My name is Ashley and I’m a workaholic.

(They say the 1st step to recovery is to admit you have a problem…)

It’s not that I LOVE work so much that I can bear to step away, it’s more so the fear of getting gravely ill or facing a last-minute child’s sickness and not being able to find a babysitter. I hoard my PTO hours like a squirrel with acorns facing a harsh winter. I just know, deep down in my soul, that once I start taking time off, I’ll come down with the plague and have to muscle through it. Experience has taught me to play it safe.

But this year is different. I’m feeling healthy and optimistic. Besides, I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve accumulated close to 180 hours of PTO in my year plus of working for this company. So when my sister and step-mom mentioned that the family is trekking to Maine later this month, I put my foot down. I am OUT OF HERE.

A twelve to thirteen hour road trip with a toddler is not for the faint of heart. And, because I’ve never driven this far with the Little Diva, I’ve enlisted the help of friends, family, sorors and the blogosphere who all seem to have the drill down pat. So far I’ve heard:

Start Early.                                                                                                                                                         When my soror, Jasmina, was prepping for her move to Tennessee from Pennsylvania, this was the way to get started. Long trips are tiring on everyone, from the driver to the poor kid with no siblings trapped in the back seat. She suggests leaving around 6am. “You’ll get your best driving in between 6am to 12pm,” Jasmina says. Considering my kid is NOT a morning person, this might just work out fine.

Know Your Limits.
I’m an impatient person to begin with. Add a bored nearly 4 year old, butt-numbness and highway hypnosis… I’m in big trouble. I reached out to my sister-friend Camara, who regularly takes the trip from her hometown of Philly to her new digs in Atlanta. “Stop often, let (the little one) run around and stretch her legs. And plan for a few pit stops…considering her bladder.” So far, I’ve plotted every stop from here to Lubec. I’m ready (in my Spongebob voice!)

Pack Snacks.                                                                                                                                               According to MSNBC’s Family Travel experts, one way to ensure a melt-down free road trip is to “bring along an assortment of favorite snacks and drinks.” Between Goldfish, cherries, grapes and pb & J sammies, Little Diva will have her favorites and still stick to the “no fast food” rule I’m trying to impose… plus I’ll save a buck or twenty.

Don’t Forget the Entertainment!
We are a family of movie fanatics. Thank God for portable DVD players and the library! Between our collection of Disney films, the library’s collection of children’s books and books on tape, there will be tons of distractions from the fact that we’re driving a whole half a day. Not to mention the goodies I found on this Website: http://www.momsminivan.com/

Finally, Take It Easy.                                                                                                                                 This little tidbit came from myself. I know I’m a bit of a perfectionist… and have a game plan for myself that I rarely share with the rest of the team. But as the date of the road trip quickly approaches, this is the most important tip that I will repeat to myself.

Have any tips or want to suggest pit stops along way? Feel free to share! We’re driving through scenic New England so there will be plenty of photo ops.