It has been a week with my van as well. We own a 2005 Toyota Sienna and though it has never left me stranded mechanically it has when it comes to tires and doors opening properly or even at all.
After a fun filled day of sun, water and the beach I was driving away from the National Park and noticed my van was shaking. I pulled over at a turn off to another recreation site to take a look. I got out and realized my tire was going and fast. I called my husband but where I was the cell coverage was patchy all I could hear was that he was on his way. My worst fear was being stuck on the side of the road by myself with the kids. Northern Saskatchewan does not have huge divided highways. I did not want to risk an accident so I went with my gut and turned back to goto the National Park turn off and my gut was right. As soon as I pulled into the gas station the tire was gone.
Now for all you ladies out there that are going to read the next bit of my post and leave with a huff laughing and saying to yourself "I can change a tire myself" I suggest you head to another blog now. I do not consider myself weak or less of a woman in any way allowing my husband to come "rescue" me.
I am a woman. I believe God created me to be a woman. Yes I do believe women can change tires. I am a woman with a van full of sleeping children. While we waiting for my husband to drive the 50 minutes to come change my tire I sat in a parking lot with a flat tire and my spare tire half way out. My 7 year old decided he could get the spare tire out and I loved watching him do it. Seriously he took on such a manly role it was priceless!!
While we sat there for over an hour not one person, and all I saw were men, asked if I needed any help.
Not one.
Gage woke up right away so I had a 20 month old running around and my 7 year old chasing him and now being his typical 7 year old self.
Many looked, a bylaw officer looked, the workers at the station looked but no one asked if I needed any help or if I had a tow truck coming .....not one person.
I am not bitter, I had help coming so I wasn't angry. Just disappointed in people a little bit.
After a teenage boy had gone by us a few times getting in and out of a skid steer I asked my oldest a question. I said "Owen, if you were that boy and saw a Mommy with children stuck with a flat tire what would you do?"
Owen said "Stop and ask her if she needs help." And trust me people this little boy would ask if she needed help at the ripe old age of 7.
My husband was disgusted too with the fact that no one even asked if I needed assistance.
For the record I was going to start trying to change the tire {I will admit it is one thing I have never actually done} before my husband got there but then Gage woke up and I figured it wasn't worth having him scream his lungs out in his car seat while I tried to do something.
We are Canadians. We are supposed to be the friendliest country in the world. I cannot change how other people think but I tell you....I was sure proud of one 7 year old boy and the fact that he gets it, that we are here to help each other out.
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