Our New Wheels

this weekend, we took the plunge and did it. we traded our sequoia and bought a minivan. it's a 2009 toyota sienna and has everything that a busy mom of three could possibly ever need.

drew tried to convince me to get a minivan when we found out we were expecting the girls, but i just couldn't do it. i mean how cool can you really look driving a minivan? so, i opted to maintain a shred of coolness and we bought the sequoia.

when the first minivan came out, i remember finding them hideous. that was enough to convince me. over the years, the carmakers improved the designs, making them more stylish, with all the bells and whistles.

i appreciate bigger cars but have always seen driving a minivan as giving into this new image that doesn't suit me. but already having twins and finding out we were expecting a third, minivan land came searching for me. drew and i did a lot of research on the different vans and test drove a few before we made a decision that the sienna was the one that we wanted. the first time we looked at them i remember being dazzled by the storage space. a few years ago i gave up on cute, mini purses for more functional ones that carry a ton. the minivan was like a giant purse full of possibilities.

the salesman pointed out that they are designed for women to drive, and after driving the sequoia, it really was easier to get in and out of and a breeze to drive and park. but who really needs 14 cupholders?

looking for more expert advice, i went to the twin parents in my community. a lot of them have twins plus another child/children. i posted a message on my twin mommies board to see just what other mommies thought. the responses were unanimous. they mentioned hauling two babies in two car seats and then adding room for another one and how remote sliding doors are key. they talked about all the space we need for the stroller and how minivans are so essential for any sort of road trip.

and what if you want to have a grandparent or guest ride with you? where will that person fit in a smaller car, the roof rack?

all valid points, but what about style? how could i look good behind the wheel of something so huge? how could i avoid getting the nasty looks minivan drivers get when they hog the left lane? i know a car is supposed to be functional, but i also know i'm not the only one who thinks about style and personality when purchasing a car. when i mentioned my possible minivan purchase to a few friends, they were surprised. "are you kidding?" was the common response, followed by giggles and skeptical remarks. "i could never drive one."

drew would just snicker in the background thinking about how he was right all along. he got by on visions of a reluctant wife driving a highway-ready pontoon boat.

as this summer progressed, i let the idea of a minivan sink in, understanding that with twins and another infant, function is more important than form. i will have three children under three and we might as well all ride in comfort.

so we traded my SUV and bought the sienna with the DVD player for the kids and those 14 cupholders that make this vehicle a virtual party on wheels.

those friends who teased me have already asked me to be the designated driver and can't wait to sit back and watch a movie while i chauffeur them around.

but there still remains the challenge of looking a little less like a soccer mom as i sit up high on my captain's chair perch (very comfortable, by the way).

i may be a mom, but I don't have to drive like one. i love my new status, A MiniVan Mom!