For the next time you’re considering road-tripping with your parents

This summer, I went on a road trip from Jersey to California with my parents and my sister, and a lot has changed from when I was younger.

Because any vacation with your parents will bring back some good ol’ Disney wonderland memories, like the horrible time you got attacked by a swan because you didn’t believe your mom when she told you, “Honey, they’re dangerous,” you might think it’s childish to do anything alongside your parents – especially a road-trip.

Is road-tripping with our parents still as great as it was when we were kids? I’ll give you the pros and cons and let you decide.

The Bad

You will fight

It’s a road-trip! When you’re with someone for far too long and you can’t agree on which radio station to play, you will get mad.

Whether in the heavy rain of Missouri, or the overwhelming heat of Arizona, words will hurt, and you’ll suddenly feel 5-years-old again. You’ll sit in the corner of your seat and stare out of the window wondering, “Why did I decide to come?”

Restrictions & Rules

Ma and pops will always see you as a kid. This will hold true throughout the entire vacation. You’ll hit Vegas and your parents might throw the “Be home before 11” card.

You can’t get wildly drunk at night because your parents will be opening the curtains in your motel by 6am expecting you to be okay with it, and you can’t make the rules, because you’ll be sleeping the majority of the time.

But, if they get drunk, you can do the exact same to them, and call them irresponsible.

‘You have to drive now’

When you aren’t sleeping, your parents put you behind the wheel five hours at a time.

It was always more comfortable letting pops do all the work, but now you’re an adult, and have to put some work in. Nothing makes him more happy than seeing his daughter cross Ohio, or re-fuel the car. (I grew up in Jersey – people do it for you.)

They forget how to work a camera

You found the perfect spot for an Instagram picture but you can’t take a selfie because it won’t do it the justice, so you call your dad over.

You easily explain how you want the photo, where you want it, and how you’re going to pose. Suddenly, he hands you the camera and you find the absolute worst pictures of yourself you have ever seen.

They forget how to use technology

Your mom starts worrying because she can’t find a cheap motel to stay the night, but is completely oblivious to the fact that she has google on her phone and a navigation system in her car.

You want to sit back and laugh but you get annoyed and end up trying to explain it to your mom who says, “But how did you do that? Show me again!”

The Good

You’re not paying

Unless you have the money to vacation yourself, you won’t have to pay anything because they’re your parents. You can binge in restaurants and beg to buy a souvenir for a friend.

You get scared wondering how much they’re spending, but then you remember, “we’re a family.” Just make sure to go on tours and enjoy it all.

Time to bond

Since you’ll always be together, you’ll have more times to make jokes and laugh at stupid things on the road. Maybe an old favorite song will play and you’ll all be singing at the top of your lungs.

You may not spend much time bonding at home because of work and school, but now you have all the time to just relax.

Your parents are wiser

Sure, they may not have the technology thing down, but they do know how to navigate the roads and decide which spots to stay at while spotting scams and hunting for the best for their dollar. You forget to bring deodorant but your mama spots you.

They may or may not have travelled some of the country when they were younger, so believe me, trust them.

It’s okay to be a child

You can whip out your pillow-pet and be unashamed because you know you need it to go to bed. You can ask your mama to make you a cup of coffee if you don’t want to get up. You can go to bed early without having any friends making fun of you for being too exhausted. You can be as annoying as ever because your parents have dealt with that all their lives.

They understand, or know enough to live day by day with you.

They’re family

If they want you to come out for a road-trip, then do it! They care more than enough by even letting you hop on. You’ll have great moments discovering the world together, just as most parents should especially if they couldn’t achieve it at a younger age.

Plus, since you’re way older now, you will remember all the great times exploring the roads.

If your parents are asking if you want to vacation with them, say yes. If it’s a road-trip, don’t even hesitate. You will enjoy it because it’s a time to discover the world, yourself, and the ones who raised you. Don’t take them for granted.