How to survive a road trip with your kids

When I tell people that my kids – ages 5 and a half and 20 months – have never been on a plane ride, I get a lot of "Whaaaat?! They need to experience this!"

Well, guess what? I know my kids, and I know they just aren't ready to survive the simplest plane ride right now. And honestly, I'm not going to pay for a vacation where I'll have to worry about screaming, crying and whining on a plane. I can worry about that crap at home for free!

So right now, my hubby and I resort to road trips. What do we do to make them somewhat hassle-free? Here's what we do during a three-hour car ride:

• We hit Michaels and Dollarama for new things the kids have never seen before, like pack-and-play coloring kits, small toys such as cars, even stickers. 

• We create a "family-friendly" playlist in advance, which does NOT include "Old MacDonald" and "Mary Had A Little Lamb." The key here is "family-friendly" – the music has to be tolerable among the adults, too! So our playlist consists of a lot of Kidz Bop compilations, fun Disney stuff from Frozen, and music from Glee. Quick tip: turn your car ride into a carpool dance party, à la James Corden's carpool karaoke below: 

• Keep a portable potty in the car, such as this one, as well as plastic bags to pee into.  (FYI: make sure the bags don't have any holes!) This also means you need to make sure hand sanitizer and baby wipes are well within reach – keep them in the front seat with you, too. 

• Don't pack snacks in the trunk; keep them with you in the front seat so that they're easily accessible. 

• We plan our pit stops in advance. This isn't the time to worry about your children's sodium and sugar intake, people. Stop at McDonald's and get them a damn Happy Meal. 

And finally, keep your expectations low. When you experience a kiddie meltdown, know that the car behind you is probably going through the same thing. Don't worry, it may feel like a thousand years, but this car ride will end, and when it does, you will feel awesome.

Do you have anymore tips to add? Let me know!