Last year, I shared with you the things I want to teach my son about cars. In January, he came into this world a few weeks earlier than expected, which required him to stay at our local Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) until recently. It’ll be a while until he’s old enough for me to pass on those lessons I have in mind, but in the meantime, I’ve been learning some new things about cars because of my son.
You Drive a Lot More
Ever since we started dating, my wife has been a “Passenger Princess.” She doesn’t particularly enjoy driving, so she’s fine riding shotgun while simultaneously being the DJ of the car and my navigator. After our son was born, her doctor told her to wait a few weeks before resuming certain activities, such as taking baths and driving. The former was a harder adjustment than the latter. Luckily, I’ve always enjoyed driving. Up until a few days ago, I was doing a lot more of that. Neither one of us had any complaints.
You Read Manuals More Thoroughly
Almost any product you buy comes with a user’s guide. That’s a thoughtful thing for a company to provide, but many of them are unnecessary. I’ve successfully used a lot of products without even glancing at their manuals. Things are different when you’re a first-time parent and dealing with a product that’s supposed to protect your child. You read (and re-read) all of the warnings and make sure your significant other is on the same page—literally and figuratively.
Car Seats Eat Up a Lot of Room
A manual I read closely was the one for my son’s car seat. I made sure the separate base for it didn’t hang over the bottom of the back seat in my wife’s Mazda CX-5. I clipped it into place using the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) and pulled all of the slack out of the line to make sure the base didn’t move too much. I test-fitted the seat and made sure the bubble in the base’s integrated levels were where they needed to be. My wife and I even went to a nearby fire department so they could check my work. One thing I didn’t do? Check how much room would be left for someone riding in the front passenger seat after it was moved and tilted forward enough to accommodate our son’s reclined car seat. Let’s just say that it’s a little cramped up there.
There are Silver Linings Everywhere
My son’s long stay in the NICU was less than ideal, but while he was there, the nursing staff taught me and my wife a lot of useful tips about changing diapers, bottle-feeding, baby baths, and other things.
There’s also a silver lining to the car seat taking up so much room. My mother-in-law is short enough to fit comfortably in the front passenger seat of my wife’s car. And whenever all four of us go somewhere, either my wife or I can drive and the other person can ride in the back and entertain our son. One place we need to go once he’s old enough to remember it is the Martin Auto Museum.
Cargo Space Becomes More Important
When my wife and I bought our respective vehicles, we considered how much cargo/trunk space they had. But we looked at those dimensions in terms of three people going on the occasional weekend trip, not up to four plus a stroller, diaper bags, and other baby-related gear. Our son has only been home for a few days now, so sometime in the near future we’ll discover just how much space our vehicles have—or need.
Certain Cars Fall Off Your Radar
Don’t get me wrong—I’d love to get an SJ Jeep Grand Wagoneer or a 1996 Chevrolet Corvette Collector Edition, but I’ve got more important priorities now. Babies aren’t cheap, and my Hyundai Sonata is reliable and equipped with modern safety features. That’s enough for me. That doesn’t mean I’ll never get a fun and interesting second vehicle, though. I just won’t do it right now. When the day comes, it’ll be that much sweeter because I’ll get to share the driving experience with my little guy.
Minivans are a Lot More Attractive
If you had asked me 10 years ago if I’d ever even consider getting a minivan, I would’ve reacted with a mixture of horror and disgust. My childhood disdain for the vehicles I saw as boring and lame lasted that long. Part of the reason behind that was I’d never driven one before.
After testing the Honda Odyssey Elite and Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle Hybrid for a week each, my outlook on minivans completely changed. Not only are they roomy and convenient, but they can also be surprisingly luxurious. If my wife and I were to get a different vehicle, I’d definitely consider one, especially if we end up having another child.
This question is for all you fellow parents out there: What are some of the things becoming a dad or mom taught you about cars? Tell us in the comments below.
