I recently discovered that no matter how you look at it, a gas guzzling, 12 miles per gallon SUV, is not a practical car for commuting. So what if the leather heated seats kept my hiney warm on those cold mornings or if the third row seating allowed for a bumpy carnival ride for my five year old; it was time to move on and I had major decisions to make. What could I stick my three little monsters in while at the same time keeping them comfortable yet staying practical?

My hubby and another person (I dare to call a friend), actually had the nerve to suggest I buy a mini van. A mini van for craps sake?! I'd rather stab myself in the eye with a KFC spork than drive a rig that screams, "I'm fertile! I'm a mom! I wear high wasted mom jeans and spend my husband's money proudly!" Yeah, no thanks. I think you get the picture about my disdain for this sort of vehicular vomit comet. I have never liked the look of a mini van nor the perceived story I read into each mini van family I saw. Life should be carefree and unpredictable at times; a mini van, well, it breathes and promotes absolute domestication and normalcy. Ugh, I'm just not game for that. It would truly take a thick layer of ice cast over the lovely city of Hades in order for me to even venture into this sort of vehicle ownership.

Since I'm an anal planner, I delved into the internet in order to do a ton of research on what I wanted to buy. I checked gas mileage, safety ratings, price, and most importantly style. After all, I am a fertile mother of three but I didn't want my car to say so. My kids also had their own say on what I bought. They unanimously voted for a Mustang GT but alas, with only two seats in the rear, someone would have to ride in the trunk and I think that may subject me to a child welfare investigation.

In the end, I settled on a nice little sporty number with four doors (that was my compromise of being a mom and a young woman). It gets wonderful gas mileage and has that wonderful "new car" smell; truly a match made in heaven. I enjoy driving it and I recently had the opportunity to take it on a road trip where I had the chance to let my mind wander over my purchase. It's amazing the progression you make as an adult and the practical things you worry about, especially during the purchase of a new car as a grown-up. I long for the days when you could pick your car out to match your favorite color and as long as it had a cool stereo, all was well, *sigh*. Now that I have wandered into my 30's, I realize that this sort of a lackadaisical auto buying will never truly be part of my agenda again. But I'm o.k. with that. Leave the sports cars for Uncle R and the mini vans to the soccer mom families. I'll take my "in between" domestic goddess and suburban Barbie ride, and I'll drive it with style.