We have two cars. Both of them are up there in years AND in mileage.
I hate one way more than the other.
My husbands car. He has a 199reallyold Cadillac that, in it’s day, was probably very fancy schmancy. In THIS day it’s, well, noisy, smelly and old.
If this car were a person, we would put it in a home and visit it daily while holding it’s hand until it breathed its last breath. If this car were a person, we would question why it was even allowed on the road.
OK, you get the picture, right?
This car is embarrassing to drive. Well, to me it is. I don’t think my husband cares all that much. And truthfully, I wouldn’t either if it weren’t for all the old car clunking, groaning and farting noises that it makes. Not to even mention the foul odor that my husband claims it’s not emitting.
Well, today. My husband took my middle aged Honda Pilot. Which doesn’t fart, smell or make any noises…anymore. It had some things done. Coiffed. He *claims* that he needs it to transport canned goods and that my car holds more than his does. When I suggested that his car is HUGE. Like, boat sized. And could surely fit enough canned goods to feed an entire state, he mentioned something about the shocks or suspension or some sort of leak. Then, he took my keys. My fate hanging with the cars suspension.
When I crossed my arms over my chest, stomped my foot on the floor and had a mini-tantrum at the prospect of driving that piece of shit he calls transportation, he laughed at me. LAUGHED. I mentioned that he’d have to go through me to get to my car in the morning. Well, he snorted and said something about how he wakes up earlier than me and hahaha to me.
Whatev.
So, I drove the stinky, farty mobile today. I put my son in his car seat. I put Power Ranger masks on both of us so that no one would recognize us. And I whisked him away to school.
When we got to the parking lot, I looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to our arrival. No one was. I pulled into a spot. The car made some sort of noise and sputtered when I put it into park and took out the key.
I said, out loud, “OMG. This car is so embarrassing. And it smells!” I continued with my quiet tantrum as I got out of the car and walked over to his door.
My son was listening to my tirade about the mortification this car was causing me.
He looked at me with his two different colored eyes, as I pulled open his car door. And he said, “You know what Mommy?”
“What?” I responded, covering my nose because the gas smell that the car was expelling was causing me to gag.
“Did you know that there are a lot of people that don’t even have a house to live in and they have to live in cars. And then, some of them don’t even have a car so they have to live outside?”
“Um.” Totally bawled out by my ALMOST six year old son, that was the only thing I could mutter.
We walked to his class, hand in hand. I kissed him. Socialized with his teacher for a minute.
And with as much pride as I could muster, I walked to our luxurious, albeit a little on the old, smelly and decrepit side, Cadillac.
Amazed by my kid and how he *gets it*, I gratefully drove the car home.
Kids always seem to ‘get it’ more than adults. Probably because their brains have not been clogged with grown up crap yet.
Awwww! That’s the sweetest thing. And Another Suburban Mom is right – it’s because they are still so sweet and innocent and not “clogged up with grown up crap yet.” Too bad we can’t keep ’em that way…..
.-= Gigi´s last blog ..I can’t believe you didn’t notice and if you did, thank you for not pointing it out~ =-.
So adorable… and its true… but I throw similar tantrums on a daily basis. … I know its terrible.
.-= complicatedmama´s last blog ..#TheBigToyBook Twitter Party!: Alternative toys to this years hard to find items. =-.
Amazing, how smart young children are! Your son is so right… at the same time, I would have been JUST like you, complaining the whole drive, embarrassed, etc. Kids can sure open up our eyes, huh? Great post.
Looks like you’re doing a superb job M.
Don’t you hate it when they throw your words right back atcha? LOL
My teenage daughter bawled out my younger kids when they complained about eating their veggies tonight. Told them all about people not having food at all, no Christmas dinner, etc. I was floored!
What a neat little kid you have there! (I wish my almost 6-year-old had that perspective – she’s just a teenager in training). But yeah, hubby’s argument about a Honda Pilot being bigger than a Cadillac? Pardon me while I guffaw heartily and tell him he’s full of *(^&^.
.-= Janet´s last blog ..Of Pups, Spaceships, a Pumpkin Patch and Marriages and Things =-.
Isn’t it embarrassing when they’re more “adult” than we are? I’ll betcha that means he’s actually LISTENING to what you teach him, though, and that’s just awesome.
BTW, you and I and MomZombie totally need to figure out a GNO this break coming up.
.-= TeacherMommy´s last blog ..Old Ironsides =-.
I just read your fantastic post here. I am re posting it on http://www.facebook.com/gratefulnation. It seems like we share the attitude that “Gratitude is good for you.” Grateful Nation is an online community that gives grateful people the opportunity and resources to connect, give back, and be thankful. Jump into the unending cycle of gratitude on http://www.gratefulnation.org today!
Thank you, Vanessa
So amazing what they “get” truly amazing little creatures who see the simplicity in life, the bare bones. Definitely needed a tissue on this one. Love to you this holiday season my friend!
.-= Karie´s last blog ..Wordful/Wordless Wednesday =-.
LOVE IT .. same situation here minus the noises. I even read it to my wife (its her car I dont like) she laughed !!!!! LOVE IT !
Oh I for got to say how AWESOME your son sounds .. SMART GUY !!!!
He is so wise. This reminded me of my daughter. She recently moved back to Florida and is struggling financially due to a downsizing in her work hours. She got in an accident which totalled her car. Luckily she was not injured….but we had to loan her money for a vehicle. The cheapest one she could find was $3500 and was in worse shape than the one you describe and older. After buying it, it broke down TWICE in a month. More money of hers (debt) and ours (again) to get her on the road. She is pregnant and her significant other didn’t have a car either…they were struggling getting back and forth to their separate jobs. We finally just drove down and gave them our car (a 2000 Buick LeSable) and flew home so that they could at least each have a car to get to work to….a LOT of people are struggling, and your son is right.
And you treasure him….he sounds so aware and so smart!!!
We have driven older used cars the entire time we have been married (37+ years). At first, some were embarrassing too. But we kept upgrading through the years and at least now none are noisy. ha At least it meant no car payments which saved us many, many times during our lean years.
You made me laugh though when you described the Caddy….I too have felt like putting masks on me or the kids when we pulled up somewhere with our clunkers. I felt like getting one of those bumper stickers that reads “at least its paid for”. hahahaaaa
.-= The Retired One´s last blog ..Travel Observations =-.
Well, somewhere there’s a 6-year old telling his mother that she shouldn’t be embarrassed for driving last year’s Hummer. After all, some people don’t even have them, and they’re forced to drive 10-year old Cadillacs. Everything’s relative.
.-= Gray Matter Matters´s last blog ..A consequence is a punishment you give yourself =-.