I could barely keep my eyes open.
Not good when you’re driving a motor vehicle.
Especially not good when your fifteen year old son is sitting in the passenger seat.
We were on the final day of our college tour last March, having driven 1,000 miles to tour two colleges.
My sinuses had started acting up the day before and when we hit the road to come home, I took a Benadryl, mistaking it for a Sudafed (that shows you right there how out of it I was), hoping it would relieve my sinus pressure headache.
The only thing it did was make me V..E..R..Y…s..l..e..e..p..y. I was fading fast.
“Drew, you’re going to have to drive, buddy. I cannot keep my eyes open.”
Mind you, Drew only had his learner’s permit at the time so this was not an ideal situation but all I could think about was the blessed relief of closing my eyes. I nodded off.
I groggily opened one eye who knows how much later and realized we were now on the interstate outside of Atlanta. Whoops. At least Drew can navigate and drive at the same time and keep calm under pressure.
He was gripping the steering wheel tightly, eyes focused straight ahead.
“You’re doing a great job, buddy. Thank you for driving.”
“No problem,” he mumbled.
So, another strike against my Mother of the Year nomination, which I’ve never claimed to be, by the way.
But, I love my kids and do my best to protect them everyday, this example notwithstanding.
Although last year’s homecoming drive was not a shining moment in my parenting career, at least Andrew and I know we have done one thing right.
We created our first written Family Succession Plan after our daughter was born and we’ve periodically updated it as our family circumstances and life has evolved. That alone will save our kids a bunch of money and headaches when we are no longer here to protect them in person.
You can do the same here: http://mypinklawyer.youcanbook.me
Drew and I obviously made it home alive last year, despite my questionable parental faux pas.
As a junior in high school this year, Drew and I will hit the road again this Spring Break to tour three more colleges.
Surprisingly, Alabama is not in the mix yet inasmuch as Drew doesn’t want to follow in his older sister’s footsteps. He instead wants to forge his own path so to speak. But you never know.
This time when we hit the road I will be better prepared and have all my “drugs” accurately labelled.
Kristen “Falling Asleep at the Wheel” Marks
