This is a sponsored post. Honda was AWESOME enough to let me borrow an Odyssey from their Alabama plant to lug around all my extra kids last week. I was not paid for this post but recieved the use of the van at no charge to myself. Which obviously– was awesome.
It’s time for a new car. I have loved, loved, LOVED my Toyota Highlander. So much so, that I was planning on getting a newer one with a third row of seats so I could haul all of my kids, run carpool, go to the grocery store and all that other glamorous stuff that I normally do.
That was my plan– before I met Honda’s Social Media Director, Alicia, at Mom 2.0. I missed the session she was teaching because my session ran simultaneously but I introduced myself to her later and mentioned that I was looking for a new car. She said if I was ever in a large city and wanted to test drive an Odyssey or a Pilot to let her know.
Only a few weeks later, I found myself in Birmingham, surrounded by my nieces and nephews and I realized that my mother and I were going to have to take two cars everywhere we went, so I emailed Alicia. There wasn’t a fleet of cars nearby but the Honda Odyssey plant just happens to be located in Lincoln, AL, only 40 minutes away. Ted, Manager of Corporate Affairs, brought me an Odyssey a few days later and spent about 20 minutes with me showing me all the bells and whistles: all FIFTEEN cupholders(!!!), how to fold the third row into the floor (you can do it with one hand and a baby on your hip, by simply pulling on a strap),the navigation system, the FOUR different ways to open and close the doors. I was impressed.
But I didn’t fall in love with the Odyssey until I loaded five kids into the car. They were all comfortable and magically– not touching each other, AND everybody’s sippy cup or water bottle had its own little home. The girls in the way back could easily flip the second row seat forward to get in and out. I was twitterpated.
How I Fell In Love With a Honda Odyssey
REAL TALK
When I initially got the van I knew it would be a great car, but I wanted to stick with what I knew. I loved my Highlander, it just wasn’t big enough anymore, and also… (confession time) I DIDN’T WANT TO DRIVE A MINIVAN!!
Why??
1) Um. Well… When I was teenager, ya know– back before I HAD kids? I swore I would never drive a minivan. So there’s that.
2) Also? Uhhhhh, it was a minivan and obviously I am so much cooler than that. (It is sad to say that this really is the breakdown of my thought process.)
3) IN ADDITION, it was a MINIVAN and I am Robin O’Bryant and I don’t “DO” minivans because apparently my teenager street cred was more important to me than my mommy street cred.
WHAT I REALIZED
It’s sort of like my yoga pants… (Am I about to make a yoga pants/life/minivan analogy?? Yes. Yes,I am.)
I want to wear my yoga pants all of the time. They are comfortable, versatile and get the job done. If I see you at the girls’ school and you are dressed up all cute, I’ll notice. I may even say, “Hey! Lookin’ good Momma!”
But don’t you think, for ONE FLIPPING SECOND, that I wish I was wearing underwire and makeup– ‘cuz that took some work and I know you aren’t as comfortable as I am.
In fact, I know that as soon as you get home, the first thing you are going to do is slide your bra out the sleeve of your shirt then go put on your yoga pants– but here’s the thing: I’M ALREADY WEARING MINE!
I want to wear my yoga pants all the time.
Physically and metaphysically.
And in the same manner, I want to drive a Honda Odyssey. It is the perfect car, and I may have cried a little when I drove away from it.
Then I may have put some pics in a music montage…
.
How do you feel about “minivans”? Why? What’s your perfect “Mommy Ride”?
Ha ha!! I lived this post soooo much. Especially the montage ! I dreading the minivan for all the same reasons you posted but when I was pregnant with my their child I finally have in an accepted my fate. As it turns out, I love my SAV ( suburban assault vehicle)! I love the slidey doors , the separation between my kids, the DVD player, and of course the cup holders! My odyssey looks just like yours from the video( as I had to have black b/c that made it cooler ). I hope you get your minivan soon!!!
OMG SAV!!! I love it!!
Four words: I. Told. You. So. My 7 year old Honda still gets all my love and will likely be replaced this year with another. Honda was the ONLY minivan that could hold triplet pumpkin seats in the way back. Plus the middle seats adjusted easily so we could access the triplets quickly without breaking our backs. We may bury the old one in the back yard. I’m gonna need a really big shoebox.
Love this post! Love this video! I know you will miss this minivan!
Don’t forget the lower floor of a minivan is so much easier for kids to get into and out of than an SUV. I drive a Sienna, but last night just the two youngest and I were set to ride in DH’s Maxima. HA! First thing one of my daughters did was look for a cupholder for her water bottle–sorry, sedans don’t have those in the rear, at least not the year his car was made.
Luckily, I never cared about being cool, so I have had a minivan from 3 kids on. (I never drove an SUV, too much like a truck.)
I absolutely LOVE my Honda Odyssey minivan. We’ve had ours since 2005 and it’s still going strong! It fits all of our sons’ sports equipment, plus the boys and their friends. It drives like a car (not a truck or van). When we’re ready to replace it, we’ll probably get another one! Minivans ARE cool, especially the Honda Odyssey.
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I love my Odyssey! So much so, that even though I’d said I want something different next time, I’m having real second thoughts. Even with some of my kids grown and the seating is not a huge issue now, it’s nice to be able to have their friends ride with us. And absolutely nothing can beat an Odyssey for moving kids to and from college. A whole dorm room, plus bicycle, will fit. And it is possible to put full size mattress and box springs in it (though not at the same time as the whole dorm room)! We’ve done that twice!
Preach, sista! I’ve driven a Nissan Pathfinder (loved -1 baby, Ford Escort wagon (we were desperate & broke – 1 toddler & his brand new baby sister), Dodge Caravan , used (loved, loved, loved! Thight budget & baby number 3… 3 kids under 5!), Mazda MPV mini-van (liked… happy w/ comfort, overall handling & fuel efficiency AND it accommodated the whole fam-damily). Mazda Tribute (Loved, bought it on Maui to have shipped to tiny island we lived in called Lanai (Nice little ride comfy fit for me & the kids, hubs had use of a company car… whew). Traded that vehicle in for a Saturn Outook SUV in Colorado (LOVE!! It’s the perfect fit for tiny me, and easily adjust for hubs. Works for us. Not gonna lie, glad minivan days are behind me. Glad you had the opportunity to try a new ride. Nothing like having happy little passengers, right?
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You’ll end up buying one. I got mine last week and have been smiling like a fool ever since.
Oooooh!! I didn’t know you bought one! What color and all of that?
I didnt know you got one Jen!
Loved your video and I have a feeling that a Odyssey will be in your near future.
I had the same misgivings about getting a mini van–No I WON’T be a soccer mom!! I think I lied my way into believing that the new model of the Odyssey is more SUV like and then I would look like the “cool” mom. I do love it though and it’s so comfortable and I can still driving like a crazy person because it’s got 6 cylinders and alot of get up and go. Go get it!!
This cracked me up! I have a Honda Odyssey and my life would not be the same without it! It is our house on wheels.
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Oh, love it! I swore up and down that I would neva EVA drive a minivan, so I hear you on that one. But with all those kiddos and they are NOT touching? That is worth it.
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Girl, that montage to THAT song made my night! I’m so glad you’ve come over to the dark side. I am a long-time lover of my Mombulance, and I am always so shocked when I hear women with 3 or more kids not on board with how great minivans are! The cupholders alone are worth it! I hope you get your own really soon and we can caravan somewhere fabulous together in our yoga pants.
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Oh my word! That’s hilarious. I hope to heck you get this car because you were obviously made for each other.
I’m beyond the minivan years, but you almost made even me want one. Dang you!
Chloe Jeffreys recently posted..An Empty Nest – Redecorated
I actively fantasize about owning an Odyssey. (yes, it’s that exciting around here). So I’m incredibly jealous, but also grateful, as you’ve just confirmed that my fantasies are well-founded
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Girl – you are speaking my language! I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE my Honda Odyssey. My three kids can all fit in the middle row of seats leaving me the entire back end to store anything I want. I could write an entire book about why the Honda Odyssey beats out the Sienna every day of the week – seriously. I could. Maybe I will…
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I drive a HOnda Odyssey and have for 2 years. It is my favorite van of all time. I had a Dodge Caravan prior to it and it just doesn’t compare. I didn’t want to be a mini van momma, but now that I am I won’t go back! Love your blog and I’m from Carrollton, MS and know your friend Miki!
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We just bought an Odyssey a few weeks ago, and it SO exceeded our expectations! HOW DID WE LIVE WITHOUT THIS??? Hope you get yours soon!
so how do you really feel about this van? 😉
Hilarious and clearly, a match made in heaven. Honda? You listening? Hook this woman up.
I was seriously having day dreams about sliding doors and knew it was time to bite the mini-van bullet. I got an just like the one you drove and it changed my life. For seriously like 3 weeks after getting it, I would put the kidlets to bed then go out and sit in my new ride in the driveway and play with all the gadgets and partake of a little vino. I gave away my last little bit of cool ages ago anyway, so whatever makes life easier during this season of life is good with me.
Robin O’Bryant, for your sanity and your family’s this dream car that got it’s own music video seems to be the glue to hold your life together. This would be a gift that would continue to give day after day. I hope your dream and your family’s comes true, the dream of a Honda Odyssey.
I feel you, and I know what you’re saying, and I agree about the yoga pants vs. heels and makeup, but nopenotgonnadoitnotgonnagettaminivaneverevereverAmen.
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Wishing I could curl up in the back of the Odyssey with ya! Such a cute video!! I have been renting a Honda and I have to say I was impressed. I have been a European Car Chick since I was a teen. But Honda’s have spunk! And now I can see they have ROOM and 15 cup holders – really?? I want to see that!
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My BFF has an Oddyssey and she said it changed her life – for real. I want one…I have always said I will not drive foriegn but I might would for this… I hope you buy one!
OH! Two other things – that video, made my day! Awesome! And? I too want to wear my yoga pants all the time, I think I do.
Love this! My brother (Daniel Smith) and his family have a Honda Odyssey… they upgraded from a Honda Pilot when they only had two kids… they’re now up to 5 and love, love their mini-van! Aunt T. (myself) loves it too because we all fit and have so much fun together! Tryin’ to convince my mom that when she downsizes from a Ford Expedition, she needs to go to the Honda Odyssey
So you know I have to throw in a plug for the Sienna. 😉 That’s what we ended up getting almost three years ago, right before the arrival of baby No. 3. We just needed to go there for all of the kid-hauling and stuff that goes with the kids. I wrote about this fateful decision here … http://breadwinningmama.com/2010/07/14/its-official-im-a-minivan-mom/
Can’t wait to learn what you decide on.
OH, HUNNY–DON’T I KNOW IT! I have never even ridden in a mini-van that I can recall–in MY LIFE! But NOW, after driving my ODYSSEY from PATTY PECK HONDA–affectionately known far and wide as the ZIPPITY VAN–I can’t imagine driving anything else! I can haul all manner of folks and/or crap! and don’t EVEN get me started on the cup holders! bwahahaha! FINALLY–ENOUGH OF THEM TO GO AROUND! And the MAGIC DOORS! I will never drive a mere CAR again!
Believe it or not I purchased my 2002 Honda odyssey when my youngest was 7. We drove it all over the country to swim meets and baseball tournaments. Last Christmas my husband gave me my “empty nest” Honda CRV and my youngest (now 19) drives the minivan. Our kids still swear that was the best family car because all could sit comfortable without touching! I know this sounds cliche but enjoy the days of young children…it goes so quickly. BTW the odyssey is clocking about 190,000 right now.
Now that’s some Honda LOVE!!! 😉