Third Time is the Charm?

It is time to get a new car!

After my wonderful experience this summer being an example to my children of how to properly handle a spider in the car, I am realizing how much they actually listen to me. (the silver lining)

Labor Day weekend we spent time at my sister’s lake home. I guess everyone knows that lakes and spiders go together, but we don't dwell on it much. So it was kind of shocking at the end of the weekend to find a gigantic spider who wanted a lift back into the city. The boys froze with fear, Molly screamed like only a girl can, I jumped out the door (while the car was moving…I wasn’t driving thankfully) and my poor husband was left to deal with the newest family member. We convinced the kids that spiders in cars are rare and they agreed to stay in the car until we got home.  (a note to the farmer: We are sorry we threw the tissue with spider guts into your field.  We know it is litering, but it was either the tissue or all of us.  You got the better deal, trust me.)

So it was with utmost surprise that we found another eight-legged passenger along for a ride the other morning. To set the proper mood for this story, you need some background. You see, my children all start school within a 20 minute window of time. They all need to be driven and the schools are several miles apart. Molly has to be walked into school and checked in. There are six stop lights and three stop signs on our journey, so on an average day it takes us 5 minutes to get to Molly’s school, 5 minutes to get her checked in, 10 minutes to drive the boys. If I get Molly to school right when they open the door, then I have a cushion of 5 minutes before the boys will be counted tardy. Everyone has to remain focused and on task to make this work!

So Monday of this week we began the journey for only the second time. We got Molly to school and checked in. I was running 3 minutes late by the time I got back into the car. We hit the first light red. At the second light, which was green, Zachary discovered a spider on the ceiling of the car right above his head. On the other side of the median is a local police officer. Zachary screams, like only a little boy who has yet to go through puberty can, and jumps out of his seat. Colin offers to get the spider so Zach will sit down and I will stop screaming at him to sit down. However, Colin does not believe in killing spiders (they are useful…blah, blah, blah). So, he wants to capture it and set it free (where? We never got to that). I continue to drive since we only have two extra minutes!

The spider decides that all this noise is too much and crawls up into the air vent above Zach’s seat.  She nicely sticks out one leg, just so we remember she is there. Tortured by this, both boys are now out of their seats, arguing about what to do. I am still trying to drive.

At the next stop light, I get a green light. I look behind me and notice the police officer is now following us. I start yelling that the kids need to get into their seats because we can’t afford the time a traffic stop would take. The amount of screaming and arguing about who will take care of the spider increases. Zachary jumps ship and moves to the seat in front of his regular seat, leaving his brother to deal with the beast. Colin takes this moment to announce that he hates spiders (and probably his little brother who makes him do EVERYTHING). The spider takes this moment to peak out of her hiding spot and see what all the commotion is about. Zachary gets buckled and keeps his eye on the ceiling while continuing to scream. Colin sees the spider and flicks it into the way back. I drive. The police officer continues to follow us.

At the stop sign ahead, we all calm down because we can no longer see the beast. The police officer waves at us and turns away from our car. We proceed to school discussing our dislike of spiders and how the spider must have somehow flown through the tailgate and left the vehicle. Despite the physical improbability of that, I agree that is exactly what happened and proceed to drive the rest of the way to school in a calm and safe manner.

We arrive at school 2 minutes before the bell and somewhat spider free. For once, the boys are thrilled to get out of the car and head into school. I drive away and hope the spider really did go through the tailgate! Now, whenever the chance arises, the kids fight over who GETS to drive in Todd’s car and who HAS to drive with me.