Parents with children..

[mike001]

So true and well posted Richard. I agree, fine Arts are great, but kids need to learn to handle every day life also.

[Jessika]

I was always that kid trailing my dad asking "what are you doing? What is that? How does it work?" When he worked on my car, I was always out there with him watching. And my father-in-law is the same way with my husband. I COULD change my own oil... I COULD change my own brakes... I do have the knowledge to do all that handy stuff... but why let yourself get down and dirty when your hubby can do it for you

[Karen]

I knew how to hand my Dad the 3/4 wrench before I knew what 3/4 meant ... my family nickname was "Pest" and so when one parent got tired of answering questions I'd get told to "go help Pa/Ma"

And in our family, regardless of gender, before you were allowed to go take the Registry of Motor Vehicles' Driver's Test, one had to pass the "Dad" test:

1. Check the oil, transmission fluid, wiper fluid and any other fluid he'd name.
2. Change a tire
3. Identify any major engine component when he said "where's the ..." and be prepared to say "there's no such thing!" if he named a nonsensical part.

He never wanted any child of his to be either stranded on the side of the road, helpless, or fleeced by a mechanic who'd take ya for a dummy and charge extra for the "framitz volt" that didn't exist.

And then, each of us had a "first car" that was an older - at least ten-year-old car, so we learned bits and pieces when things when wrong with them, too!

One of the most frustrating incidents was years ago, when I came out of our apartment one day to find the tire flat, and when I went to put the spare on, it didn't FIT! Last trip out to my parents' house, someone put a not-quite-matching spare in the trunk for me. That was annoying enough, but then the old man next door assumed I was just having trouble because I was a girl, so he came huffing over to "rescue" me from my girliness. I tried to explain it just didn't fit before he even left his yard, but he had to try it himself for several minutes before he believed me. (I did get an apology, and a replacement tire from the guilty party that had supplied the dud!)

[RICHARD]

charge extra for the "framitz volt" that didn't exist

Isn't that the extra cigarette lighter hole that I have in my truck?

[Karen]

Isn't that the extra cigarette lighter hole that I have in my truck?

Yes, and that'll be another $600 for parts and labor to fix it. Don't worry, we;ll just add that to you bill.

[Lady's Human]

Nah, durnit, the extry hole in da dash is the hertz grease refill point.....

Ya put da grease in, and make sure ya squish it in real good with yer finner......Hertz, dont'it?

[Lady's Human]

BTW, our Dad never taught me a thing. He tried like heck, and I'd have lots fewer scars on my hands if I'd LISTENED to him.

Main thing I learned from Dad was how to use tools. After you figure that out, you can tackle damned near anything, and you can figure out when you REALLY need a contractor.

[RICHARD]

Nah, durnit, the extry hole in da dash is the hertz grease refill point.....

Ya put da grease in, and make sure ya squish it in real good with yer finner......Hertz, dont'it?

Aha! That's the tech name for it, I know is as-The "Waker-Upper"!

On long trips when you feel sleepy you just lick your finger and insert it!