August 30, 2010

Minivans Happen

We purchased a minivan this morning.

Yeah, you heard me. A MINI. VAN.

I said I would NEVER buy one. In my mind, an SUV was just as convenient as a mini-van (WRONG). So, why would I ever get a minivan? I just couldn't get myself past the "soccer mom" stigma that came with it.

But when our Explorer died at the beginning of July, I could feel it coming. Like all the other signs of middle age, the minivan just creeps up and you suddenly find yourself celebrating your husband's 31st birthday in a used car lot talking to a lady named Terri about how handy Stow 'N Go is.

The transition was so much easier than it would have been had we been looking at cars in May because earlier in the summer, I had an experience that would change my view of minivans forever.

I was shopping alone with the boys and I was doing my best to load them into the car in the Target parking lot. I gave Jack instructions to stand next to the car, with his hand on it, while I got Ben buckled in. At home, I'd just open the door and let him climb in, but when you're in a parking spot, the fear is that your three-year old will put a $1500 scratch on the car next to you. So I loaded them both in, plus all of the stuff we bought, totally unaware that there was an easier way.

There was a minivan parked next to me, and during all of this, a mom with her three children walked up. The mom clicked a button twice. The doors on both sides of the car slid open, the children all climbed in, she did a quick buckle, the doors slid closed and they were off.

I swear to you, at that moment, the clouds parted, a light from heaven shone down on me and I heard the voice of God saying, "Thou shalt buy a minivan." Or something very similar to that. I'm not even making it up.

Ok, maybe I am making it up, but still, it was a critical moment for me.

I went home that and told Kyle, "WE'RE SAVING FOR A MINIVAN STARTING TODAY!" And we did. We thought we'd have two or three years to save, but when the Explorer broke down, it only made sense to look now. We've gone two months with both car seats crammed into the back of my Saturn sedan, and I'm ready to not have my knees in my face when we drive anymore.

I'm not crazy about the car payment, but as we transferred the car seats from the Saturn to the minivan today, I think I heard angels singing. No, really . . .

3 comments:

The Giffen Family said...

WELCOME -- you have good company on this side of convenience :)

Melanie Eccles said...

congratulations.
And for the record, I don't think there's a thing wrong with minivans. Poor guys get a bad rap. :) If it weren't for someone's hesitation, I would have bought one for us by now (so much more convenient with the teens, you know. :D)

Jeanette said...

I can't wait to see it! Congrats!