Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Ten Ways to Kill Time In Carpool Line

This week, my girls have headed back to school which means I will be spending lots of quality time in my mom taxi minivan.  Each day I will spend between one to three hours in my minivan (depending on how early/late I get in the line, my middle schooler's carpool rotation, and any other errands I have to run).  A good portion of that time will be spent sitting in a line of cars waiting for my kids to be dismissed from school.  I figure, since I'll be spending so much time sitting in the carpool line, I might as well do something productive, right?  So, here's a list of ten things you can do to pass the time while sitting in the carpool line!


1.  Read a book - Like perhaps this one that I won from some other lovely bloggers this summer!
I have really been trying to dig in deep and read this, but, during the sumer, I kept getting interrupted.

2.  Cruise Pinterest for Recipes -    I already have some recipes listed here and some of them came from Pinterest.  Thanks to modern technology, I can spend my time in carpool finding some new recipes to try.  
3.  Cruise Pinterest for ideas - If I get tired of looking for recipes, I can just start looking at other things on Pinterest.  That's where I found this nifty idea for displaying your sign during carpool line  - on Pinterest - while sitting in carpool line last year!  Ironic, huh?
In case you can't tell, that's one of those plastic hangers they use for kids' clothes.  Just make your sign with the kids'  names (or number or whatever your school uses), clip it onto the hanger, and hang it from the rearview mirror so school staff can see it clearly.  
4.  Listen to music I like without having to explain the lyrics to my kids. -  Pretty self explanatory.  While I sit there alone, I can listen to whatever song is currently on my iPod top 25 without explaining what a Payphone is or what it means to wear a dress that will "show a little uh-uh".  Hopefully, I will remember to make sure the windows are UP as I sing along!
5.  Browse Facebook and Twitter -  Is it wrong that I get most of my "news" from social media these days?  Truthfully, this is what I usually spend my carpool time doing.
6.  People watching - Have you ever just watched all the people going in and out of the school at pick up time?  It is quite an eclectic group of folks (at least at our school) and you are practically guaranteed to see something entertaining!
7.  Clean up in the minivan -  I try to keep some plastic grocery bags and some Windex wipes in the glove box.  Occasionally, while I'm sitting there, I'll grab a bag and collect all the trash in the car and/or wipe down the dashboard, etc.  (DISCLAIMER: If you ever get in my car, this does not mean you should expect it to be clean.  I have three kids and I said I do this "occasionally.")
8.  Catch up on blog reading - Do you follow me on Bloglovin?  Well, you should!  Then you can download the Bloglovin app and catch up on posts like this one and posts from other bloggers while you  are wasting time waiting in the carpool line.
9.  Plan - I'm a planner and a list maker and, since I'm also a mom, there is always some kind of list I could make - grocery lists, Target lists, etc.  Or, I could bring along that editorial calendar I have been meaning to implement for my blog and work on that.  If that's not enough, I could do some menu planning or work on a Sunday school lesson.
10.  Write - If I'm feeling really industrious, perhaps I could use my time in carpool line to come up with some better blog topics for my Tuesday Ten.  That way, I wouldn't have to sit down at 9:00pm on Monday night and type up some lame, last minute list.  Not saying that's what I did this time.  Nope.  Not saying that at all! :-)


If you enjoyed this post about how to kill time in carpool line, you should hop on over to this post from The Dose of Reality gals to make sure you are behaving properly whilst you sit and do all of these uber productive activities! 

21 comments:

Dude Mom said...

I used to look forward to carpool lane time. I'd have to just sit and read because there was nothing else. So relaxing before the after school shuffle took over. We don't have to pick up this year so I get to spend my time waiting under a tree at the bus stop. Kinda nice too!

The Dose of Reality said...

First of all, thank you for the shout-out! :) You rock! Secondly, I love people watching in the carpool line...it is the best! I always take a stack of mindless magazines (think US and People) to keep in my car because they are super fun to flip through while I wait! :) Great list!-Ashley

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

That does sound kinda nice! I really don't mind it too much, but I always have plans o be productive and then I'm not! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I usually have plans to do great things and then just end up people watching. :-)

Michelle Nahom said...

I usually do the social media thing or work on a blog post when I'm waiting!!

Dana said...

I usually read, but I have to admit I have also taken a quick snooze. My kid just bangs on the window when it's time for me to wake up.Geez, I'm old.

Tamara Bowman said...

I love this. I only learned about the car lines recently but when I do get to preschool early, I do most of these. I admit I don't do 7!! I probably should.

Kenya G. Johnson said...

It must depend on the size of the school, but I have to go all the way in the school. We have to wait in the cafeteria for the kids. So unless it's a day I'm picking Christopher up, he catches the bus. However, on the days I pick him up I like to get there early so I can find a decent place to park. So I'm sitting in cafeteria for about for about 15 mins. They have some kind of firewall where I can't look at facebook and a lot of things are blocked or super slow. So I read or think, take notes or look at what's on my calendar. For 15 mins w/o the internet I am super bored. LOL! When I am sitting in other lines I "clean up" too - cups holders and whatever I've thrown on the passenger side.

Chris Desatoff said...

Hey, you forgot...


#11. Check your stats ;)

Sarah @ LeftBrainBuddha said...

Great ideas! I am the same way, I always want to get something done with my time in the car.... I've started listening to audio books on Audible, and I love it! I also usually have some grading with me in the car at all times...

Kristi - Finding Ninee said...

Awesome ideas. While I've never been able to write while waiting outside of my son's school, the rest? Yes. I actually have to park and walk up to the entrance and wait, where there are always other (delightful) parents to talk to so the rest? I wish! Great list.

Karen said...

I am so scared of the carpool lane...I fear the day I need to pick up dino form school. I already get nasty at daycare.



that is a good idea about the hanger on the rear view mirror...very smart.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

:) I usually have intentions of writing, but social media calls my name instead!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Oh a nap! That sounds nice. Sadly, the cars behind em would probably wake me up by honking when I son't realize ht line is moving! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Well, like I said, don't expect my van to be clean, but it does help to do it once in a while! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Oh that sounds awful! Makes me kind of glad I do have carpool line!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

That's a good one!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I have never done audio books. Isn't that terrible! Maybe I should give it a try!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks! I always intend to write and sometimes do manage to scribble out some notes for a blog post, but I rarely actually write a whole post.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks Karen!

Rachel @TaoOfPoop said...

What is up with the carpool line? Why can't they do something about it? Well, if you can't beat 'em, make a great list. I love that you are going to make the most of your time. It's really smart and will make you hate the carpool lane less. And I LOVE to people watch. Do some of that for me!

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