Mamachanic Class

“But mama raised me good,

mama raised me right,

Mama said, “Do what you want,

Say prayers at night.”

-Love Runs Out

One Republic

          This Monday I took a much needed, break from reality, mental health day with one of my oldest friends. (By oldest, I mean friends for twenty plus years not senior citizen material)  We escaped to Breckenridge for a bluebird powder amazing day and I found myself re-inspired and refreshed. On our drive up the mountains, we talked about our similar childhoods and how we’re taking our mother’s tools to parent our own broods. We were both raised by single moms. It was cool to compare how we were both shaped by them.

        For me, growing up in a two bedroom apartment without a bustling family life or tons of spare change, instilled a lot of values I treasure. I knew if I wanted money, a car, or a home, I’d have to work my ass off for it like my Mom did. She was an amazing role model. I had my first job at fifteen after years of babysitting gigs. I graduated high school a semester early with the help of an employment class,actually getting school credit for working. There was no sweet sixteen pink Barbie Jeep waiting for me on my birthday (after several accidents in my Mom’s cars 🙁 ) I saved up my $4.25 an hour paychecks and bought my own first car. I paid for my insurance. I financed my second car with the help of my Grandmother co-signing but none of her money. I put myself through an automotive vocational school and paid off my own student loans.My future husband and I bought our first condo at twenty three, upgrading to our first house at twenty five without the financial  burdens most of our friends had of thousands of dollars in credit cards debt from bar tabs and wardrobes.

         My hookie ski day girlfriend has owned her own business since she was nineteen. She is a leader in professional piercing and in ourcommunity. I think both of us can attribute our successes to the incredible women who raised us. Sure, I was resentful at times to miss out on team sports or summer camp due to funds but growing up without everything handed to me made me an accountable, responsible adult.

         As a mother now, it’s hard for me to not completely spoil my kids. They really want for nothing and I worry someday I’ll have a forty year old son living in my basement. (Maybe even a 40 year old virgin….) When Jameson is whining on the floor about chores,complaining, “My friends don’t have to put their clothes away!” I want to shake him and shout, ” Your friends don’t have a Xbox and a ski pass!” I want my children to understand that not every child has their own room, or more than one pair of shoes to choose from, or “too many” clothes to put away. Not every kid has a Mom AND a Dad, or if they do, the don’t have a “stay at home” parent. I didn’t have cable TV until I was in my twenties paying for it in my own apartment. My bambinos would be aghast at only five channels!

          It’s a fine line I walk between wanting to give my offspring everything I didn’t have and being terrified that they’ll grow into helpless non-adults. I’m sure I already screwed them up by not breastfeeding long enough, allowing too much sugar, television, video games etcetera but my kids do chores, albeit begrudgingly. They will also have jobs, especially if they want their own car to drive. I have friends in their thirties that still haven’t paid for their own health insurance, car insurance, car payments or cell phone bill! I want my kids to be independent whether they learn it from me or in school. It’s crazy to think that of all the things I learned in high school, they never taught us how to balance a checkbook. I could solve for x but they didn’t teach what actual adulthood entails! I know it will probably take a village but I want to insure that my children know how to:

1) Budget and keep track of their money, including how to save up for large item purchases like a car or vacation.

2) Apply for a loan

3) Earn and maintain a good credit score

4) Plan for retirement

5) Have a savings account, in case of emergencies

6) Write a resume, perform well in a job interview, become a valuable employee

7) Obtain and pay for their own insurance and cell phone, including price shopping for the best rates

 8) Clean house- dishes, laundry, yard work, and good personal hygiene ( I’m still working on getting my daughter to change her stinky socks more than once a week!)

9) Cooking-how to make delicious balanced home-cooked meals (though they will have to learn that from my husband since I am terrible in the kitchen)

10) Buy their own car, new or used and learn the best way to maintain their vehicles to get the most out of their investment

11) Perform basic maintenance on theirs vehicles-check fluids, filters, tire pressure, bulbs, etc.

12) Install their spare in case of a flat tire

            I’m sure there are many more I could list but I can certainly help them with the mechanical items. After fifteen years in the automotive industry, I am constantly astounded by people’s lack of car comprehension. I had one customer try to top of her oil by pouring it into her dipstick tube! Another customer yelled at me for turning off his radio to diagnose a suspension noise, ” Now my freaking stereo doesn’t work!”  He’d never pushed the POWER button on his car’s sound system!  I’ve decided to offer a Mamachanic class. Ladies, wouldn’t it be nice to have some general knowledge about the car you’re driving? I know, even as a woman with six ASE certifications, I get tired of being talked down to and made to feel stupid anytime I bring my car in for service. Most things I can do myself in my driveway but when I needed new tires, I dreaded the run around and condescension I was sure to receive from the service writer. I’d like to give a class on how to:

-Check your fluids, oil, brake, power steering, everything

-Change your wiper blades

-Change your bulbs

-Set your tire pressures

-Follow the maintenance schedule for your vehicle

– Install your spare tire in the event of a flat ( AAA is great but the wait time can be upwards of three hours, on bad weather days in particular. Wouldn’t it be nice to drive off on your spare without the wait?)

             Parents, do you have a teenager about to get behind the wheel of your expensive vehicle? Boys used to spend their spare time tinkering in the garage with their fathers, rebuilding classic cars and bonding. These days you’re lucky if your father can help you level up on Halo or Call of Duty. I would have more peace of mind knowing my son or daughter had some insight into the vehicle they’re driving around, specifically in Colorado winters. Men, there’s no shame in confessing you don’t know the difference between four wheel drive and all wheel drive. I may not teach you bumper-to-bumper repair but I can impart some tidbits to assure you on the road, during the next storm, maybe even help you avoid a visit to the service department. Message me for rates if you’re interested in a class in the Denver metro and surrounding areas.

Please feel free to share my post and drive safe out there!