Conversations on the Way to School

A Note About This Site

I drive my youngest four to school every morning, and we are in the truck for close to 40 minutes. My children are inquisitive and really, really quirky, and a few months ago, I started to pay attention to the things that they had to say in the mornings, rather than my coffee and becoming annoyed with the traffic. What developed was a fascinating look at an ever shifting blend of topics - and a fierce desire to encourage their learning. Armed with Google, my new best friend, I try to answer some of the things they discuss, and elict help from you all for those things I can't. 

Not one of these questions is made up. Not one. They are all authentic and not guided by me. 

I'm just the secretary. And the Head Researcher, lol. 

June 30, 2014

For right now, today's "conversations in the car" sounds a little bit like this: 

Nothing. Because for the first time since May 30, I am alone in my car.

June 29, 2014

Today's "Conversations in the Car": Was the PT cruiser a Chrysler fail? Which war was bigger, WWII or Vietnam? Would it be harmful to blow up a car at a dealership? If you did so, would it ignite all of the other cars? Did the Netherlands used to be called Dutchland? What does rigamarole mean? When is a person in their prime? If I die tomorrow, would you have said I was in my prime today, at 14 years of age?

 

 

June 28, 2014

Today's "Conversations in the Car": If your dad is a driving instructor do you get a deal? It seems like Sousa music features a lot of tuba, Why do most parks have basketball courts and not baseball diamonds - is it because they are easier to maintain? Why is Driving barefoot illegal? Why are homegrown veggies more tasty? And the crowning conversation of all....

This truck weighs about 1/2 ton. It's a dangerous weapon. It can kill a person just like a handgun. If you distract your mom while she's driving, you can cause her to have an accident which could hurt or kill another person, or even one of the people in the car. You want me to take you places like the beach, or the waterpark? Then you'd better stop screwing around in the car.

June 27, 2014

Today's "Conversations in the Car": What is the meaning of the word diatribe and why would Mom use it when she's referencing your convo with your sister, How does the Ford Raptor compare to the Dodge Ram truck, TSA policies and procedures and for the 12 millionth time what will happen when we fly next week (we tend to have to talk new stuff out many, many times), and the extremely wonderful thing that happened to Gabe today (at his sister's work, one of the regular customers drives a brand new Porsche 911 Carrera RS and when he heard that Gabe is a car freak, he offered to take Gabe for ride. Gabe didn't even ask for permission but jumped right in and closed the door - a act which cause my girlfriend to tell me that I'd be featured on CNN for child abduction.)

June 26, 2014

Today's "Conversations in the Car": A cue ball in pool reaches speeds of 20 mph in a split second and the the resulting temperature from friction can reach 494 degrees Fahrenheit. How many square miles is the state of Virginia? Which countries in the world have the most crime? Which countries in the world have the highest rate of homicide? How is homicide different from crime?

June 25, 2014

Today's "Conversations in the car": Sighting of the scion FRS(Gabe's most favorite and beloved car, it was like a unicorn sighting), How is corn planted - seeds or plants, the Mercedes AMX, Is the musical piece The River Moldau the inspiration for Young Persons guide to the Orchestra, as my husband swore 10000 times, How do pain meds work, and a sighting of an Aston Martin.

June 24, 2014

Today's "Conversations in the Car": How do boats float?
Does a nuclear plant put off steam or pollution? How many Cracker Barrel restaurants are there? And that really neat car is a Nissan GTR, which I personally had never seen and starts at, oh, $99k.

 

 

June 23, 2014

We spent the week in a hotel, which lead to this: We conducted a science experiment all weekend. If you jump when the elevator is going down, do you jump higher than if you jump in the elevators while they are going up or vice versa? Gabe has decided that you don't jump any higher, but the floor is dropping, which makes it seem as if you jump higher.

June 21, 2014

Today's "Conversations of Interest": details about the new Chrysler 200, the history of Rock the Casbah, the brilliance of The Clash, and why in the world would an entire family come down to breakfast in a hotel in their pjs and slippers with unbrushed hair.

June 18, 2014

Today's "Conversations in the Car": What is a red letter day, what does SAS stand for (Statistical Analysis System), the amazingness of Bear Ghryls, How in the world the saying "Pain is weakness leaving the body" could be true, and What makes British tv shows so good?