You can love a minivan! I do! 📸Maria Smith
It’s true. I have no minivan shame. None.
I believe a minivan is one of the best family cars for the money hands down. All those articles on how to be cool despite your minivan are lost on me. I Resisted (with a capital R) the minivan life until after I had my third child. Eight years later I’m now all about this minivan life. I’m ride or die for my Honda Odyssey. I am ashamed of a lot of things but there’s no minivan shame in my game.
Minivan shame is something akin to the cool kid lunch table in middle school. All the cool kids had those name brand chinos and Hostess cupcakes instead of homemade cookies. They had a new backpack every year and the cutest earrings when your mom still wouldn’t let you get your ears pierced.
Now those cool kids are grown, have kids and have 4-door family cars. And they try to make fun of your minivan life. Well, you know what? I wasn’t one of the cool kids back then and I refuse to fit into the Prius-driving cool kid crowd as an adult. A minivan is one of the best family cars for the money because it just makes my life easier!
I have driven three different Honda Odysseys and have test-driven some fantastic other minivans like the Chrysler Pacifica and the Toyota Sienna (which I found to be the minivan to buy if you don’t really want to buy a minivan).
I’m now a bit of a minivan snob, so I stick with my Odyssey. And while I do love whipping around town in the latest, top of the line speedsters from Lexus or Ford, I cannot and will not give up this minivan life. Here are the reasons why I have no minivan shame.
Related: Check Out Why the Toyota Sienna May Be the Family Car for You.
You don’t love my minivan? That’s ok. I do. Photo: Maria Smith
6 Reasons I Have No Minivan Shame
1. I don’t care what you think.
The biggest reason I don’t have minivan shame is because I’m grown. There comes a time in every person’s life when they realize the energy it takes to keep up with everyone around them just isn’t worth it. Trying to squeeze my family into one of the cute, hip SUVs with a third row as an afterthought is not worth it to me just to earn some cool points.
I care about global warming and the impact of race and class on our sociopolitical system and if there is going to be a remake of Living Single. But if you don’t like my car? Oh well.
2. My sliding doors never dings the car next to me.
When I review sedans or SUVs, I find myself repeating things to my kids. “Watch out!” “Open the door slowly!” “Be careful getting out!” “Did you just hit that car?”
When I’m driving my Honda Odyssey, I never, ever have to say these things. Also, my kids can shimmy out of even the tightest parking spots. Bonus! I love family cars that don’t cause my insurance to go up.
Minivans have tons of room, and many have extras that keep your kids entertained and not bothering you! 📸Maria Smith
3. I can fit all my kids (and yours too).
With four kids, a minivan made sense for us. We can pile in and everyone has room to breathe. We can also fit several double strollers (though we don’t need to anymore), four car seats (though we are now down to two), and we even have room for $300+ worth of groceries (done it).
When the moms at basketball practice hop out of their trendy family cars and condescendingly tell me how they could “never drive a minivan,” I just smile. I know that at some point this season they will be late or need to leave early, and my minivan will be the way their Johnny and Joey, and even Sally too, will get home that day. Even with all my kids buckled in, I can still fit three more. Boom!
Related: Why the Honda Odyssey is a Fantastic Family Road Trip Car
4. Automatic door opening and closing makes me a hit in the carpool line.
The thing I love most about my minivan is the sliding doors. I love that they slide instead of swing open. I love that they open and close automatically at the touch of a button. And I love how they can help me move through car pool or any other drop off scenario super fast.
For someone who lives her life cutting it close, this is huge. I have no minivan shame when I can practically come to a rolling stop when letting kids out of the car. (Ok. Ok. I actually completely stop, but my door is open when I do and it hasn’t fully closed when I peel off.)
The Toyota Sienna is one of the minivans that gives families exactly what they need. Photo: Maria Smith
5. No one steals a minivan
Nope. No one steals a mom-mobile. They steal the cool kid family cars. They don’t even steal my dozens of fingerprint-smudged movies in my glove box or the ‘just-in-case-they-get-hangry’ food I keep in the trunk. I think criminals look at my car and think it is definitely too uncool to steal. I’m OK with that.
6. A minivan is one of the best family cars for the money
Probably the best reason to have no minivan shame is that you have embraced that you are a parent and you have to be good stewards of your money. It took me having 3 kids in under 3 years for me to realize I was fully, unambiguously, and unapologetically living this mommy life.
For me, this season of life with young children means I’m rolling deep with my swagger wagon. Having 4 kids means I need a car that entertains my kids while getting us from place A to place B.
It means being smart about fuel efficiency. A big family also means I need family cars that will last me and have awesome resale value. Minivans are really the best family cars for the money. Go ahead and start adulting!
Don’t let the cool kids stop you from driving the minivan you need in your life. Photo: Maria Smith
Related: Is the Honda Odyssey the Best Family Car Ever? Scotty Reiss Thinks So!
At some point, I might buy one of the different family cars out there. However, it won’t be because of minivan shame. I can see shedding a tear over giving up my Odyssey actually. The minivan life has been good to me. And if you’re behind me in the carpool line or parked next to me at Target or need me to pick up your kids from the swim team, it’s been good to you too. You’re welcome.
Celebrate the Mom Life with a Brand New Britax B-Agile Stroller!!!!
We have a B-Agile stroller from Britax to give away and we want YOU to win it! The contest starts today and ends on August 16th at midnight. Enter below!
Contest Rules: Participants can enter to win a Britax B-Agile Stroller by submitting qualifying entries via RaffleCopter before midnight, August 16, 2018. No purchase necessary to enter. A single prize of one B-Agile stroller will be given away. The prize has an approximate value of $199, is not exchangeable for cash or other items; the assignment of the prize is at the discretion of A Girls Guide to Cars. A single winner will be chosen at random from among valid entries. Contest open only to US residents 18 or older. Winner will be notified by email or direct message by August 17, 2018. If a chosen winner fails to respond to the notification within seven (7) days that winner will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Winners must provide a valid US shipping address, not a PO Box, for prize shipment and may be asked to provide other information to verify qualification for this contest. This contest is not supported, hosted or endorsed by Britax. The prize is provided by A Girls Guide to Cars and may arrive in alternative packaging and may not include original paperwork or instructions. Void where prohibited and subject to applicable law.
Maria Smith
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- No Minivan Shame: 6 Reasons A Minivan is the Best Thing Ever - January 7, 2020
I am not fond of the gas mileage mine gets but it does the job.
Child car seat safety to me means that the seat is put into the vehicle correctly and the size is also proper for your child. In addition, that you follow the best way your child should be sitting based on their age.
I love that minivans helps fit all my family comfortably.
Car seat safety is so important to me because my children mean the world to me and they are my priority, so I will protect them any way I can!
We love our Chrysler minivan–it is so convenient and family friendly!
To me a carseat can mean life or death! An accident that your in while driving that was just a small fender bender could mean the loss of your child without the proper carseat!
My top stroller requirements are fast and easy fold/unfold! I also want one that is durable, yet lightweight and that has a place to put odds and ends such as a diaper bag or purse.
Car child seat safety is of the utmost importance. We count on it to keep the most precious things in our lives safe and sound.
I love mini-vans. I usually have half of a baseball team to tote around and a mini-van is a huge help.
I really like that you can attach a baby carrier seat to the stroller!
It will can and does save a life ask me how I know~
My favorite was a dk green with a tiny gold pin stripe~
I loved having a minivan because it was SO easy to get in and out of when my kiddos were small.
We love the stow and go option in our minivan!
I appreciate all the ways we can have safety in a vehicle, especially for the young that can’t help themselves. I have appreciated the ways car seats have improved over the years.
I want to be smart about the fuel efficiency and in the resale value later on.
Seat safety means saving lives to me.
Most important thing in the world for parents thank goodness mine are grown with new babies of their own.
Child safety means providing a safe environment and putting prevention measures into practice.
I love a mini-van for it’s extra space.
I like minivan, and you can attach a baby carrier seat to the stroller.
Car seat safety is critical! Saving any child’s life with the proper car seat is the most important part of any car!
If my Child is not safe than I am not right. I feel if I can be comfortable with my childs safety everything else is good.
I love a mini van! So much room for everyone and everything!
I love the easy access of our minivan!
Car seat safety means to me that you get a carseat that has been proven safe and know how to buckle it in the car the right way.
I don’t have a mini-van but they are great for big families.
I like the strollers that have the car seat attached and has plenty of room for the babies things it needs
Access and portability are the key factors in any car seats.
Child safety in car seats are number priority they need to be safe
It means the future of my family.
Car seat safety means steel frame and CORRECT installation and buckled in properly every time.
I would love a mini van when my kids are a little older for ease of getting in and out. For now I am going to want my infant in the middle seat
Two favorite stroller features in a stroller is one hand easy fold and large canopy for sun shade.
I love how easy it is to get the kids in and out of the van!
I love ’em for all the reasons in this article!!
My boys grew up without car seats. They survived, but I feel so blessed that my granddaughters are protected.
A minivan would have been nice when my sons were little, but my youngest son does have a minivan for my granddaughters
Folding and unfolding has to be easy
The safety of a car seat is of the utmost importance. A car seat is definitely an item that should be researched and compared before it is purchased.Brand and price shouldn’t be the selling point.
I love the over-sized canopy! Sunlight, wind, and rain, etc. can be aggravating to a child. Having a shield will make the stroll much more relaxing for the child.
I’ve never had a minivan, but now that I have two younger kids plus twin grand kids…I think it
might be time to think about it.
I love minivans because they provide a growing family with enough room and space in the vehicle. The only thing that makes me a bit nervous is I am used to smaller cars so this is a challenge at first driving it.
Easy to unfold~
I love how much cargo space our minivan has!
I love how easy ours to get kids in and out of
I love how every feature in our van seems to be made perfectly for moms of young kids!
I like riding in a mini van but the gas consumption is more than my car, so that is one minus when it comes to a mini van for long trips, even though it is more spacious.
A sturdy stroller with space for storage is a must have when walking with a baby or toddler.
I love how easy it is to get things in and out
Minivans can hold a lot of stuff. I like how you can push the seats down and pick up lumber for outdoor projects
I love the kid-friendly features like 2 DVD players and pull up shades on the windows!
I remember family outings as a kid. We, the kids, had more fun in the mini van. Ours was a Toyota, and the second row of seats pivoted so we could face each other. Sometimes it was a good thing, sometimes not, but we have fond memories of that van.
I love how comfortable and convenient our minivan is!
That my child is safe from impact, it is the right size for her age and height, materials are well made, optimal performance.
we have a van and I love the space
I like if a stroller is easy to fold up and ability to unpack with ease as well as comfortable for my child
One big plus about a mini van is the comfort level, and the features such as built in DVD players which keep the little ones busy so you can focus on driving.
Car seat safety means infants and children surviving what an adult would not.
I’ve always loved having a minivan because I am higher up in the drivers seat meaning better visibility
My favorite stroller feature are the easily replaceable parts
One thing I like is not having to bend over over duck down to put my children in a car seat!
Car seat safety keeps my children safely in the seat during travel. If there were to be an accident it would protect them!
Car seat safety keeps my children safely in their seats!
Minivans are very practical when you have kids but I prefer a roomier sedan or SUV.
I love how lightweight the stroller is and how easy it is to fold and put away.
love the car seat design is approved, it’s tested out in the Sled Lab using ATDs, or anthropomorphic devices, which are commonly known as crash test dummies.
we love the spacious in our minivan
favorite feature is ON THE MOVE
One-Hand, Quick Fold
Allows you to store the stroller in no time and get on with your day.
I am a grandma, a car safety means the world to me to protect my baby.
It means making sure the seat is installed correctly.
I love minivans. We just bought one last year and I don’t know what I would do without it!