(My middle son is really into minivans. Right now, his favorite is the Dodge Grand Caravan – and red is his favorite color. The great folks at Dodge challenged my family to see if the new 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan, a red one, could keep up with our busy lives. In this three part blog post, you’ll see exactly what we thought of the vehicle, how it fit into our busy schedules, and if it was able to keep up with everything we have going on!)
Sometimes I find myself sitting. Just sitting. My brain has given all it can give for the day, and without chocolate, coffee, or a call from a friend, it may take a while for me to get back on track. Unfortunately, with three busy kids, I don’t have time to sit. We are always on the road going somewhere or doing something.
So “Mommy Brain” will have to wait. Between ballet, violin, steel pan lessons, family outings, work, and travel, who has time to sit around? Not familiar with “mommy brain”? Dads have it too, but we moms give it a name… and admit it. There’s no real definition for “mommy brain” – although some have tried to identify the signs and symptoms. I know I have it, I know there is no cure, but there are tools that can help with this mysterious affliction.
You can get the rundown on the list of features of the 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan on the Dodge website, but here are some of features that catered specifically to the effects of “mommy brain” that made me go, “yes!”
(Now many of these features are optional. We tested the RT model which is jam packed with features.)
“Mommy Brain” can cause…
#1: Shenanigans at the gas pump. I can be that mom that leaves the gas door open, leaves the gas cap on the trunk, or drives away (it has happened) with the nozzle still attached (thank goodness for the break away pump).
The sliding door won’t open if the gas door is open. I wouldn’t have even thought about that… until I did it.
“Mommy Brain” can cause…
#2: Move over bacon lane changes. Remember that commercial from the 80’s for Sizzlean? The one where the bacon is displaced with no regard for the fact that it was on the plate first? It just flies up into the air and makes room for the new breakfast meat. Unfortunately, cars don’t just magically move when you decide to change lanes.
A subtle but noticeable alarm sounds and a light flashes on the mirrors to let you know that there is a vehicle next to you and it is unsafe to change lanes.
“Mommy Brain” can cause…
#3: Sticky finger bait. I am less worried about the sticky fingers caused by chocolate and ice cream, than I am the ones caused by my leaving my purse, or the kids leaving their Nintendo game, in the car out in plain view.
The second row in floor storage bins are perfect for me to toss my purse, the kids games, and other important items into before we get out of the car.
“Mommy Brain” can cause…
#4: Grocery Cart Smackdown. So you’ve emptied the grocery cart, and the kids are already restless from almost an hour of going up and down the aisles asking for things that they want and being told no, and watching things that they don’t want piling up in the cart. The complaining ang aruing ensues as you load up the last bag, and your focus shifts from the cart to the kids. You have now jumped into the car, and are looking forward to getting home and sending everyone to their rooms. Just as you are backing out of the parking space, and can TASTE the silence that will soon be yours… CRASH! You forgot to move the grocery cart.
As soon as you flip the car into reverse the rear park assist system springs into action… the backup camera comes on, and you can see what’s behind you. If there is a grocery cart, another car, or even a kid behind you, not only will you see it, you will hear a warning to alert you to stop.
“Mommy Brain” can cause…
#5: Lack of restraint. I automatically tell the kids when I get in the car to put on their seatbelts. Sometimes after fiddling with the GPS on my phone, finding a radio station that everyone will be able to listen to, and moving my laptop bag to a place where it won’t slide onto the floor, I completely forget about putting on my seatbelt until I am freaked out by someone who is driving like a lunatic, and my own safety pops into my mind.
Try putting the car in drive without having on your seatbelt… Passenger too. It will ding… and ding… and DING… until you get that seatbelt secured.
“Mommy Brain” can cause…
#6: The need for a nice warm hug. I’ve fed the kids, dressed them, packed snacks, gone over my to do list a hundred times, set the alarm, bundled them up and sent them to the car, and then, from the front porch, I stare at the it. Just sitting there, waiting for me to start it and give it life. What was it doing all the time that I was in the house working? See, mommy brain makes you ask yourself why the car didn’t at least get started on its job while you did yours.
On the key, there is a lovely button that let’s the Caravan start its job before you even get out of the door. Remote Start. A warm car is like a hug in the winter. Sometimes I just need a hug. The heated seats feel like love too…
“Mommy Brain” can cause…
#7: The need for distractions. When I was growing up, we brought along magnetic tic tac toe boards (that were never magnetic enough), and books (that you could read until you got car sick) for entertainment. Either that, or you picked on your sibling until either the sibling or your parents lost it. Now THAT’s entertainment.
There are three screens for movie viewing, two separate Blu Ray players, and headphones. Two of the screens, in the second and third row, play while you are driving. All three play while you are parked. Movie night for all!
“Mommy Brain” can cause…
#8: The realization that I still only have two arms. Seems normal to only have two arms, but completely unfair considering all of the things that moms and dads are expected to do with them! My mommy brain forgets that I was only issued two arms and two hands until I am standing in front of my trunk trying to figure out how I will get all of the stuff occupying my two arms (and sometimes a knee for support) without dropping and breaking it all.
The power liftgate is optional, but a must for anyone who needs to hold a kid’s hand, hold a huge bottle of juice, a handbag, an action figure, and a backpack – and then try to open up the liftgate.
“Mommy Brain” can cause…
#9: Forgetfulness. As a mom, I am expected to remember everything. When we are going out to a sporting event, I need to know how many juice boxes and water bottles are needed per kid, whose soccer uniform requires white socks versus red ones, and to calculate how long the snacks will last based on the amount of time we will be out there. Not to mention remembering sun screen, bug repellent, Benadryl, pain reliever, hand sanitizer, general first aid supplies, the portable toilet, and sometimes… a tent. Many a time I have forgotten one of the most important items… the folding chairs. Ugh!
So I forgot the folding chairs… and everyone is blaming me for having to sit on grass, its cleanliness, questionable. How cool would it be to be the SHE-ro who opens the liftgate, flips the third seat around, and the kids can sit and watch the game (using the liftgate for shade!)
“Mommy Brain” can cause…
#10: A Plan B… and C…. and D. When I leave the house, because I know I can exhibit symptoms of mommy brain, I always have a list of some sort. What I don’t have is a list of things that we can do when our plan A doesn’t work out. You ever had kids in the car who have their minds set on going to the water park? Then for some reason, you CAN’T go to the water park? No? I’m jealous. Yes? I feel your pain.
UConnect. Need a nearby plan B activity for the family? Hubby planned to watch the game and traffic says no? He can still get the scores and hear a play by play. Never have I wanted to hug an engineer that I’ve never met so badly. Weather, directions, scores, phone, music, movies, restaurants, and more all right there. It is like a second brain. As much as I would love to have 5 more hours in a day, one more hand, and limitless energy – a second brain… that might just be on the top of my list.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. My family was given the opportunity to test drive the 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan for one week in order to share our experiences. For more information on sponsored posts, including compensation, click here. As always my opinions are my own.
Have you been thinking about a minivan? I never would have considered it without a test drive – never. Do you have a minivan? What are your favorite features? Let me know in the comments…
