4Real Forums: No food in the car policy?

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

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Topic: No food in the car policy?

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afranciscan
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Joined: April 23 2006
Location: California
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Posted: Sept 04 2006 at 8:53pm \| IP Logged

Hi I haven't posted much but I have a question for you mothers of many. I have 5 children ages 1- 12 and we will be adopting two in the spring so we need to move up in van size. I kind of expected God to provide this upgrade at the last minute but it's happening this week! I'm scrambling to come up with a new food-in-the-car policy as we have pretty much destroyed the interior of our mini-van by allowing most any food to be eaten in the car. We are just not car people and never really established good habits for cleaning out the car. We do keep it clutter-free. No one is allowed to do anything until the car is completely unloaded after each outing and I sweep it out but I rarely seem to get out with vacuum, rags & cleaner. We are excited at the chance to start over and take better care of this van and I think I'd like to try no food allowed. Have you succeeded at this? Or do you do a modified version? Only water and crackers? Or only for the fussy baby? I tend to allow snacks in the car to "save time". It seems that we can get out the door faster if we bring a snack bag and have the older kids feed the little ones along the way. Or the reverse - hand out snacks after a game or class or church to hold everyone over until we settle in at home and fix the next meal. We don't eat at fast food places and can't spend the money for all of us to eat out at a decent place very often so there's no getting a meal out of the way while we're out. Do you make time to eat at parks while you're out? Or just train the children to not snack between meals (or between snacks

) Thanks for any input. I'm looking forward to enjoying a spacious CLEAN van!

Jennie Lou

Martha
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Posted: Sept 04 2006 at 10:47pm \| IP Logged

We normally have a zero food policy and only water or sippy cups for drinks.
The only exception is for extended car trips. Then we have fairly mess-free snacks (animal crackers, pretzels, jerky....)
It's not that big a deal for us though because we rarely eat meals anywhere other than at home and a snack can wait until we get to where we are going.

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Martha
mama to 7 boys & 4 girls
Yes, they're all ours!

stacykay
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Joined: April 08 2006
Location: Michigan
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Posted: Sept 04 2006 at 11:21pm \| IP Logged

When we bought our "new-to-us" Aerostar in '96, (it is a '95,) the previous owners had installed a clear, thick, plastic covering on the floor. It looked like it was made to go over carpet, because the bottom had small "projections" to grab the carpet. It was a great idea. However, when it became ripped and tattered, I ended up removing it, and not replacing it

. Carpet that looked (and smelled) brand new quickly got dirtied. Even if we didn't do drinks and food, just the snow and rain, and the resulting mud can make a new carpet filthy. The plastic was so easy to spray and wipe clean.
I highly recommend it. I just don't know where to direct you, maybe an auto supply or Home Depot?

I wish we didn't eat in the car- it just seems that we have for so long been going from one sporting event to another, and the little guys do need snacks and such, and the weather isn't always conducive to picnicking, or long trips, etc. ... like my excuses?

God Bless,
Stacy in MI

Joelle
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Joined: July 19 2006
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Posted: Sept 04 2006 at 11:57pm \| IP Logged

We normally have water in sippy cups or some other container that doesn't allow the water to spill out easily. We also limit snacks to things that can be swept out easily. Our oldest boy (10) vacuums the van out regularly. It is one of his chores (about every 2 weeks or so), then takes a baby wipe to the dash area~ not the ArmorAll professional job, but it sure helps! We empty the van every time we get out and that includes picking up all wrappers and stray "leftovers" that would be smashed into the interior if left in there. I also think the larger vans are easier to keep clean because you can see so clearly under the seats (it's just that last seat that seems to collect items)!

Congratulations on the new additions-to-be, how old are they?

Peace, Joelle
Mom to 5 blessings (10,6,4,2,10mos)

afranciscan
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Joined: April 23 2006
Location: California
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Posts: 63

Posted: Sept 05 2006 at 11:54pm \| IP Logged

Thanks for the ideas. We are getting a used Sprinter that seats 10 and the "parts" aren't going to be cheap so I probably can't get the custom Sprinter floor protection but I like the idea. I think the investment in seat covers and floor covers will be worthwhile this time. Chances are we'll wear this car into the ground too so I'd like to keep it in decent shape.

Joelle, we don't have an adoption referral yet but are likely to have one by the end of the month. We are asking for a young sibling group but the orphange we are working with has had a lot of baby/older sibling groups coming in so that is where the real need is. One group we looked at was a 9mob and 6yog. We hope our hearts will "recognize" our new children when the time for a referral comes.

Thanks for the feedback!

Jennie Lou

JodieLyn
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Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
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Posted: Sept 06 2006 at 11:22pm \| IP Logged

Our 15 pass. van was purchased used and had been used by a college so it had most of the regular upgrade type of things.. but no carpeting.. that is probably the most wonderful thing ever. Even if something icky gets spilled/dropped/smashed.. dh just puts the front wheels up on blocks and hoses it out.

Generally the rule is water only to drink.. anything else is too sticky/smelly.. and usually less messy foods for trips and such. It's the one time we use sippy cups and we keep the kids in sippy cups in the car long past when we'd allow their use in the house.

Jodie, mom of 6 soon to be 7

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