PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP
“You did it yourself?” My youngest asked me. She was downright shocked or confounded.
“Yeah, I did it myself,” I answered with expression to make a point. She’s not a teenager anymore, but I still try to find a teachable moment when the occasion arises… which is less and less these days.
I try to encourage her to take care of her things. I’m pretty sure she considers it more of me riding her, but that’s how it works from the perspective of a parent and child.
She’s busy. She had 18 credit hours at college last semester and she did remarkably well. Proof that she’s not like her dad in some ways…
The truth is the world has changed and her and her sisters can’t begin to see this life and relate to the extinct world that their parents’ generation grew up in. In fairness, I grasp that this life is busier and faster for them than it was for us.
All the technology that was supposed to make life better and save us time has done the exact opposite. Our kids as well as us are caught up in a breakneck pace of life. It doesn’t look like it’s going to be slowing down anytime soon… at least on it’s own.
Busy people rely on the expertise of those that specialize in their respective fields. Our oldest is an NP that was doing twelve hour shifts for awhile and her husband runs his own business. On top of that they have two little boys that the Tasmanian devil couldn’t keep up with. They were having prepared meals delivered to their house.
There seems to be a nail place on every corner in our part of the world. And I mean the type of nail on the end of a finger, not the ones you buy in a hardware store. And they’re all full… at least that’s what I hear tell. I’m still too old fashioned or blue collar to partake in any of that sort of Tom Foolery…
A couple of times in the last twenty years I decided that it was a waste of money to pay to get my yard taken care of. I went out and bought all the tools to take care of the yard and lawn my darn self. The last time I skinned the grass and planted my own winter grass I spent more on seed than it would have cost me to have the landscaper take care of it. I gave the lawnmower away the next week.
When I get my truck washed I use the time to either work or write. I, like the rest of this society, have learned to multitask like a machine. Before it became a science and an addiction they called it “killing two birds with one stone.”
My youngest’s Jeep is black so it’s not very forgiving when it comes to showing that it’s dirty and in need of a bath. It’s her first car that she got when she was in high school and she loves it… She just doesn’t love to wash it.
When she was over a couple weekends ago for Sunday dinner we all pitched in and washed her Jeep. It wasn’t her idea… I tried to teach her the art of washing a car. Like I learned from back in the day when “The Car Wash” was one of those open stalls you pulled into and fed the machine quarters. They’re about as plentiful these days as full service gas stations.
After we finished drying her Jeep off I showed her the picture of my ’73 Vette… in the exact same place in the driveway as her Jeep was sitting. I had just washed it by hand a couple of weeks prior. She could see the evidence of a still wet driveway in the picture.
My daughter’s brow creased in question when she asked me, “You did it yourself?”
“Yeah, I did it myself,” I answered like a typical dad.
“How come?” She was still confused by her old school dad.
I didn’t hesitate, “Pride of ownership.” I paused then asked, “It’s nice to have your Jeep clean, isn’t it?”
This time she didn’t hesitate, “Yeah, I’m glad we did it,” she studied her shiny black Jeep, “It looks so good,” she beamed.
That part of her that finds gratification in the work of her hands she got from her dad. She learned a lesson. And I was reminded that I need to remember the lessons that I’ve already learned.
bill (cycleguy)
Sunday, February 17, 2019 @ 1:42 pm
Great story Floyd! and great application. I’m surprised though there was no picture of that ’73 Vette I could drool over. 🙂 I think the same philosophy fits why we, as a church, will pay 1/2 of the child’s tuition for camp. We want the parents and teenager to take ownership. She also learned the value of work. Good life lessons my friend.
Hazel Irene Moon
Sunday, February 17, 2019 @ 7:18 pm
I can’t remember the last time I really washed my car. I have hosed off the back window a time or two, but your post reminds me I need to go through that fun tunnel again. When the kids were little that was an adventure to stay in the car and go through the tunnel car wash. I pay a young lady (started to say girl, but she is married with children) to come twice a week and spend a couple hours dusting, vacuuming and other chores as we think of them. It gives her extra money for her family. She does things that I put off, so I am grateful. I am fairly computer savey except fixing it when it goes haywire, and I am learning to work my phone at least to take videos of my messages that i am teaching and putting them on Facebook, but I have signed up for 3 classes how to work my i-phone. I am so glad your daughters look up to you and admire that you can do things for yourself. They are not too grown up to listen to their dad. Nice post Floyd. 🙂
Ed
Sunday, February 17, 2019 @ 7:21 pm
That reminds me I need to wash my own truck. I’m going to wait until it stops raining though. 😛 🙂 😮
I like to take care of things that are mine. But sometimes that means spending money… money that I don’t have. You know in Cuba they are still running their old, old cars. Cars that are about the same age we are. They not only look good, but they run great… and that’s only because they have McGyver type minds that keep them on the road.
Cheryl
Sunday, February 17, 2019 @ 7:31 pm
Like Bill, I, too, would have liked to see that ’73 Vette! I’m sure it is a beauty. Thanks for sharing this special time with your daughter. Many blessings to you and your family!
Pam
Monday, February 18, 2019 @ 3:33 am
I love your personal stories, Floyd, –and your father’s heart. I think Father God tries to teach me lessons in much the same way–by showing me good examples and directing me to His Word as wisdom I can rely on and go back to at anytime. Thanks for sharing.
Dikkon Eberhart
Monday, February 18, 2019 @ 6:45 am
Very good post, Floyd. You write this very well. It’s an excellent thing that you are able to create this moment with your youngest daughter. What a blessing…and we are blessed to learn about it!
Martha J Orlando
Monday, February 18, 2019 @ 8:12 am
Great story, Floyd! I’m glad you both got some lessons out of washing the jeep together. Great bonding time, too!
Blessings!
Betty J Draper
Monday, February 18, 2019 @ 4:12 pm
That, “How come?” question coming from your daughter made me laugh and realize she was about to learn a lesson. I did the same thing with someone in our family recently about cleaning their room. This person is number one put things off till they are overwhelmed. So it really shows when they FINALLY, as I call it, kick it up a notch. She said it feels so good to see it all put away in its place and clean. I love to work as a team, goes faster, many hands make work light. Trust me, they, including us, never get to old to learn a lesson. Fun post.
Dolly at Soulstops
Thursday, February 21, 2019 @ 2:37 pm
Floyd,
What a sweet and teachable moment with your youngest 🙂
June
Saturday, March 2, 2019 @ 5:04 pm
Great story, Floyd! My guess is, even better than doing it herself, it was the time spent doing it with her dad 🙂