The Road

I love flipping through photos on Facebook and seeing all the places I've gone. My favorite photos are the ones along the journey. The destinations have been amazing but there often times we overlook the journey or are frustrated with how long it has been taking.

My goal for trips with my family is to always make the journey interesting. Road trips are technology free zones. Go ahead and gasp. I know many parents (and I've been there myself) who disparately grab  for a little piece and quiet by handing their kiddos a tablet or some other digital device. After all hours and hours on end are easier when kids are distracted.

I banned technology except for music played through the sound system and I think it made our trip all the better. Was there fighting? Absolutely. We definitely had moments where we got on each others nerves. The faces on my children when they saw the mountains for the first time in their memory was something I am glad I did not miss. I'm also glad they did not miss it. The laughter, as we drove through a tunnel and my 9 year old declared, "YES!" because he really really wanted to go under a mountain, echoed through the car. 

The stops along the road allowed us view the majesty of nature. We saw the new river gorge and our jaws dropped. We stopped at cute rest areas where we played tag and sat in swings. We had picnics along the road and explored welcome centers. We splashed in out of the way fountains and explored new stores. All of these memories were built on the road.

The conversations about life, goals, and yes video games went on for HOURS. The kids turned towards each other for comfort and cuddles. They spent many hours napping and getting much needed rest when a screen would have kept them awake unnaturally. 

When we listened to music everyone was allowed to pick a song. We danced and jammed and learned to appreciate "Breakfast Burrito" and "Pink Fluffy Unicorn Dancing on Rainbows." The kids heard Santana and sang out to "The Greatest Show." We were exposed to each others culture and person. 

The road has made us look differently at each other. We do not yell as much. The kids do not fight nearly as much. My oldest and my daughter have started mending a difficult and semi-broken relationship. They have both started doing random acts of kindness to each other and looking out for one another.  

For our family the road less traveled included abandoning most of our technology. We choose the difficult instead of the easy and as Robert Frost once said, "That has made all the difference."

Gratitude Practice

1) I am grateful for Road Trips

2) I am grateful for Tech Free Zones

3) I am Grateful for "Pink Fluffy Unicorns"

4) I am grateful for car naps.

5) I am grateful for singing on the top of your lungs.

6) I am grateful for the look of awe.

7) I am grateful for clean rest areas.

8) I am grateful for fluffy clouds.

9) I am grateful for funny road signs.

10) I am grateful for conversations about video games.

Things I have Accomplished:

1) I can sing every word to the Greatest Show Soundtrack

2) I have talked for 2 hours about Minecraft with my son.

3) I have survived 13 hours with my family in a vehicle.

Goal (Written as if it has already been achieved):

I have an awesome morning and evening schedule!

How do you handle technology on the road? 

I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

Thank you and have a blessed day.