Road tripping is different for us these days. Our first ever road trip as a family was when Joel was just 6 weeks old.
I’d just turned 24 was married with a brand new baby and we had packed up to move from Hervey Bay in Queensland all the way down to Adelaide, South Australia. It’s where my mister grew up and we didn’t have any strong family links holding us in Queensland so made the decision to move ‘home’.
We bundled into our ’83 Nissan bluebird and hit the road ready for adventure. We had no real time limits and no bookings, it was just us, the road and a few good cassettes. The mister and I would take turns driving chatting, singing and reminiscing over two and a half thousand kilometres. Baby Joel slept only waking as we slowed on our way into a town for a breastfeed and a cuddle. We were young and in love, these days we are older more in love and have 2 boys who are taking turns in the driving…feels a bit weird.
Right now my mister is sitting in the front seat in charge of the music on ‘c.d ‘and the boys have their tunes on USB…times change. Our sixteen year old son is driving…he’s actually freakin driving!!
Joel is now almost 20 and he’s in the back with his headphones on electronically mixing music on his laptop getting ready for a gig in Melbourne city tomorrow night. Right now I’m in the back seat blogging on my Ipad…times change.
Our pit stops aren’t for breastfeeding instead it’s pies, coffee milk and salads, not in that order because that would be ewww..times change.
Rattles and soft toys have been exchanged for laptops, Ipads and mobile phones…geez how times have changed.
Our boys are young men now on the cusp of making it in the world for themselves…well one already is and we’re grateful that they both actually ‘wanted’ to come along on our family road trip.
Times change, relationships change but love…well that changes too…it grows stronger n fonder.
Now get this crap off the radio and put some Madonna on…I choose borderline.
jUNE says
January 2, 2015 at 3:14 pmWishing you all the very best road trip-ever! I just loved reading your blog of the years past. Life is just so wonderful. <3
Jane magor says
January 2, 2015 at 3:32 pmHave the best time Jenni and family. . I love road trips. I have beautiful memories going away with my grandparents and my brothers during the school holidays as my mum and dad both were at work. I was away from home for weeks it was the best. Isn’t it freaky where time goes. Take care and be safe xx
Kathryn says
January 2, 2015 at 4:28 pmHaha times do change. It’s good to look back at life when the kids were small and everything seemed easier. I’ve just had my son and his family down from Mackay for my birthday – I slept with my three grandies last night, it was so funny little arms and legs everywhere 🙂
Jenni says
January 3, 2015 at 6:32 amOh that’s gorgeous Kathryn! Enjoy your time with the grandies x
Magda says
January 3, 2015 at 6:46 pmwhat an amazing family you have Jenni. We’ve done lots of road trips too. When our boy was little it’d be I Spy games. Now he just plays on his iPad and sleeps shile we crank up the music and annoy him with our (bad) singing.
Jenni says
January 3, 2015 at 9:03 pmHaha Magda, parents are meant to annoy their children, keep up the good work x
Bev | iris may style says
January 4, 2015 at 6:08 pmI loved this post soo much. I could picture you all in the car doing your own thing whilst still remaining perfectly in sinc with each other. Gorgeous post xx
Jenni says
January 4, 2015 at 9:24 pmThanks Bev, we’ve had a fab time eating and shopping our way around Melbourne. Home tomorrow x
Sarah @ Lady Sadie's Emporium says
January 5, 2015 at 4:41 pmLoved this post. It made me realise how much I miss road trips! Living in Qatar, we only have one city so there’s no where to really road trip. When the Mr and I moved from Sydney to Melbourne we used to road trip a lot. First it was just the two of us, then we added a couple of dogs and then we added our sweet little girl. I can’t wait until we are back home in Oz and road tripping again x
Jenni says
January 5, 2015 at 5:36 pmNothing better than an Aussie road trip Sarah, something to look forward to x
sam says
January 7, 2015 at 9:43 pmOur boys have grown up on road trips…they are seasoned travelers.
When they were 8,4&2 we camped for 6 weeks in the North and West of Australia and it was pretty remote……people thought we were MAD!!!!!
Best trip ever.Half the time I think the road part of the trip is the best bit!!!
Jenni says
January 7, 2015 at 9:55 pmSo awesome! I’ve always wanted to do an extended trip with the boys (when they were younger), good on you Samantha for doing it x