- April 26, 2024
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Puttering around the garage, working on cars, clanking a few tools around: These are things grown men do in their spare time. And I, being a grown man with some spare time during the Thanksgiving weekend, decided I should go out and try to fix something.
The front speakers on my Chevy Cobalt aren’t working, so that was a perfect goal. The best part was that I could involve my sons, 9-year-old Jackson and 7-year-old Grant. I could show them how grown men solve problems. And some day, when they have their own families and are living far away from me, and their dishwasher breaks, they’ll remember what they learned way back in 2013. What a dad they had!
So I called them outside, and I licked my thumb and peeled open the owners manual to my car.
“See, guys?” I said in my best Mufasa voice, teaching them all about the circle of life. “If you have a problem, you first look at the table of contents. This says ‘audio system’ is on page 3-55.”
They huddled around me, giggling with delight.
Unfortunately for all of us, the section about the audio system was quite lengthy and had no information about fixing speakers.
“And then, sons, if that doesn’t work, you continue your research by finding an instructional video online,” I said.
But their attention had been spent. Jackson said, “I’ll be back in half an hour.” Grant had already disappeared.
Did I give up? That would be a fine lesson to teach my sons! No, I trudged on. I watched a couple of videos on YouTube about how to take the stereo out of my car so I could make sure the wires were secure.
I got out my screwdriver and went to work. And who should join me but my 4-year-old daughter, Ellie, who was still wearing her pink nightgown. She climbed into the passenger seat as I popped a panel off the dashboard.
“Daddy, are you breaking it so you can fix it?” she asked.
I assured her that I was not breaking anything.
She fished in the cupholder and said, “Are these quarters or coins?”
I popped off another panel.
“Because I need these so I can buy some slippers,” she said.
I told her to sit tight, and I went back in the house to get another tool. Standing in the kitchen, I announced to anyone who might be within earshot, “I’m being bold! The stereo is out of the car!”
Jackson’s voice, as bored as can be, came out from behind the couch: “Cool.”
I returned to the driveway and sat with Ellie, working on unscrewing this and that.
“Is there anything a kid can do?” she asked. “Like, a girl one?”
I looked at her big blue eyes and realized I had been ignoring her. I was a sexist! What a terrible dad!
“Of course,” I told her. “Girls can do anything.”
I helped her twist the socket wrench, and she laughed. “What kind of sound is that?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” I said. “It’s just a wrench.”
“It’s a frog!” she said. “Ribbit! Ribbit!”
And you know what? It did sound a lot like a frog. You learn something new every day.
If you haven’t gathered by now, I’m not exactly a trained mechanic. And although I was able to remove my stereo and unplug a few things and plug them back in, the front speakers remained quiet.
The car had won the battle. The boys were bored and had learned nothing about the circle of life.
But I did have one very cute little ally. After I put everything back together, I scooped Ellie out of the passenger seat and, as we went inside, she said, “You know what, Daddy? I think your car is pretty awesome.”
