Friend buys cars she cannot fit her entire family within

[Anonymous]

As a bystander the trouble she goes thru to get her kids everywhere seems like it would be worth it to get a mini van.

She’s a mom of 4 and with all of their sports and activities she’s constantly making trips to either drive the four kids then drop them off to pick up her husband and then drives them back separately. It seems like a hassle.

From swim practices to eating at restaurants she’s constantly making multiple trips or needing someone to stay with the kids at point A so she can go get the dad and bring him to point a from point b. Then someone to stay with one child while she drives with the husband and the other kids.

The husband has the small car a fiat from before they were married and cannot fit all of them either. But never do they drive both cars. The same thing happens when he drives. I think they must thrive off stress. It would make more sense for each of them to drive to these places but they insist on only taking one car.

Just trying to figure out how they enjoy this chaos.

[Anonymous]

They probably don't want to buy a new car.

[Anonymous]

Maybe they can't afford a mini-van. Not the cheapest cars around.

[Anonymous]

Ask her.

[Anonymous]

Yes this sounds ridiculous, especially since many SUVs have 3 rows, which would also solve the problem.

But this falls squarely into Not Your Business. Now, if she is making it your business by asking you to drive the children or watch the children, just say "that won't work for me" or say "no". That's the extent of the input you are allowed here on this topic.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they can't afford a mini-van. Not the cheapest cars around.

If this could be the case, I would just not think about this too much.

[Anonymous]

It does sound pretty ridiculous. I would just squish the four kids in the back and made a couple share a seatbelt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes this sounds ridiculous, especially since many SUVs have 3 rows, which would also solve the problem.

But this falls squarely into Not Your Business. Now, if she is making it your business by asking you to drive the children or watch the children, just say "that won't work for me" or say "no". That's the extent of the input you are allowed here on this topic.

+1 This seems needlessly stressful. I would go down to one used car that can fit everyone plus public transportation if cost was an issue.

[Anonymous]

Why not just squeeze them into the back

[Anonymous]

If they didn't get new cars with 3 they certainly won't get new cars with 4. Cars are expensive. Maybe they can't afford it.

You need to mind your business. Is she Sking yiu for help or whining to you? I would shut those condos down.

[Anonymous]

I know a family like this and it's because they don't like the idea of driving a mini van. They are pretty open about it. It seems silly to me but I'm not them and don't have to drive their kids around. It's not something I spend a lot of time thinking about.

[Anonymous]

There's so many mid-sized SUVs with 3 rows these days. Not sure why they wouldn't just get one of those, especially if they have small kids who don't need a ton of leg room.

Making an extra RT to just pick up her DH just sounds exhausting.

Or, at the very least, just drive two cars. Some families are really weird about everyone driving together and I don't get it, especially if you need to abandon half the family at a location to use the same car to pick up the rest of the family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a family like this and it's because they don't like the idea of driving a mini van. They are pretty open about it. It seems silly to me but I'm not them and don't have to drive their kids around. It's not something I spend a lot of time thinking about.

So buy a used 3 row SUV. Its not that hard.

[Anonymous]

Do you get stuck helping out?