<p>Just want either some support that I’m NOT nuts in my thinking or feel free to tell me you side with my husband (BTW, this is not a major issue, cause in the end he’ll do what he wants anyway… )</p>
<p>So, my husband and son (age 16) got last minute tickets to the NCAA Sweet 16 tomorrow night in Indianapolis - yeah them! I’m excited they get to go - my son so badly wanted to be able to go as he is a sports fanatic.</p>
<p>It will be a 4 hour trip there from our home. Obviously, 4 hours home too. :)</p>
<p>The second game of the night (Michigan State - the one they are really going for) doesn’t start until 9:30 - so they will probably not exit the venue till midnight-ish. Of course, being last minute there were no plans to stay in a hotel nearby - and none are to be found. </p>
<p>So…which do they do?
Drive home - husband being only driver - if he can stay awake, getting home at 4’ish AM.
(MY solution) Drive for an hour or so - to get out of the city, more to an available hotel and to wind down from the game and then stay at a hotel (something cheap like Super 8 or one of those type places) for the basic purpose of getting a few hours of shut eye before treking home?
(HUSBAND’S solution) - Drive for an hour or so, find a rest stop and sleep for an hour or two and then drive the rest of the way. (ME- ARE YOU KIDDING?! WITH MY SON?! AT A REST STOP?! YOU WANT TO TEACH HIM THAT THAT IS A GOOD SOLUTION?!)</p>
<p>Just curious what you would do. Like I said, in the end, I know him well enough to know he’ll do what he wants. And to be safe, I will be putting together a bag with a couple of blankets and pillows (and a shotgun? ) just incase…</p>
<p>But, that said, I must tell you that I have been known to pull off at a well-travelled rest stop, park in a well-lit area, lock the doors and go to sleep. It was that or fall asleep driving.</p>
<h1>3 might be OK if you know the area … but overall is not that great an idea.</h1>
<p>I would find a suitable hotel on the net and make a reservation. Ask him to go there as a FAVOR to you. Otherwise YOU won’t sleep all night either.</p>
<p>Yes, #2 for sure! I have a feeling this is a male vs. female thing – I have known many men (father, husband, son) who for some reason think that driving while exhausted demonstrates their masculinity.</p>
<p>Most women would choose #2, most men probably #3. Kiss them goodbye, enjoy your evening and go to bed at the usual time. Let them do what they are going to do…as you say they will anyway :)</p>
<h1>2 is the only reasonable option. #s 1 and 3 have the potential for problems, and even worse, danger. It’s also much too cold to be sleeping in a car overnight.</h1>
<p>You are right: #2 is the best solution, #3 is preferable to falling asleep on the highway, #1 is setting a REALLY bad example. Since it’s a basketball tournament, ask him if he remembers what happened to Michael Jordan’s father.</p>
<p>Does your husband really want to set this example for your child? That it’s a good idea to either take one or two hours of sleep or to drive straight through during the most difficult hours for the vast majority of us to stay awake? My husband, a USMC pilot, absolutely advises against this because of the reason I just stated. Maybe it’s one of the benefits of not feeling the need to “prove” his manliness. </p>
<p>Why anyone other than someone who works a night shift regularly would do this, I don’t know. I sure as heck would not let someone do this with my kid in the car, I don’t care if it’s his father, the pope or a peer.</p>
<h1>4. Drive the first hour, stop at gas station or rest stop and have coffee. Drive second hour, stop at gas station or rest stop and have donut. Drive third hour, stop at gas station or rest stop and have coffee and donut. Final hour, you are home.</h1>
<p>I agree with pugmadkate. He is setting a very bad example for your son if he drives four hours after watching the two basketball games. If you mention this to him, he may agre to stay in the motel after all. All I can say is boys will be boys, whatever their age is.</p>
<h1>2. I’m with those who think so if for no other reason than the example it sets for your son. #s 1 and 3 are not such great ideas even without your son in the picture. Good luck!</h1>
<p>I will try to avoid any comments about the sanity of people who go out of their way to watch strangers play sports. Let me just pretend that this is a trip for a worthwhile reason. I believe your husband is correct. If there are no motels in the vicinity, then by the time you drive to another area, check in, and get settle down, you might as well just drive the 4 hours home. I would bring a good thermos of coffee and even better plan on a stop or two. If you are worried about the drive, I suggest you stay awake and keep your husband company. It can be difficult to drive at night with a car full of sleeping passengers.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Depending on what I felt like at the time I’d probably do option 1 and drive home but that’s because I do very well with driving and not falling asleep. Whether someone should choose this option is too particular to the person and how they feel at the specific time. This can be modified by forcing a stop at a Dennys or something every hour or so to get out of the car and have a coke or coffee or something. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to others though.</p></li>
<li><p>This is an idea along with checking with a few local hotels after 6pm on the night of the event to see if they had cancellations or rooms they haven’t assigned.</p></li>
<li><p>I wouldn’t recommend this since too many bad things can happen at rest stops during the middle of the night (criminals, pervs, etc.). Even if nothing bad happened the quality of the rest would be nil and could be worse than just driving through.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Above all, your H needs to realize he has his precious S in the car with him and that he shouldn’t risk falling asleep at the wheelsince people, including innocent people in other vehicles, routinely get killed and maimed that way.</p>
<p>I am with cnp55. I would not argue (too much) if he planned this just for himself–but with our S–no way. I would make a reservation and then tell him that I did and give him a good clear map and ask him nicely and also point out that it is nonrefundable.</p>
<p>My H would just drive home after the game under the influence of caffiene. I, however, would have been the bad guy who wouldn’t let S go to game at all on a school night out of town in the first place.</p>
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