When we switched swim teams we went from a five minute commute to a forty-five minute commute (thirty-seven minutes on the way home because the traffic is gone).
Some people told me we were making a huge mistake but most people just ask, “HOW IS THAT DRIVE?”
It’s definitely an adjustment. It’s a bigger investment of time to get to and from practice, but so far, the rides have been kind of nice.
Sometimes I have five kids in the car with me, and other times, it’s just Number 3 and 4. But the younger kids play pretty nicely in the back (usually) and we have been getting movies from the library to watch, and I usually don’t tell them what I’ve chosen, and they kind of like the surprise.
When it’s just Number 3 and 4, they usually help each other study on the way home which is kind of enjoyable to listen to because they are actually getting along.
Number 3 always sits in the front next to me, and when the other guys are watching a movie, we talk pretty much the whole way there.
And one thing I know for sure is that before we made the switch to this team, I NEVER spent 45 minutes a day talking one on one with Number 3.
To be honest, so far, I am really enjoying the commute and this quality time I have been given with Number 3 as a result.
Tonight it was just me and Number 3 and 4 going to the pool. While they were swimming, I went for a run, and I still have this kind of lingering glute/hamstring thing going on, and it’s most annoying when I’m driving.
I asked Number 3 if he still had a tennis ball in his room.
Him: What do you need a tennis ball for?
Me: It makes my butt feel better if I can sit on that while I’m driving. It helps work out the knot.
Him: I thought you just had surgery on your butt for that.
Me: I didn’t have surgery on the outside of my butt. I had surgery on the inside.
Him: YOU HAD SURGERY ON THE INSIDE OF YOUR BUTT?
Me: Not exactly. I had a bunch of things done internally.
Him: LIKE WHAT???
Number 4: THEY TOOK HER UTERUS OUT.
Him: They did?
Me: Yep.
Number 4: AND NOW SHE’LL NEVER HAVE HER PERIOD AGAIN!
Him: Really? Huh… Is that why you’re so happy all the time now???
Me:
So yeah.
Sometimes our conversations are kind of boring.
Other times, they are much more interesting.
But every day, we learn a little bit more about each other.
I could look at this commute like a chore or a burden or an inconvenience.
But really it’s turned into one of my favorite parts of the day.
Every Baseball Mom needs a sweatshirt in April. Comes in 5 colors! 
Every Swimmer (And Swim Parent) Needs This. Comes in 5 colors!
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