It's a Parenting Tool!

Ahhh, the minivan.

My Mom gets asked every so often how we girls grew up without giving her (too) much trouble:) She always says something along the lines of "I don't know" or some lame thing like "expect them to be good." I, however, know the REAL reason and it had EVERYTHING to do with our ugly, blue, Ford Aerostar minivan. Oh! how it shaped our lives . . .

We were quite fond of the thing at first. My oldest sister was probably thirteen when my parents bought it. It was wonderful and roomy and we loved our minivan . . . . that is until the thing stuck around long enough for each of us to start driving. Quickly our minivan became a curse and we were annoyed and embarrassed to be driving a "mommy" vehicle around. There's nothing like cruising in a minivan. There's nothing like being asked to a party knowing that IF you did go you'd show up in a minivan -- we never went:) There's nothing like being asked on a date as a boy walked one of us to . . . the minivan -- we always declined:) In fact, now that I think about it, that van sorta killed our social life:)

Nevertheless, that minivan taught us a lot! It kept us humble and grounded. It taught us to work hard and go to college (so we would be able to purchase more posh SUVS of course)! So tonight when my sister and her husband drove up in their new minivan I had to smile. I see a bright, well-educated, grounded, humble, and respectable daughter in their future:) So a pat on the back and many prayers and wishes to you dear Michelle! You've made one of the best decisions of your life!

Also I would like to note that it's more likely that our loving, respectable, God-fearing parents, the grace of God, and many prayers that are more likely reasons that we grew up the way most parents hope . . . So we'll just call that minivan "the grace of God."