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    Minivans are cool...yeah, you heard me.

    By that cool broad | Parenting – Thu, Jun 12, 2008 2:56 AM EDT

    A few years ago I told my husband that if he ever bought me a minivan, I would personally remove his spleen. There wasn't any way I was going to be caught dead driving one of those big, ugly, soccer-mom standard-issue, vehicles. Two years later I found myself spending all my free time trying to convince him to buy me one.

    When he finally acquiesced, we plopped down the money and picked out the one with the built in sunshades for the baby, the back windows that rolled down and a killer DVD player (which the kids can be watching with headphones in the back while my husband and I jam to tunes in the front - how great is that?).

    Later that day, I drove my new, shiny, silver Odyssey into the driveway for the first time (take note that we lived in a neighborhood that prided itself on being hip). As we pulled in, one of our neighbors happened to be jogging by. Upon seeing us, he let out a throaty "Boooooooooo", and then continued to run down the street.

    I got a similar response from one of my friends who when told we had just purchased a minivan, responded incredulously, "You did not."

    Strangely, these reactions didn't faze me. I didn't care what anyone else thought…I thought it was beautiful. Why? Because it made my life easier. That's all. It made my life better, it was perfect for the kids and me, and I loved it. (My jogging neighbor later apologized and told me he was just jealous because he really wanted a minivan but couldn't bring himself to buy one. He got a Pacifica instead.)

    Now, I'm not perfect. I have my own preconceived notions about how "cool" or "uncool" certain things can be. For example - Crocs. My father wears Crocs when he's hosing down his boat and my grandma wears them when she's digging in her garden and they're kinda cute on kids, but when I see a grown man wearing Crocs during happy hour at Houlihans's…I seriously question his taste.

    Until I saw this….

    chili pepper crocschili pepper crocs
    It's Anthony Kiedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers with his girlfriend and baby and yes, he's wearing Crocs. All of the sudden I'm like, huh…Crocs…maybe they are cool.

    Did I just say that out loud?

    At that moment, my world turned upside down (nobody ever accused me of NOT being a drama queen). I began to question how I go about defining "cool". Am I so easily influenced that anything be made cool simply by association? Apparently so, because size 11 Crocs are pretty ugly, right?

    So, I guess the lesson here is if you love it and own it and are comfortable enough with your sense of self to take a few hits, go for it. We can't always be followers...every now and then we have to take the lead. I wonder if when I step my cool ass out of my minivan, someone is thinking, huh…minivans…maybe they are cool.

    ~tcb
    www.thatcoolbroad.com

     

    15 comments

    • pls
      pls  •  4 years 0 months ago
      "if he ever bought me a minivan"? "trying to convince him to buy me one"?!

      for someone who thinks it's so important to be cool, it looks awfully pathetic that you need your husband to "buy you" a car. it's one thing to make a major purchase decision together, but entirely another that what YOU drive should be 100% HIS decision, which is certainly how you've made it look.
    • M
      M  •  4 years 0 months ago
      OMG! I loved my minivan. When my ex-husband and I bought it, I just had my second child and I was 22. I didn't want it at first because I thought it was "uncool". But I fell in love with it. Four years and another child later, I still love it. But right now its about to kill me because it is in the repair shop and I'm driving a mid-size car. Have you tried fitting three car seats in one of those?! It's a real pain. I can't wait to get back in my Caravan! I'll drive that thing til it's wheels fall of!! LOL

      As for Crocs, I'll only wear them with jeans. I can't stand the way they feel without socks. But that looks horrible with shorts. So that means I only wear them in the winter. It's still warm enough here in the Deep South then. The rest of the year it's my beloved flip-flops. It's whatever your comfortable in. I'd rather wear those than heels. I can't imagine chasing a 6, 4, and 2 yr. old in heels.
    • crazysmom
      crazysmom  •  4 years 0 months ago
      i love my crocs......
    • Kalborne
      Kalborne  •  4 years 0 months ago
      RESCUE A HORSE AND BUY SOME COWBOY BOOTS AND A BUCKBOARD WITH AN IPOD BOOMBOX!.....THE NEW KOOL...SAVIN' GAS AND ANIMALS AND THE ENVIROMENT !!
    • Jewel
      Jewel  •  4 years 0 months ago
      I love my crocs cause they are comfotable. I have a pair without the holes. I am on my feet all the time at my job. A pair of crocs is like a vacation for my feet. They feel so good Maybe Anthony Kiedis knows they are comfortable. Dont knock the shoses til you try them.
    • Linda
      Linda  •  4 years 0 months ago
      Crocs on guys are cool! Esp. Off-Road Crocs...
    • Paula
      Paula  •  4 years 0 months ago
      Crocs are cool but as for me I will keep my luxery car :)
    • A Yahoo! User  •  4 years 0 months ago
      flip-flop crocs were the only shoes that wold fit my feet during my last month of pregnancy -- LOVE THEM -- sit wear them

      As for the minivan.............I would rather go sportwagon!
    • A Yahoo! User  •  4 years 0 months ago
      flip-flop crocs were the only shoes that wold fit my feet during my last month of pregnancy -- LOVE THEM -- still wear them

      As for the minivan.............I would rather go sportwagon!
    • Kaye
      Kaye  •  4 years 0 months ago
      A BIG no to the minivan and the crocs, but happy for you that it made your life easier, lol.....
    • Shannon
      Shannon  •  4 years 0 months ago
      I don't care who wears them- crocs are completely and utterly ridiculous. If you want comfort, but don't want to sacrifice style, get some Sanuks. They're not THE most fashion forward footwear, but they beat out crocs on comfort and style. I have a cute pair of Sanuk moccasins I wear to work, and I stand on my feet for 9 hours a day!
    • Bethie
      Bethie  •  4 years 0 months ago
      Welcome to the dark-side. I too resisted with teeth-clenched until I herniated a disc lifting my 2 yr old in and out of my Expedition. Suddenly the mini-van appeared like a beacon of hope. Bought the Honda Odyssey. I consider my mini-van and my iPhone my two essential "mommy-tools". I hate to admit it, but I love it and I don't care how dorky it makes me. Rock on!!
    • HayleyG
      HayleyG  •  4 years 0 months ago
      crocs are only cool on Anthony Kiedis. otherwise THEY ARE UGLY!!! i know someone who was wearing some at a bonfire and got a little too close on accident and they melted and the melted-whatever-they're-made-of burned her foot!
    • aaron
      aaron  •  4 years 0 months ago
      blah blah blah, your needs
    • Herbert Pulley
      Herbert Pulley  •  2 years 1 month ago
      I consider, that you are mistaken. I suggest it to discuss. Write to me in PM, we will communicate.
     Post a comment

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