Keep a Toothbrush and a Pair of Baby Pajamas in the Car
When I was little, I remember driving in the back seat in our family car and falling into a deep sleep on the way home. There is nothing worse than hearing the garage doors open and the keys popping out of the ignition. “Wake up,” my mom would say, nudging me to wipe the drool that rolled off my seat belt and pull my limp body out of the car. During the multi-step process of zombies entering the house, I whimpered to take off my shoes, brush my teeth, wash my face, put on my pajamas and finally collapse on the bed, at which point I usually stay awake.
Now, as a parent, I save my child the same fate by keeping my child’s toothbrush and a pair of pajamas in the car for all the times we are late. If you have a baby, the preparation of the child for the night before you hit the road, runs without problems – if he falls asleep on the way home, you usually can move it out of the car in his bed, so he did not notice. Even if your kids are older, a little preparation still helps. Our family often dines with friends, and right before leaving, all preschoolers always brush their teeth together, put on their pajamas and do one “pajama goodbye dance” before heading home. (Yes, it’s delicious.) Then, when we get back to our house, my daughter will be able to jump from car to her pillow in less than 20 seconds.
The biggest part of this trick: It gives you, the parent, more time to watch Netflix,work on your late night cheese, or do whatever you want to do without involving a young child in bed.