Does This Minivan Make My Glam Look Gone? – Mom Life and a Death Knell to My Swag?
Listen people, this is a hard one to admit so let’s get right to it.
I drove a minivan and I liked it.
Your Honor, Exhibit A: Le Dodge Grand Caravan
This is probably not the first blog post you’ve ever read of some newish mom lamenting the perceived demise of her youth and fashionableness (is that even a word?*), and trust me it’s not gonna be the last you read either. Most people I know see minivans as a VIP pass directly into Momville where you check your cool points at the gate never to be returned again as long as you both** shall live.
It doesn’t help that I’m turning 40 in a month so I’m probably legit in the middle of a full-blown mid-life crisis at this point and this CLEARLY is not helping!
A little back story would be great huh?
My family rented a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan for a Spring Break road trip from MO to NC. I drove the van around while in NC with my just my son and me on several occasions. When my husband first pulled around the corner at the rental place my sister-in-law said I made a face that looked something like this >> 
<<. My first thought: “THAT is what he picked? It looks like a delivery van!” Like many people sliding out of their youth (I think 40 pretty much qualifies for coasting into solid adulthood), I’ve lived a pretty “minivan-averse” existence heavy on the judgment of those who choose to drive them. “How can they do it?” I thought. “They must not care about style!” I judged. But now (sort of like comfortable shoes) I can no longer cast a critical gaze on minvaners (is that even a word?***) because CLEARLY they make better decisions than I do. *insert thug tears here* π
Y’all … this car drove 3 adults, 1 teenager and 2 children in car seats from MO to NC and back no problem. Complete with Zion’s wheelchair, his Scooot, all our luggage, a small cooler, a VitaMix (#becausesmoothies), snacks and alladat (yes alladat).
To make matters worse, we didn’t have to return it until the night after we got back from our trip so I drove the van to and from school and the drop-off/pick-up line situation was REVOLUTIONARY compared to what I do now!
That my friends is AN ENTIRE PEDIATRIC WHEELCHAIR FULLY ASSEMBLED just-a-sitting in the back of the van like 
!! WHAT IS MY LIFE?!! *insert more thug tears * π Do you guys know what I have to do now? This is what I do people. Basically, I disassemble and re-assemble his wheelchair twice a day minimum to get him to school because our hatchback decided to stop driving on a consistent basis. *how rude*
Back to George (that’s what I named the rental van after we returned him *sniff* 
) … the automatic side sliding doors that made getting my son … who cannot walk … in and out of the car SO BLASTED EASY! The clearance for my head while buckling him into his car seat (I’m 6’1″ tall folks, my back hurts dropping it low every day to swing a 40 lb kid into a sedan). The convertible 3rd row so his wheelchair fit FULLY ASSEMBLED! The ridiculous number of cup holders, compartments and USB ports! The actual electrical outlet! I even grabbed some groceries and they fit neatly in the little “abyss” in the back perfectly (please note: “abyss” is not the official name). It was jam packed for our road trip and actually might be too much room for my regular life and just the 3 of us. But you know what, I didn’t want to give it back!!!
Exhibit B (video – press play):
A video posted by π Roshini Cope π (@glamazini) on
This is not a review, this is a cry for help.
The following day I drove my son to school in our sedan, disassembled and reassembled his wheelchair, and all ’bout had a nervous breakdown in the school parking lot! Ok not really but really. I want George back!! *thug tears people tears of thug* ππ THEN I get to talking to folks online and hear the Kia Sedona needs to be on my list. I get forwarded this review by The Crunchy Mommy, dig around and find the clips below in the middle of one of my recent vlogs (video – press play):
and now I’m going to test drive minivans this weekend. THEY GOT ME Y’ALL!! π
Well not entirely, I’m not 100% sold just yet and will be test driving a couple 3rd-row SUVs as well, but I’m closer to minivan Momville than I’d ever thought possible. What is happening? Who am I? Where is Glamazini? Should I change my name to Famazini? Huh? Huh? Should I?!! π
Stay tuned for more in my car search saga to see what we eventually end up getting. Something’s gotta give soon, my current situation is not situated.
What to you think about minivans? Let me know in the comments below!
*Why yes it is.
**You and the minivan.
***No, no it is not.
Roshini Cope
Roshini Cope, aka Glamazini, is a life coach and video creator who gained a following for her natural hair tutorials, which evolved into authentic personal stories of healing with a consistent dash of humor. She is a black woman healing helping other black women heal, expand their self-awareness, reclaim their joy, and create the life they want. Work with Roshini π€β¨π€
8 Comments
Laura
I’m thinking about a minivan too. My objection is purely because I really hate car payments and I’m not ready/able to buy a used one in full right now. We rented one for a roadtrip last year and it was so much easier to get all of our children and stuff (grocery, luggage, etc.) in and out without incident. When it comes out, I want to test drive the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. Tell me that a minivan with that type of gas mileage isn’t sexy.
glamazini
LOL! Well we have to do something about our cars so a payment, either purchase or lease, it in our future. We’re actually planning to test drive some tomorrow and I may stream them on Periscope so follow me there if that’s your thing! π ~~> http://www.periscope.tv/glamazini
Aaronica @ the crunchy mommy
I probably shouldn’t be as committed to this car search journey as I am but I’m over here biting my nails at this process with you!!!!
Thanks for linking to my review!!! Naturally my vote is for the kia… I mean it had a cooler!!!!
glamazini
Bwahaha! You see what you’ve done?! LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE! LOL! But seriously, I test drove the Kia this weekend and it was good but someone else caught my heart. Check out my Katch.me/glamazini if you can’t wait or I’ll post a compilation of them here shortly. No purchase yet but I’m shifting my mind and you were definitely part of the process. *mwah* #momlife #minivansforeverybody #butthisminivanthough LOL!
BigTickles
Yes girl…get one! We rented the same one on our trip to DC and it drove so smooth. It was like heaven. I think it actually drives better than my SUV. We currently have a Honda Pilot and my sons are climbing all over the seats to get to the back. They are getting so tall. With all the sports equipment and just life…we need to get one this year. My oldest is going to be 10 this year and its amazing we lasted this long without; but its time now….and I am HAPPY!!!
glamazini
We looked at the Pilot but ultimately a minivan just makes sense. There may be a Honday Odyssey in my near future. *wink*
Queen
Feel ya! It took me 4 years to succumb to the minivan after driving the SUV, mostly because we needed to transport folks aged 1yo to 90yo. The van was soooooo much easier and empowering for everybody. The hook for me. . .all the bells & whistles that made it nice for the driver, yours truly. The ride was way smoother, and the gas mileage gave me a little extra to glam something up. LOL. . . It’s not forever, but it will change your life
glamazini
I believe you and the choice has (almost) already been made. I’m gonna be a minivan mom! π