It begins when the kids are born. You make plans to go visit someone with babe in tow. But instead of fitting your items sleekly into a single carry on, packing has evolved to a monumental task involving at least three suitcases and a very strategic carry-on bag.

You haul every conceivable convenience, Bedouin-style, through the airport (god forbid you check something and they lose it) and reach your destination, which is – of course – visiting family. Once you arrive it is immediately apparent that you are no longer the star of the show. Yes, your parents love you, but they want to see the munchkin first and foremost (and who could resist squeezing your little love bug?). This makes you, essentially, The Roadie. Your main purpose now? To schlep kid stuff from place to place.

As the Roadie, your job description is to bring whatever item is needed to the destination where it is required. Your presence itself is not really necessary—just the stuff you haul. As the children get older, your role of “Roadie” slowly morphs into “Equipment Manager.” “Do you have your shin guards?” you ask. Your soccer ball? Your ponytail holders/weenie cup? Your hockey stick/ballet tights/baseball mitt/volleyball knee pads? And are there enough snacks/drinks/portable entertainment for the other kid(s) to stay occupied while the first one is practicing to be an Olympian/prima ballerina/track star/the next major league sensation?”

And when it comes to hauling kid stuff around, the king of the hill is the looooong car trip. Remember car trips when you were a kid: sitting in the car for hours on end with nothing to do but play “You can’t be mad; I’m not touching you!” in the backseat? Driving for 14 hours with nothing but coloring books and your parents blasting Wings Greatest Hits from the 8-track? (Yes, I’m aware I sound like a grumpy old man. “I walked to school! Barefoot! In the snow! Uphill! Both ways! I beat a bear to death with nothing but my looseleaf notebook and a number 2 pencil!”) These days any car trip longer than an hour requires at the very least a portable DVD player with a selection of movies, a DS or an ipod to keep the little monkeys entertained. And don’t forget to pack all the adapters to keep them charged for the trip home.

But honestly? I’m generally okay with being a Roadie. When they’re little it’s easier to have what’s familiar. When they’re older and into activities, we stay involved as a family and the kids are active and happy. As for the roadtrips, yes I’m sure those long voyages without a thing to do were ‘character building’ but I remember being bored out of my mind and miserable, so I’m happy to provide the kids with a little entertainment. And now I have peace in the backseat, which leaves me to listen to a book on tape or read a magazine (hubby’s driving!) instead of playing referee or threatening to turn the car around. Of course there’s a balance & they have to learn to entertain themselves, but on a multi-hour car ride? That’s just torture for everyone.

So until they’re old enough to drive themselves (gulp!), I’ll take being a Roadie. But for the record, they *still* sometimes play “I’m not touching you!” in the car. There’s only so much technology can do.