{"id":9791,"date":"2009-02-23T18:00:22","date_gmt":"2009-02-23T18:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/momservations.wordpress.com\/2009\/02\/23\/what-would-the-donner-party-do"},"modified":"2009-02-23T18:00:22","modified_gmt":"2009-02-23T18:00:22","slug":"what-would-the-donner-party-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/momservations.com\/index.php\/2009\/02\/23\/what-would-the-donner-party-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What Would the Donner Party Do?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I couldn’t help but wonder as we drove back home over Donner Pass last week – How did the Donner Party survive the trip without a DVD player in their covered wagon?<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/em><\/p>\n

?        <\/span>?        <\/span>?<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

In my previous life, BC – Before Children, I made haughty predictions, lofty goals and ignorant promises about how I would raise my <\/em>children. This includes, but is not limited to:<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>They would do something the first time they were asked<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>They would eat whatever was put in front of them<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>They would go to bed on time and without delay<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>They would not eat junk<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>They would never <\/em>act like that<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>I would be consistent with my parenting<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>If I could just stay home we would read books, play games, make crafts, and bake<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>I would only allow them to watch educational programming<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>I would not park them in front of the TV just to make my life easier<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

Now, AD – After Diapers, I am humbly begging for forgiveness from the DVD player gods and burning all those parenting magazine that led me to believe such things were even possible.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

Which leads me to the many things I am grateful for in this life. Following is a short list of the things that make my life as Mom easier:<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>Convenient snack size packaging<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>Shout stain remover<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>Bedtime<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>Baby wipes<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>Pizza<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>TVs in separate bedrooms<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>A two bathroom house<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>Juice boxes<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>The microwave<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner<\/font><\/p>\n

–         <\/font><\/span><\/span>In-car DVD player<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

I’d like to take a moment to focus on the last one, after I finish my silent prayer of thanks. <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

When we were shopping for a new car five years ago, I told my husband I didn’t need nor want a DVD player in my car. It would be a waste of money. Playing the ABC Game, License Plate Bingo, taking in the scenery and enjoying family time together was good enough for me as a kid and it would be good enough for my own children.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

Good thing I was overruled by Hubby.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

Apparently, I had blocked out the constant bickering, fighting and complaining that came with those quality car rides. Along with the threats and reckoning from a shoe wielding, exasperated mother. And how could I have forgotten the whines of boredom and “when will we be there?” mixed in with begging for a bathroom break?<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

Now, when the chaos in the backseat threatens my sanity I simply say, “Who wants to watch a movie?”<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

Soon, I have quiet little zombies in the back seat, headphones connecting them to this life saving device. Peace, once again, spreads across the land. <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

Sure, the majestic snowcapped Sierra Mountains may go unnoticed over Kung Fu Panda.<\/em> Quite possibly we are missing a teachable moment, instead letting our kids be parented by Danny Tanner from Full House<\/em>. <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

But I bet, if the Donner Party had had a DVD player their trip would’ve gone a lot smoother with a lot less headaches.<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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