I’m not sure why, but it was probably our third date in when I announced to my now husband, “I’ll never get a mini van.” I don’t remember why the conversation even started (maybe it was because I was already knowing I would one day bare this man’s children and was creepily plotting our future) but he nodded in agreement, being the cool car guy he is and also shared his disgust for these bulky, far from trendy, modes of transport.

My distaste for the mini van stems further than just the “those are soo not my style,” back to my own childhood where every few years I would watch my parents trade in their current mini van to the newest model, which always made my mom happy. Even with two kids out of the house and just one left in college she traded in again for a new mini van. I remember gawking at her and saying, “mom, come on get yourself a cute little car, you deserve it!” but she insisted the mini van was actually what she preferred. In this moment I remember rolling my eyes and silently making a promise to myself that I would never be the mom riding around in the mini van.

Fast forward many, many, years later as I was typing with swollen-from-pregnancy fingers to facebook, “any suggestions on a good size SUV- enough room to fit twin babies and all their gear?” A few people immediately suggested “mini van!” so I went back and edited my post with an emoji of the chick with her hands crossed in front of her saying “NO MINI VANS.” The mini van Facebook moms laughed and said, “you’ll see” and I viciously typed back, “NEVERRRRR”

We ended up buying a super sleek Buick Enclave with all the bells and whistles. Gorgeous leather interior, shiny wood trim, analog clock (that I never understood), navigation, side mirror lights… I loved her. This car screamed luxury and after carrying two babies in my belly I deserved some luxury. It was the first NEW car I’d ever owned and I was damn proud of this milestone.

Fast forward nine months later and we had a whole new life. Suddenly the glossy wooden interior of my Buick started to lose its appeal. The car was decently spacious but if we ever had visitors it was a very tight fit squeezing them in the back along with all of our twin Essentials and the gigantic double stroller. The back seats were always folded down. And even then I barely had room if I needed to go food shopping or add anything else to the car. The car wasn’t exactly family-friendly, maybe family friendly if you have two teenagers, but not family friendly when you’re lugging too busy toddlers in and out. So right before our roadtrip to Disney in August my husband looked at me and said,”we should go look at mini vans.” I didn’t want to and I was cranky the entire drive there, but we went. Matt stayed behind with the girls as I went for a test drive with the salesman. “You like it, don’t you?” I didn’t answer him. “Did you see the automatic sliding doors? The keyless entry and start? How easily the seats move in and out? The extra room in the back and you can’t forget about the built in vacuum!” I gritted my teeth and drove back to the showroom.

“Get it.” I told my husband as he and the salesman smirked.

Letting go of my beautiful brand new car was tough, but there was no denying that this mini van also held all the bells and whistles… It had sliding doors: if you’ve ever been holding two kids at once struggling to find your keys, about to lose your freakin’ mind, you can relate and have to admit… sliding doors and keyless start are a godsend. The amount of extra space in this van is also ridiculous. On our Disney trip we fit 8 people comfortably AND the double stroller in the back. We’ve visited family in Virginia with two pack & plays, two suitcases, that massive stroller I keep mentioning and two dogs with room to spare. That would have never worked in the Buick. There are cup holders EVERYWHERE and yeah, that built in vaccum? yeah.

Bottom line, I am a hypocrite. I had a strong opinion and ideas of mini vans way before my life would ever NEED a mini van. I also had strong opinions on “my kids will never eat fast food” and “no screen time.” Ask me how those are going and I’ll tell you Chick-Fil-A is fun outing for our family (come on, playplace and chicken minis?!) and Justin Timberlake is always dancing around 4pm when the toddler tantrums begin each day.

I guess what I’m saying is I’m okay with my hypocracy. I had no idea how happy sliding doors would make me. As a new mom I’m still learning what works and what doesn’t work for our family. I had to give up my dreams of the sleek SUV and trade them in for something that is more practical for my entire family. My “ideas and opinions” on motherhood are constantly being traded in for what works for us now in this moment. And if that means eating chicken nuggests in my mini van and watching Taylor Swift for the 10,000th time, then I throw my hands up and give in to it all.

Maybe one day I’ll be driving around in something more sleek & glamorous but until then I’ll happily drive around in my very “momish” mini van. Because quite honestly, sliding doors are looking more and more glamorous than anything else these days.

Cheers!