And what brought me to this feeling was one of those family road trips where everything goes wrong. You know the ones! A family road trip to end all family road trips.

There was a sequence of unfortunate events that were set out to ruin our summer road trip. Even though we had "the perfect road trip" planned, my two boys apparently didn't get the memo. And the fates were not on our side.

It started off with a flat tire, which, having not known what was about to come, seemed like an annoying problem at the time. My work decided to have a crisis, while we were on the road in a different state.

We had a lot of activities planned (water park, camping, the Zoo...) that my younger son decided he didn't want to do anymore. Even though he chose some of them.

My older son managed to get food poisoning from a roadside gas station sandwich. While he was feeling sick, the younger one didn't want to be in the car anymore...

...and it just kept getting better.

We were stuck with public bathrooms at the rest stops, no flushable seat covers in sight, or toilet paper for that matter. Well actually, we made it through alive, but there are certain ways I could have been a better road trip planner.

It would have made "the perfect road trip" a lot more fun! I kept kicking myself because I KNOW I could have been more prepared for all of those situations if I had just gotten more organized at the beginning.

...But when you're a family with young kids it takes some trial and error. As you probably know, family road trips can feel like a chore if you don't swiftly manage the tricky situations that come up.

Road trip travel essentials to smooth out your vacation:

Here is my list of must-have items and strategies for your family road trip.

Number one: be like the Boy Scouts and always be prepared. That means back up plans and gear and take a step back when needed to reassess.

Number two: don't cling on to your plans like a sloth hanging-for-dear-life on a branch. Sometimes you have to let go of your expectations.

Number three: use this list to turn that summer road trip into the perfect road trip (or as close to it as you can get).‍

My top 6 road trip essentials have been chosen because I have made the mistake of not bringing them! So, follow this advice, instead of making those mistakes too.‍

1. Eco-friendly toilet products: LooREADY seat covers

Stay on top of your family’s safety with a travel kit to match any adventure that your trip throws at you. Keeping those bums clean is getting any easier out on the road.

And for that matter, we weren't about to start having poor hygiene while away from home and using public restrooms. Cut out the screaming & cleaning time on your trip. By putting flushable toilet seat covers in your road trip essentials, you can avoid some nasty situations we (unfortunately) had to push through.

2. Hand-soap sheets

These ensure that you can wash your hands even when there are no soap dispensers around, which is pretty handy if you ask me.

3. A backseat car organizer

This will stop your kids from constantly bugging you about their lost toys. Stuff the pockets with entertainment so that they don't get bored in the car.

4. Car trash can

Instead of stuffing napkins and straw wrappers in doors and cup holders, contain all your trash in this portable garbage bag. Simple to empty when you stop at a rest area or gas station.

5. A self-cleaning water bottle - To avoid a grimy nozzle

Loose water-bottle nozzle can expose you to germs picked up on public transit, at the gym, and on the plane. Making the switch to a self-cleaning water bottle with an enclosed drinking spout ensures your water is neutralized by 99.9% of bacteria and viruses.

6. Baby wipes

Whether you want to clean your hands covered in snack items or are required to wipe your toddler’s face, baby wipes are an ideal purchase option.

Among all these I would pack my road trip checklist with eco-friendly products, like LooREADY flushable toilet seat covers, homemade hand sanitizer, and other hygiene products. While we're traveling, I want to feel comfortable and clean!

Because we know it's going to get messy in a car full of kids.