In my search for the perfect family vehicle, I ran across the VW Routan.  Nice looking car.  What got us even more pumped was the fact that it was Volkswagen, home of superior German engineering and craftsmanship.  Then we read this article, and now we aren't so sure.  As it turns out, the VW is not German after all.  From the article:

The 2009 Routan isn’t engineered by Germans, unless you count the ones who used to work for DaimlerChrysler. It is merely a rebadged, slightly rebodied, mildly retuned Chrysler minivan.

Volkswagen changed only the exterior lights, rear glass, front grille, select parts of the interior and some settings for the suspension and steering. And yet, as if to obscure further the Routan’s provenance, VW exhorts Web users to “have a virtual baby for German engineering” at a dedicated minisite: vw.com/vwhype/babymaker/en/us/.  Yikes!

 

Yikes indeed.  More like Zoiks!  What do we make of this sleight of hand?  I guess the world of minivans will remain uncool and unGerman.  Thats okay.  After two weeks with my kids marking on it with sharpies it wouldn't look cool anyway.  

The Washington Post released an article entitled Car Seats Save Young Lives.  This may seem obvious, but such an article is important, not because we are unaware that car seats save young lives, but because of the fact that our children are so precious to us that we can never hear enough of this kind of thing.  It is good to be reminded. 

These may seem a bit obvious, but helpful reminders nonetheless.  And also from the desk of Captain Obvious, they apply to every day of the year, not just holidays.  Drive safe and have a merry Christmas! 

We all shrink back in horror when we hear about people leaving their kids in the car.  We even tend to look down on such people.  But it is easy to have our self righteousness squashed when our cars begin to fill up with little humans.  This article gives some good pointers, as well as some good product recommendations, for avoiding something that could be truly disastrous.  The writer speaks from experience, and is bold enough to share that he is not always the perfect parent.  Still, it only takes one mistake, and as well intentioned as we might be, there is no second chance when it comes to the lives of our children.  My hope is that all of us will slow down enough to constantly think about what is important, even if doing so seems tedious to our blow and go schedules. 

See here for some info on the Childminder System mentioned in the article. 

It appears there will be options for those of us who don't want to buy gas.  Introducing two very different electric cars, the Aptera 2e (note: not the same thing as the Apple 2e) and the Tesla Roadster from Tesla Motors.  (See another article on this blog comparing the Tesla to the Volt).  Aside from the fact that the 2e looks like a car from one of those futuristic sci fi movies that try too hard to look futuristic, and Tesla being the same name as the 80's rock n' roll outfit (who appear to be making a comeback by the way), there seems to be quite an interest surrounding these cars in light of the current economic crisis.  But are they practical?  I mean, sure they are efficient as far as what it takes to run them, but being a father of 3, I don't need a 2 seater that goes 0-60 in 3.9 seconds that I can pick up and carry on my back, or a reverse three wheeler from the Jetsons (unless it is mounted with gatling guns).  Give me a freakin old school suburban that runs on electricity.  You know the one.  With the sharp angles and room enough to stuff a family of 14 in.  Not necessarily like this one, but not too far from it either.    

This is a real question that I find myself asking when looking at purchasing a new car.  Do I pay extra for the more "kid proof" leather?  Or do I go with the cloth, which looks good for about 5 mintues until my daughter takes the lid off of her sippy cup and dumps her milk on it?  Read here to help you make the call on the pros and cons. 

No matter where you live, there is one universal sign that school is back in session: the crossing guard. It almost seems like the weather changes overnight and the trees turn a little golden when the crossing guards and orange cones emerge for the morning commute.

Back in my day, crossing guards were paired with elementary school children who served as "safety patrols." The adult crossing guard was always present (well, most of the time) to boldly walk into the middle of the street to stop traffic and allow children to cross an intersection. The patrols wore a bright orange belt that was affixed like a shoulder-crossing seatbelt, and carried a flagpole to keep the waiting gaggle of children off the road until the guard called out, "Crossing!"

If you were lucky enough to BE a patrol in elementary school, then you had the enviable task of affixing a vinyl orange flag to something to form an acceptable flagpole. The best poles were made with bamboo. They were strong and you could easily role up your flag when the job was done. Some kids used an old broomstick. I had a piece of PVC pipe. (At the time, I thought it was a very modern and cutting edge choice. But, really, it's just because I couldn't find any bamboo.)

I had a nice career as a safety patrol. I proudly worked my way up from a lowly silver-badge private to a sargeant (green badge), lieutenant (red badge) and then...at last...the coveted captain (blue badge). Occasionally one of us would perform some feat of safety that would inspire our P.E. teacher (and safety patrol sponsor) to award us The Gold Badge, which we got to proudly display for one week. I still have that photo of the 5th grade patrols with the P.E. coach...

Why all the fuss about crossing guards and patrols? Safety. Here are some key things to remember when school is in session:

• Obey the speed limit. If you hate slowing down, find another route in that doesn't involve a school zone. 
• Pay extra attention in a school zone -- even if you are in a hurry. A child was killed in Texas last year when morning sun was in a driver's eyes. The car struck the little girl at a slow speed, but she did not survive. 
• Do not talk on a cellphone in a school zone. It's distracting, and some municipalities have already banned hand-held cellphone use in school zones.  
• If you are a student or parent walking to school, do not listen to an MP3 player while walking. You need to be aware of your surroundings.
  
• Stop for a school bus whenever you see its red flashing lights. Most children are injured while entering or exiting a bus. 

It seems that mommies on wheels are everywhere lately. I guess moms have been the carpool staple ever since the family wagon became a part of the roadways. I found this article, originally written by Emily Block in Parenting Magazine, on the Today show Web site on msnbc. I've added my own personal opinions as well. Here are some of the leading distractions that contribute to accidents while driving.

1. Chatting on your cell phone. There is a reason why there is increased legislation limiting cellphone usage while driving. Studies show that talking on the phone while driving results in driving impairment that matches or is worse than driving while inebriated.  
2. Feeling overconfident. In short, this is offensive versus defensive driving. If you start to feel aggressive or angry while driving, make a mental note to cool it. Tailgating, blocking lanes and speeding can lead to accidents that could be avoided by simply letting the other guy have his way.
3. Driving while drowsy. This is nearly impossible to avoid when you have a newborn, but many moms push the limit with their sleep even when their kids are older. Aim for more shuteye, get someone else to drive if you have a really bad night's rest, and if nothing else works, open the windows and get some fresh air.
   
4. Speeding. Thirty percent of all fatal crashes are the result of speeding. You can replace cars, but not people. Slow down and give yourself more time in the future to get where you need to go.
   
5. Snacking while steering. There are few upsides to eating in a vehicle, except when it's the only time you'll get to eat. (It makes for a messier car, and--besides--you have enough goldfish crackers and raisins in your backseat already.) Looking at food is a distraction. If you have to eat, try to do it only when you are stopped at a light. 
6. Attending to your kids. Children don't understand that you are the only thing that's controlling the vehicle they are riding in. They will invariably ask for you to break up a squabble, retrieve a lost sippy cup, or hand them a book or toy that's out of reach. Stick to your guns and tell them that you'll be happy to help them when you can stop safely. Eventually, they'll get the picture. And if you have to clean up a serious bio mess..pull over first! 
7. Slacking on car maintenance. Problems with tires contributed to 660 deaths and 33,000 injuries in 2005. Make the time and the investment for regular maintenance of your car. Sure, it's a pain to take it in for servicing, but catching little problems early often prevents big problems from occurring later. Learn how to check your tire pressure with a gauge, and routinely inspect your tires for tread wear and tear.
   

Any parent that has successfully survived a road trip with their kids knows that the key is planning, lots of distractions and a little luck. (Think anti-Griswolds.) Never been brave enough to try a car trip with the kiddos? No worries. A few minutes spent searching on the Web yields some resources that might very well save your sanity.

The About.com site has a cool library of travel ideas for kids of all ages. There are printable games, locators for finding restaurants where kids eat free, and more. Nick Jr. online also has a comprehensive travel section that not only has great resources, but ready-made kid-focused itineraries of fun things to do in places like New York, Orlando and Los Angeles. 

Happy travels!