Growing up

There's something about hearing words from your mom versus anyone else.

Given the condition and age of my car, my husband and I decided to trade in both of our cars and go down to one new vehicle. It's the same kind of car that I had before but a few years ago its style was changed. So yesterday I drove the new car for the first time to the Y so I could swim laps. When I came out I took a picture of the car and sent it to my mom. As I was driving around running errands, seeing many others of the same car on the road, I realized that I have a grown-up, practical car now. We decided on this car for all these adult reasons-safety, more space, gas mileage.

My mom emailed me back about the picture saying, "That's not a ride-it's a minivan. Plenty of room for car seats and strollers?"

She knows I have a huge aversion to minivans. I have said for years that if I ever have kids I will never drive a minivan because of all it represents to me-a sheltered, suburban lifestyle that I thankfully never had growing up (explains the laugh my mom got from the picture). Not that there's anything wrong with living in the suburbs-it's cheaper, quieter, safer-it's just not for me.

But deep down I knew Mom was somewhat right. We are hoping to start a family soon and the decisions we've made the last couple months, like buying this car, are in preparation for that.

I have a feeling that I as I keep getting older my mom is just going to keep be even more right about things, but don't tell her I said that.