The unbearable uncoolness of the minivan

I will confess, I was thrilled when we bought our minivan five years ago.  I was pregnant with my fourth child and was tired of cramming three carseats together in the backseat of our Subaru wagon.  I love the Subaru, but long trips meant I had to sit with a cooler in my lap and listen to my kids spend HOURS poking each other because they were mere millimeters apart. 

So going minivan was the right choice for us.  In the momiverse, some minivans are cooler than others, but really, in the realm of coolness, I have fallen far off the charts.

Although they are completely impractical, I have to say, I currently covet the MINI Cooper.  Perhaps they represent my long ago, single, urban, child-free life.  Call me crazy, but when I see someone driving a MINI, they look like they are having a BLAST.  When they grocery shop, they probably only buy one gallon of milk, not 8.  When they go to the pool, they probably just grab a towel and a magazine.  Not 6 towels, a cooler and a laundry basket full of toys.  When they go out for dinner, it's probably not to McDonalds.

So I hatched a plan, and honestly, I think it's brilliant.

I read this fabulous post by event planner, Jordan Ferney, about an Amazing Race-style birthday party she threw for a friend.  Several of the party attendees were Zipcar members, so they were able to rent a fleet of MINIs for the day.

I'm not a Zipcar member.  I have two cars sitting in my driveway right now.  But they are both lacking a certain coolness.  There are Zipcar parking spaces just a few blocks away at the Metro station near my house...

Are you with me yet?

For just under $12 an hour (plus an affordable annual fee), I CAN HAVE MY OWN MINI COOPER!

For the most part, I take motherhood, with all its pros and cons, without a fight.  I quit my job.  I wear a bathing suit with a skirt.  I'm softer around the middle than I care to be.  And I haven't slept a full night in 12 years.

But this?  This is one way I think I'd like to fight back.  Every now and then, I'd like to hop behind the wheel of my MINI, drive to the grocery store and buy a single gallon of milk.

Photo by Jordan Ferney, from Oh Happy Day. Used with permission.

This is an original DC Metro Moms post.

Sue, despite being a genius, is patently uncool in many ways.  She has no connection to Zipcar or any car companies whatsoever. Although if someone wants to give her a MINI Cooper as a result of this post, she is happy to discuss particulars.  (Red, please.)  Otherwise, you can follow her on Twitter @suewag and read more of her rantings on Laundry for Six.