The Car Is Like A Black Hole

I'm truly amazed how different the inside of my car looks now that I have a little one to tote around in the back seat.  I'm a fairly organized person who likes to keep things orderly and neat.  But for some reason, ever since my daughter graduated from the infant car seat into her "big girl" car seat, the inside of the car hasn't looked the same.

I'm sure all you moms can relate here.  And I'm almost positive that with more kids comes more amazing stuff in the car.  My husband got in my car this weekend and just looked around amazed.  After starting the obvious (that I needed to clean my car out), I quietly agreed with him, but still wondered how it happens.

I'll tell you how it happens.  Behind my seat are books stuffed in the pocket behind the driver's seat that I can pull out at a moment's notice.  If "A" is screaming in the back letting me know how dreadfully unhappy she is being strapped into her car seat, I can quickly grab a book to desparately hand her with the hope that it will buy me a few more quiet minutes on the road.

Not too long ago, it was freezing cold outside, so I always had a scarf in my car that I would bring with me.  The weather hasn't really required a scarf as of late, but with our pesky weather, you just never know.  So it's on the floor in the front seat on the passenger side.

I've been student teaching this semester (I will blog about this one in the future), and just finished up my first placement on Friday, which means everything that I had at my "desk" at school has now found a new home in the backseat.  The sweet gift basket of books from my class is on the floor in the backseat, and resting on the seats are my folders, math stations I created, library books, and spiral notebook. 

Then there are the little things that "A" loves to carry around the house that have made it to the car as well.  Her rubber ducky, a doll (or two), a little player CD type item that plays princess songs, a Chick-Fil-A toy, and some stickers (just in case).  And let's not forget her jacket that has permanently found a place in the car.  Doesn't it make sense that it would stay there, since she gets in the car every day and will need her coat?  And she also has 2 little cars and a plastic dog that she likes to hold on to.  They seem to be a permanent fixture in the cup holder of her car seat.

Yes, it's official - the car has become a blackhole. What goes in is most likely never to be seen again outside of the vehicle.  I seriously need to take 10 uninterrupted minutes to carry eveything in and put these items in their respective places.  Hang up the jacket.  Put the rubber duck in the tub.  Take the doll(s) and put it in their basket.  Especially take out the student teaching documents and folders - those have got to be more important!

What about you? Ever get in a rut with your car and wonder how you got there? Life just moves pretty fast these days, and if we don't take a minute to stop, we'll never slow down and rest!