I have SUCCUMBED!

I have been the person who subscribes to the opinion that my daughter does not need a DVD player in our vehicles. It helps that our vehicles do not warrant them -- we have a Ford Focus hatchback and a Volvo stationwagon. There is no good place to set one down or strap one to. My daughter is 3. She has taken many 4 hour car rides without it. She has even done trips between 8 and 10 hours without watching a movie. I keep telling myself that I never needed one growing up so why should I even bother having a vehicle that flips a screen down from the roof like you're needing to lay down and view the ceiling like you would at a planetarium?

All of that changed for me a couple weekends ago. I headed on a 4 hour trip with Melanie to see my family, just the two of us. This car ride took 5 hours. I have never had to make this trip in 5 hours. In fact, saying it takes 4 hours normally is slightly exaggerating because it is normally a little less than that.

During that trip I realized when your child is sitting directly behind you, needs something, and you're going down the highway 5 over the speed limit, your skills as a mother are limited. Granted, we had to stop a couple extra times for potty-breaks. Melanie is potty-trained and doesn't like to have an accident. Fair enough, I'll make stops for that.

There were stops for other reasons, though. One time we had to pull off the road so I could help her take off her light jacket. It was too itchy.

Another time I had to stop twice in a two-mile stretch for something that I cannot remember why anymore.

My daughter normally entertains herself quite nicely. But... this trip not so much. I am sure that I jinxed our trip because Melanie knew her entire stash of movies (about 12 DVDs) was in the back of my station wagon for viewing at Grandpa and Grandma's house.

So.... I get to my parent's house and realize I cannot experience another trip like that ever again. I re-read my summary of the trip and it doesn't sound so bad. Trust me... it was. I even called my husband afterwards saying I can't go through that again.

It struck me as to why so many parents have that van or SUV with the DVD player in it for their toddlers. It isn't because kids aren't smart enough to entertain themselves. It is because they can't do it the way we used to.

Our generation had free reign of the vehicle. No seatbelts. Stationwagons with 3rd-seat, rear-facing seats that allowed you to make faces at the people in the cars behind you. The enjoyment of diving from the middle seat to the back seat. Getting into "she/he is touching me" fights. My daughter will not know that until she is older.

Right now, she has to experience the 5-point harness hell of a full-sized car seat. Her entire body is strapped in, limited in movement, and I know she cannot lay her head comfortably.

I have succumbed. I'm going to get that portable DVD player. And I'm going to love it.