     The two and a half-year-old will only ask to go potty 2 miles after the last rest area, and there will be no sign of civilization for miles to come. 

4.     If while changing a stinky diaper (due to not making it to the requested “potty” after passing last rest area for miles) the two and a half-year-old ask to go “pee-pee”, ALWAYS finish putting on the diaper before going in to find a restroom.  Just wrapping a cloth diaper around the child is not a good idea. 

5.     Have a change of clothes handy for Daddy as well as the two and a half-year-old. (Yes, this is directly related to the above lesson learned)

6.     Just because a gas station has a diner, do not assume it will have a public restroom.  (Also related to the two lessons learned above)

7.     Daddy having to use a porta-potty that hasn’t been cleaned in months, while holding the two and a half-year-old (who wants to touch EVERYTHING in the porta-potty), should also be an Olympic sport.  (Also related to the three lessons learned above…that one stop gave daddy a wealth of experience and lessons learned).

8.     If the above two proposed events above were actual Olympic events, I would most certainly be a gold medalist. 

9.     Playing peek-a-boo with passing traffic can be entertainment for hours.  It apparently doesn’t matter that the traffic passing by has no idea they are playing.

10. While I am not knocking KC and the Sunshine band, the two and a half-year-old requesting “Shake, Shake, Shake” be played repeatedly for hours gets very very very very old. 

11. It is possible for a two and a half-year-old that is completely and utterly worn out, to not nap at all in the car for a seven-eight hour car ride. 

12. It never fails that when said exhausted and worn out two and a half-year-old is FINALLY asleep, someone will call to check in and wake her back up.  Apparently a 5-minute power nap in the car is the equivalent of a 2-hour nap in a bed. 

13. If you forget the diaper bag, DO NOT assume that because your child has had 3 stinky diapers a day for 3 days, that they will not have another on this short trip out. 

14. If you happened to have assumed that your child would not have a bowel movement, and they proved you wrong…a swim diaper and wet paper towels is a great improvisation.  

15. If a swim diaper was used because regular diapers were not handy, DO NOT forget to change into a regular diaper before laying the two and a half-year-old down for a nap. 

16. All in all, Amy and I are luck and have a child that travels amazingly well.