Parenting and Car Life

When it was just the two of us as a married couple, and then after our children were born, there were far more changes than I had imagined in many aspects.

How we spend our time daily, our lifestyle, priorities, interests… before our second daughter was born, I was such a workaholic, living centered on myself, but now I live a life centered around my children—I never imagined this back then.

Now that our eldest son is seven months old, I wanted to honestly share my thoughts on parenting, car life, and what lies ahead.

Attending Car Events with Kids

Some time after our second daughter was born, our family started attending various Porsche events—driving schools, track days, races—with the kids in tow.

At first, we had no idea how to manage, but gradually we gained wisdom like “I should have brought that,” “That wasn’t necessary.”

We used to bring a stroller, but places like Fuji Speedway don’t have elevators, so a baby carrier made moving around easier. Also, backpacks are better than tote bags because they free up both hands, making it easier to get around.

Also, kids often get bored during waiting times or races, so it’s better to bring simple things like coloring books or origami to keep them entertained. Since kids get cranky when hungry, it’s wise to bring some snacks too.

After visiting the circuit many times, we now know where the restrooms and vending machines are, and how to navigate the flow, so the recent track day felt quite comfortable.

Another joy is how warm and welcoming the other participants are toward families with children.

Once, when I was trying to carry a stroller down stairs, someone kindly said, “I’ll help you!” People chat cheerfully with the kids and even gave them snacks saying, “Eat this on your way home.”

When attending events with kids, I sometimes feel “Sorry for the noise… I’m probably bothering others,” but every event has been filled with kindness and warmth, making me think, “I’m so glad I brought the kids.”

And the kids say, “It was fun! We got lots of snacks! We want to go again!” So as long as they want to come along, I hope we can keep going to events as a family.

Prioritizing the Kids and Its Effects

However, as life surrounded by children becomes routine, I think there’s a side effect where memories with the kids increase, but “what I want” gets pushed aside.

For example, when I’m writing my blog at home, the kids quickly interrupt me with “Mom, look at this!” “Mom, that’s missing!” “Mom!” over and over, forcing me to stop.

When going out, the focus is on preparing the kids: “Do you have a change of clothes? Diapers? Towels? Baby carrier?” And even when we’re out, if they say “I’m tired,” “I want to go home,” I often give them juice midway or give up on what I wanted to see and head home.

Even when I occasionally go shopping alone, I think, “Oh, my eldest daughter wanted this, so I’ll buy it,” or “This is a favorite side dish of my second daughter, so let’s have it for dinner tonight.” I end up thinking only about the kids.

After years of this lifestyle, I’ve gotten good at giving up on “what I want to do,” even for small things, and I’ve stopped even considering those desires. I feel I’ve lost the hunger and drive to challenge myself like before.

Then recently, my husband pointed this out:

“We have sports cars like the Boxster and 911 at home, but you haven’t driven them at all lately. You used to get in when I said, ‘Why don’t you drive?’ but now when I say that, you just say, ‘No, I won’t,’ and don’t drive. Why is that?”

There are many reasons—postpartum hormonal changes, lack of sleep, the Cayenne being so comfortable that I prefer it when driving (laughs)—but I think the root cause is that by putting myself last, I lost my hunger and desire for many things.

That’s not good.

And after all, I write a Porsche blog and am fortunate to have sports cars at home, so not driving them at all is unthinkable for someone calling herself a Porsche blogger, lol.

When I was working hard before, I met many people daily through work, got inspired, generated ideas, and acted—a great cycle. But lately, I’ve been home all the time with almost no new encounters.

That’s why I think it’s important to create stimulation for myself. No matter how old you get, if you want to be a wonderful person who keeps challenging and stays curious, you have to start changing your actions right now.

My son is now seven months old, and I have more mental and time leeway than before, so now is the time to move. It’s time to change, even if little by little.

The Car Life Ahead

Back to the story about attending car events—every time we go, I meet couples who come just the two of them after their kids have grown up.

They walk around the pits together, watch races, eat meals laughing—it’s such a lovely sight, and I think, “Ah, that’s wonderful. When our kids grow up and are independent, I hope we can be like that.”

When we first got married, I had no interest in cars and never imagined sharing a hobby with my husband.

But now, through cars and this Porsche blog, my world has expanded, and I’m truly grateful.

That’s why I want to keep creating opportunities for challenges (without losing my own pace) and enrich my life even more.