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Is that their presence makes you take stock.
My newest baby has only really cranked up a few times (we don’t have/need/want to drive as far as we did pre-baby, part of the ‘taking stock’) and when he does, he’s usually consolable with a break in the action. So, we’ve started getting out of the car and going for a little wander around. It’s a nice solution to the problem. and seems to speak to the larger issue, why can’t we just wander around more often, leave our house and go to the store without our cars?
Over on thecowgoddess.com, I had this classic comic clash of paradigms-domination front and center for a few days, It was remarked that my complaining attitude about ‘car culture’ is ridiculous. Hmmmmm? So I stepped out for a bit and thought about it from a lot of different angles, and yep, I’m still right. Car culture sucks. And don’t go telling me to get rid of my car if I hate it so much, THAT’s ridiculous. You have to have a car if you live in anyplace other than Manhattan. Because we live in a car culture. I’d rather walk. Or bike. So would baby. So would the kids. and that’s one of the best things about them.
Here’s a couple of pictures ;o)
fabulous huh?
xox,
Heather
Hi Heather – I’ve been a long time reader and finally just HAD to put in a comment. I couldn’t agree more with your car wisdom, CAR CULTURE SUCKS! Maybe your post hit a rough spot because I just got back from a week of driving EVERYWHERE for some reason. When that happens it leaves you feeling rather frazzled. It’s even harder to walk/bike everywhere when you live in a rural area. My kids can walk and hike pretty far but they would have to cover some marathon distances around here to get places.
Keep up the awesome comics
They keep me laughing and honest too 
There is something ridiculous in how we live, using all these energy & time-saving devices, then needing “exercise” (often in a health club or on path to nowhere, just for the sake of exercise, and thus the energy is wasted). It sure seems to make sense that living in a place where you can walk more and drive less is better for you, the community and the planet!
I can totally relate both do your post and to maria’s comment. A website I really like is http://www.walkscore.com, you can enter your zip code and it will give your city a score as to how walkable it is. It’s certainly enlightening.
We’ve experimented with walking most places until some intense foot pain sidelined us – part of that reason was how very far some of the places we needed to go was. It was interesting to watch the miles rack up when we were really serious about it. We lack decent public transportation here which is certainly part of the issue.
For what it’s worth I hate cars too. I’m 23 and don’t have a license to drive because cars scare the shit out of me. So many animals and people are killed everyday because of cars and I can’t stand the thought of being responsible for the death of an animal or a person on the road.
We are so blessed to live in classic “small town America”, and the local shopping center (which houses the grocery store, drug store, hardware store, pet store, and Rita’s!) is only half a mile away. So we walk with the stroller as much as we can, which means everything except major grocery trips. Aside from being good for the environment, it’s also good for the make-Mommy’s-butt-smaller campaign!
Your littlest one is adorable!
(buzzer sounds) WRONG! I’ve lived in, honolulu, suburban az, Germany, suburban fl and in all my 31 years have only had a learner’s permit for 3 MONTHS! Ok YES sometimes OTHER people drive me places, but it’s their CHOICE! My children & I get around FINE Sans auto. Especially since we’ve moved to Europe! WOW! Case in point my dearest friend’s Papa got too old to drive, he simply got a motor for his bike & a yearly rail pass (also covers buses) no biggie. YES in the U.S. my hubby’s grandma drived for YEARS after she should have stopped, her reason how would anything get done? (Dudes & dudettes when she asked me to read a new road sign for her I flipped out, AFTER we got home) I love this place, we all do! Except for the homeschooling thing, oh wait we’re americans it doesn’t apply to us, YAY! Let’s go read on a train while we get to our field trip. It’s ALL a state of mind. If you COULD NOT use a car could YOU get around? (25 bucks to get to walmart by taxi, uh no deal, except for christmas, lol) The squeaky wheel gets the grease, ALWAYS! In the town in AZ we lived in it was a retirement mecca for Post military folks! We had GREAT transit, lol!
As far as the new baby toon, he’s adorable (how long as dad been wanting to buy a hat like that, lol, ours was red camo) And yes why can you NEVER find a place to pull over when the baby wants to nurse, or be changed or someone has the runs NOW! (sigh) did I mention trains have toilets, free ones? lol, ok I’ve been on the box too long but you are NOT alone dearest!
I agree – where you live makes a huge difference. In our area there are some local parks and a grocery store to walk to, and if one wanted to commit to a much longer walk crossing busy streets with three kids (and pregnant) in tow, then they could go to the library. But our health food stores are driving distances, we have to cross a river and go to another state to get to one of them and the local farm/CSA we are a part of is a 35 minute drive. my husband and I have always wanted to live in a walking community but it is difficult when all of ones friends and family are in a place that is not. Walking on busy roads with no sidewalks by myself is one thing, but with my children – out of the question.
I just love the sucked-in chin! Ean is so cute.
I hate car culture too. I do as much as I can to make my neighborhood more walkable. We refused to allow the library and the bank to move out of walking distance, and I support the other businesses in the area as well. Right now we are raising funds and volunteers to put in a new playground across the street from my house!
Car culture sucks, and you live in one of the worst areas for it.
Here in Portland, OR, it really depends on exactly where you live; it IS possible to do without a car, but it isn’t necessarily easy. As with most things, there’s both a cultural and personal component: in this culture, it takes so much work to birth naturally, breastfeed full term, do without a car, and it just isn’t always possible, because there are so many forces working against you.
Me, I live a block away from a small grocery store and 3 bus lines, so we walk more now, which is great; but, I also drove yesterday to a state park for a run, and have been known to put the Boychick in the car just to get him to nap. In a different culture would I make different choices? You betcha. But I’m not going to beat myself up for the choices I make *in this* totally messed up culture either.
I just returned from a weekend of driving. it was awful because there is something wrong with my car (“Tilly”) but I don’t know what, so I ended up averaging 50-60 mph the whole way there & back. so much money needed to maintain car culture! insurance, upkeep, fixes, towing, getting it out of impound, tickets, accidents, ugh. i don’t even want to look at her this week! i’ll be riding my bike more now, that’s for sure.
Dang, that little boy is cute. *squeeze!*
i can’t believe anyone actually thought your rant about car culture was ridiculous. even my three year old finds it a right pain in the arse getting in and out the car all day. he’d rather walk anyday. by the way, tom hodgkinson’s chat at the weekend was great! although the weather wasn’t…..you’d have been peed off if you’d swum all the way over here with 4 kids and it rained!
Car culture does suck! Luckily, we live in a small town and are within walking distance of grocery, doctor and hubby’s work. I know the feeling of having a little wander around when things get unhappy in the cursed car seat. Keep up the good work!
When I visited my friend in Ft. Collins, CO even the homeless have bikes. That’s right the homeless get by on bikes! It was kinda cool.
I would love to have public transportation. Barring that I’d settle for bike lanes or just a paved shoulder on the road.
Yep. I agree. I’d rather walk any day. Or bike. Or hike. Anything except the car and the car seats…
We live about 12 miles from town so by necessity we drive a LOT! We don’t walk anywhere except the 1/4 mile or so down the hill (and the other 1/4 mile back up the hill). And cars and babies don’t mix well. We had some issues when the kids were babies and wanted to be in arms all the time. I’m so glad they are past that baby stage and both travel very well. (We just returned from an 1800 mile trip!)
Oh, and the baby is a doll!
Ean is a cutie pie! I’m sure his sisters love him!
…and I hate car seats…with a passion…and my suburban FL neighborhood sucks…everything I need is just a little too far away to walk…and the weather – the hot, muggy, buggy, 99% humidity weather – is way too awful to even get the mail in! I sweat just letting the dog out >O