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Guest Drive: Kristina Sauerwein of BabyCenter.com’s MOMformation Blog
Jun 11 2009 by Courtney Messenbaugh
If you’re a mother, you have no doubt visited, or at least heard of, BabyCenter.com. The website has been a constant source of practical information and advice for me since before I even had my first child. Lately, the posts by Kristina Sauerwein on BabyCenter.com’s MOMformation blog have become more than just an info-portal for me; they’ve become a good friend. Kristina has two kids Zoe, 4, and Ryan, 1, and her writing provides a wealth of solace and humor for me in this wonderful adventure of motherhood, wifehood, adulthood and me-hood.
I feel pretty cool for having landed Kristina for a Guest Drive interview. I didn’t tell her this, but I think I have a small girl-crush on her. How can you not crush on someone who’s not afraid to touch on everything from the recession’s impact on children to the perils of diaper-clad children in your car (see below)? She writes about so many of the things moms think about and manages to do it with an intelligent, empathic and often wickedly funny voice. On top of her MOMformation posts, she’s even written a legitimate, well-researched and poignant book, “Invisible Chains.” This is one mama who really does do it all.
1) What’s your current mom-mobile?
A bluish-gray 2007 Toyota Sienna. A lot of my friends bemoaned buying a minivan, but I love it. I like that it’s big but not too big, and that I have room for all of our junk: baby gear, toys, books, sports equipment, snacks, diaper supplies, backpacks, blah, blah, blah. It’s like my own little house on wheels.
2) What features, if taken away, would make your life in the car less happy/peaceful?
I could not live without my automated locks, especially for the backseat. I love that I can press a button and open all of the doors since my hands are rarely free. As a mom of a 26-pound baby, whom I’m often carrying with one arm, I would find it a big pain to manually unlock the doors to the back. Maybe that makes me sound spoiled, but, oh well.
Also, I could not live without my radio/CD player. When my baby was a newborn, he had colic and could only be soothed while driving. So I’d play my music while driving aimlessly. During a time when you’re giving yourself completely to a baby, it was a nice break to have something that I liked. Even now, when I’ve run out of things to do with the kids, or if they’re driving me crazy, I put them in the car, drive and listen to my music.
3) What characteristics of your car embarrass you or your kids?
Baby Ryan is appalled that he is chauffeured in an unhip minivan. It goes against his sports-boy stud rep that he’s spent his life building. OK, lame joke.
The most embarrassing thing about my car is how messy it is: Everything just kind of falls all over the place. You know those organizing TV shows, where some guru comes in and teaches a family about where to put their mail and other clutter? I need that for my car. I’m a neat and organized person by nature, but if you looked inside my car, you’d think I was a slob. The mess overwhelms me.
Another embarrassing thing: On the rare occasion that I clean out my car, I’ll discover an old food item or — eww — a sippy cup with curdled milk crud.
4) What kind of terrible mess has occurred in your car? What fixed it (or what didn’t), and do you have any suggestions for our readers?
Both my babies have had massive diaper explosions while in the car: The kind in which poop gets on the car seat and upholstery as I’m trying to change diapers and clothes. Cleaning it all with a towel didn’t help much, just kind of smudged it around. Soap and water helped a little to get rid of the mess and smell, but, ultimately, I decided it was an excellent time to have my car cleaned professionally.
Projectile vomiting and spit-up have occurred while on the road. Again, it is hard to get the smell out. Before I had kids, I used to grimace when driving with a mom whose car had that sour milk-smell. Now I hardly notice it.
I suggest storing old towels or blankets in the car for messes related to bodily fluids, as well as plastic bags for disposal.
5) Does your family have a favorite pastime to endure long road trips? What sure-fire road trip tricks can you share with us?
For a long road trip I advocate a portable DVD player. My daughter loves the idea that she can watch movies in the car. We’ve taken several 1,000-miles-plus road trips, and she was content and good for the majority of the time.
Also, my friend told me to give a kid a roll of aluminum foil for long car rides. She said to just let them have at it. Foil kept my daughter amused for a good chunk of time. On long road trips, we also sing songs together and make up stories about the people in other cars or the animals we imagine in the woods along the roadside.
