MERCEDES SIMPLIFIES BUSY MOTHER’S LIFE
When I first became amother, we bought a minivan. That van shuttled us to preschool and carried strollers and diaper bags.
We moved from the minivan to a large SUV a few years later. I picked up grandparents at the airport, hauled bikes to and from summer camp and then, filled with luggage and a dog, we went out on family road trips.
When I get into the new Mercedes- Benz GLK 250 BlueTEC it feels different. Driving the Mercedes SUV reminds me that it’s OK to beme— the me that is independent ofmy title as mom; the me that existed before I had children. She is still there, buried inside and hoping I don’t forget her.
I open up the sunroof and sync my phone to the sound system. My playlist loads and instead of Wheels on the Bus, I’m listening to Jocelyn Alice’s Jackpot. I sip my iced coffee as I head down the highway. A lunch date with some good friends is on the agenda today asmy husband takes the kids out swimming.
I revel inmy bit of freedom and instead of the lumbering SUV, I pop the Mercedes into sport mode and navigate Deerfoot Trail with ease and confidence.
Today, I amnot carrying on a conversation about how exactly Spiderman’s web system works, instead I think about the spa appointment I have scheduled and how nice it will be to focus on myself for a little while. The premomme smiles at the thought of some carefree moments. Parking the Mercedes is carefree, too. Instead of searching out the back corners of the parking lot for enough space, I slip the GLK into a spot right between the spa and restaurant I’ll be visiting and lock all four doors with a simple touch of the door handle.
The afternoon goes by quickly, filled with good friends and good food, pampering and even a new dress. Despite my desire to find and spoil my pre- mom self, I end up thinking ofmy kids, my husband and even that dog, wondering what they’ve gotten up to.
Being mom is one of the best parts of being me and even though I miss the freedom that came from those days before my little ones, I’m thankful that I can have opportunities to celebrate all of me. Driving a luxurious, leather- cladMercedes is one of those opportunities. Safe, tech savvy, efficient and gorgeous, it’s everything I could want in a vehicle.
My afternoon is over and I hear my kids yell “Mommy!” as I open the front door. They race to give me hugs as I come through with my bags.
In the morning, it’s back to mom business as a grocery run and some back- to- school shopping in the GLK are front and foremost on the to- do list. My kids climb in and secure their buckles. They laugh about how a fly is hitching a ride on the windshield. We shop and fill the vehicle with our bounty.
On our way home the notifications onmy side mirrors ensure I don’t miss shoulder checking despite the demands from the kids in the back. I feel safe and secure. And the 4MATIC all- wheel drive makes me feel like we’ll get through whatever Calgary’s unpredictable weather throws our way, no matter the season.
Kids in the back seat can be a lot like the weather— you just never know if it will be an easy day or one filled with challenges and overbooked schedules. But theMercedes- Benz GLK 250 BlueTEC’s on- board GPS and voice command capabilities let me focus on the road as we navigate our busy lives together.
There is no separating my before- kids life frommy current life. Everything, especially our transportation, needs to make sense for our family lifestyle.
The Mercedes does.