So we bit the bullet and went out and bought the portable DVD player. I have to say that my drives to and from work went from hell to heaven in one flick of a switch. When I turned around to look at her, however, she was totally wide eyed staring at the screen like a zombie. A little bit of a smile, but mainly just looking a little "plugged in".


** Insert Mommy Guilt Here **
So I started to justify. I thought of myself the week before the magic box was installed in my car. I remembered being in my truck frazzled after listening to Allie cry/whine for 30+ minutes. I had a horrible pregnancy hormone headache, and I remember having a quick flash of a thought in my head how swerving into the tree might be a quiet alternative. I finally pulled in the garage, and Mike came down with a big smile on his face to see us. In a second Allie went from whining to big smile and a DADA!!! I walked right in the house without looking at her or him and said: She's all yours! Then I locked myself in the bathroom to feel guilty about.....you know....everything!

Then there's Allie. Obviously she wasn't happy, as she was whining the entire trip home. Even if she wasn't REALLY crying and it was just a fake cry/whine, she was doing it for a reason. She was either board, or just pissed off that she was strapped in the car. Either way, she was NOT HAPPY. I thought to myself, which is better? Whining and staring at the back of a seat, or watching educational TV? Now when we walk to the car she starts chanting:

Mel-mo! Mel-mo! Mel-mo!

Before when I put her in the seat she would turn as stiff as a board and start to scream as I would wrestle her into the seat. Now she sits and quietly lets me buckle her in while pointing at the screen nodding saying, Melmo? When I say: Yes, baby.....we're gonna put on Elmo. She smiles and nods and takes a quick drink of her sippy getting ready for her show.

It can't be that bad, can it? You don't think I'm ruining her eyes or anything do you?

On Saturday we are driving down to South Carolina to see my father in law. We are going to do it in 2 days, 6 hours a day. I'm petrified. Allie in the car for 12 hours on the way there and 12 hours on the way back? Maybe I should buy some ear plugs. This is really the reason we decided that the DVD was a must. We didn't think we would make it otherwise. Truthfully, I'm not sure we're gonna make it anyway. Not without at least an hour or two of screaming. Lets hope these preggo hormone headaches don't decide the rear their ugly head again during the trip.

Keep your fingers crossed for me, and give me your opinion about kids watching TV in the car. Both sides welcome.