As many drivers know – kids can come up with some tough questions when it comes to your life on the road – here’s our top 10 list of the most common ones.
1. When are you coming home?
This can be a tough question to answer, especially if it’s paired with a pouty lip or some sad little eyes. The truth is – you don’t always know when you’re going to be home next. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t use Skype or phone calls to keep in close contact with your children! Let them know that regardless of whether or not you’re home every night, you’re still always going to be there for them.
2. How many states will you see?
You may or may not be able to answer this question, depending upon your routes – but there are lots of ways to turn this question into a fun game that your children will remember for the rest of their lives. When my dad was driving, he made it a point to send both my brother and I a postcard from each new state he traveled through. He told me to save them all and see if we could collect all the states! We made it to 39 – and I’ve still got them all today!
3. Is it scary to sleep out there?
If you’ve ever had a scary experience out on the road at night, this might not be a question that you want to answer completely honestly. If your child tends to be a worrier, it might be best for them emotionally for you to be reassuring and let them know that you’re safe from harm.
4. Will you miss me?
Of course you will (even if you secretly enjoy a little bit of the peace and quiet the road can offer)! Let your kids know how much you love and miss them, and make plans to do something fun when you come home. This gives you both something to look forward to!
5. Is it fun to drive that much?
Tell your kids all of your most exciting stories, time crunches, and difficult routes. I’ll always remember how cool I thought it sounded when my Dad told me about how treacherous Donner Pass was in the winter or how difficult it was to get out of a New York neighborhood he accidentally turned into while he was driving through ice and snow!
6. Can I come with you?
Depending upon the company you drive for, this may or may not be an option in the summertime. If your child is curious about life on the road, and your company permits family members to ride along – take them with you on a summer road trip. To them, it will seem like an adventure!
7. You get to eat out all the time – isn’t it awesome?
Use this one as an opportunity to talk to your kids about developing healthy eating habits. Children always think it’s fun to eat out – but it’s best not to glorify it! Let them know about the repercussions that a fast food diet can have when it comes to your health!
8. Can I call you?
Let your kids know that just because they may not be able to call whenever they want to, that you are still just a phone or Skype call away at the end of the day or when you’re taking a rest!
9. My friend’s parents are home every night, why aren’t you?
Explain to your child the importance of the role that drivers play in our country. Without the hard work of those driving around the clock to ship goods all around the country, things would be much different. Let them know that your job is just as important as the next person’s!
10. Can we do something together?
Of course you can! Plan to read the same book or watch the same movie as your child, and talk about it the next time you converse on the phone or Skype. Use your imaginations to come up with an activity that you both enjoy and that can also be done from a distance!