My Family SUV: Jeep Liberty

First, let me say that I love my Jeep Liberty. It was my first new car, and I bought it right out of college. From the second I slipped behind the wheel, I fell in love with it. My Liberty, you see, combined both sporty adventurism with practibility. I always felt sexy and sporty driving it with my windows down blaring Lenny Kravitz's "American Woman" and heads always turned my way when I drove by. My Liberty agreed with my single life.

But it's funny how two years and two kids later can change the outlook you have on your car. What used to be hip, fun to drive is now too small for all the baby gear I reluctantly have to lug around, and that light grey interior is not so great at camouflaging the red kool-aid my toddler continues to spill out of his "no-spill" sippy cups. By the time I put my double stroller in the back cargo area, there is no room for the two diaper bags, bottles, formula or random toys I need in order to go to grandmother's house for a short visit. And God forbid that I have to bring my portable playpen since the only place it will fit is the front seat on the passenger side. So, I can either take my husband with us on a trip or my daughter's portable baby bed but not both. (Sorry, honey, but your daughter really needs her playpen more than you.)

The back seat, which use to have ample room for three adults, now poses its own challenges. Even with the two car seats on opposite ends of the back seat, my toddler can still smack his baby sister with little effort. I've had to scream, "don't hit your sister" more times than I would like to admit. If that isn't annoying enough, while driving and sharing the front seat with the playpen, I get to enjoy the constant kicking of the back of my seat while I drive thanks to a long-legged toddler and a lack of legroom for the back seat.

Simply put, my pre-family SUV just was not made to handle my growing family. Of course, I could always trade my sporty Jeep in for a roomy minivan, which would provide ample room for my two kids and all their stuff, but I don't think my ego could take a blow like that. I keep telling myself that only old women drive minivans and at 26, I'm just not ready to let go of my sexy side. Imagine, if you will, pulling up to a red light and seeing a young, attractive lady blaring some great rock-n-roll music only to discover she's driving a minivan full of kids. You probably wouldn't even give the woman a second glance, but I guarantee you would if she was driving a more hip car--even with the two kids in the back.

So if I have to sacrifice a little comfort so I can feel good about my self and my car, I will do it in a heartbeat. My Jeep Liberty may be small but it's still my link back to my pre-baby life and I love it for that reminder of my past freedom-even if I can never get the kool-aid stains out.