We have what I call a “double wide” bike trailer that converts into a stroller. Instead of a hitch, you can attach a wheel to the front and add a pushing bar on the back. I’ve been waiting for the looks. After all, this is a monster coming down the street. People have to step out of the way. Yet surprisingly, the only negative feedback I’ve received is from certain snobby doorways. The side wheels are a few inches too wide to fit through some entrances.

Every mother has a quirk. I have a few of them, actually. For example, I don’t believe in one-in-front-of-the-other-so-we-can-all-fit-through-the-door-and-down-the-grocery-aisles strollers, no matter how trendy or ingenious they are in their configurations. I staunchly believe in side-by-side for symbolic reasons. (The same sort of principle King Arthur used to create the Knights of the Round Table).

With absolutely no scientific basis to form my opinion, and in the face of practicality, I think there’s a psychological difference in how I perceive my girls when they sit side by side. I think of Leena as an equal to Sonya, even though she’s younger and doesn’t have the same abilities yet. I also believe them being side-by-side changes how other people see them (“Are they twins?”) and how they relate to one another (“Hey, shish-sher!”).

Oh, we ain’t got a barrel of money,
Maybe we’re ragged and funny
But we’ll travel along
Singing a song
Side by side.

Don’t know what’s comin’ tomorrow
Maybe it’s trouble and sorrow
But we’ll travel the road
Sharing our load
Side by side.

— Harry Woods

All that being said, I don’t think the airline is going to let us fly to Florida with the double wide next week. So we’ve got to find ourselves another stroller.