I rarely wash my car. Bruce would say, "Never," and he'd be just about right. However, once in a blue moon I'll drive the old 4-runner through the automatic car wash. It's a foreign experience for my kids. "What is this magical thing?" Kate asked in awe the first time we drove through one together. The statement offers a couple of clues: first, she was totally fascinated about what most would consider a mundane task; second, she was old enough to talk the FIRST time we were ever in a car wash together. While Kate's reaction is on the "curiosity" end of the spectrum, Kiki's in on the "complete and total panic as to why we have driven the car into a lake" end of the spectrum. Yesterday, a wash was a must, but Kate took the reins and talked Kiki through it: "Kiki, remember: it's just a car wash. It won't hurt us, so don't cry."
Yesterday was also my brother John's birthday. Kiki's second irrational fear is of the "Happy Birthday" song. She HATES IT. She literally crumples into the fetal position in tears the instant the cheerful refrain begins. I was so transfixed by her reaction that I didn't even take any pictures during my brother's birthday song (Sorry about that, John.). And no, the exposure to both fears in a single day wasn't some desperate and ill-conceived attempt at desensitization.
Ironically, public nudity doesn't faze Kiki in the slightest.
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It's been a bad couple of weeks for small electrics around here. First the George Foreman went into the trash. It was still technically "working" but was too disgusting for me to tolerate anymore. Then my hand mixer seized up while making frosting, and finally, the vacuum just up and quit. I think it was suicide. Two long years of daily work cleaning up after the world's most prolific shedder was too much for it. I replaced the vacuum with the $80 Hoover Tempo (based on the recommendation of all the Hatch women), and I am quite happy with it. Now, it's not quiet, and it has the bare minimum in terms of features, but you can feel the power and see the results. I took the budget buys mentality and applied it to the hand mixer- I don't think a hand mixer at any price point will last more than a year or two, so I spent $10 bucks on a replacement and feel okay about that. I'm just waiting for the right price on a George Foreman grill, and I should be back at full operating capacity.
4 comments:
Our kids are so much alike. Carly was amazed like Kate and Leighton screamed in terror at the car wash. (She finally got over it last year. So, that means in 2 years you can go through the car wash without terrorizing Kiki.)
Sorry about your appliances. Good news-bad things happen in threes, so ya'll are good for awhile.
Maybe if you moved to Arizona where a car actually has a chance of staying clean, you would be more motivated to wash your car. Yeah the fear thing is so random with kids. Sophie's latest fears: house flies, blood, and people who make comments about her red hair.
We've had the same car wash experience! Luckily it's only a few minutes before they see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I heard Target is having a good deal on George Foreman Grills. Albeit they price may fall somewhere in the middle of your $10handmixer and $80 vacuum. Good luck!
As far as the car wash, I have a true confession. I fall in the Kate camp--I am still a fan of the car wash even as an adult. I've always been in awe of it's waterfall-like features. I don't know what it is, but I love the car wash. However, that doesn't mean I go regularly or often. My dirty Nissan doesn't lie.
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