I somewhat remember going to the car wash as a kid.  My mother has told me that, like most kids, I did not like it.  Ok, ok, I was scared of it.  And, just like myself, I am sure many other kids grew up being scared of the car wash.  Let’s face it, despite what you were told as a child or what you have told your own children to comfort them as you passed through a car wash, we can all admit that it can be a little overwhelming and scary.

 

I was taking my truck through the car wash a few days ago, due to the fact that it had been a while since it had been cleaned. My little princess was with me for the day and we were out running errands.  As we pulled into the line of the “wash car” as she puts it, she said, “Dad, I do not like the wash car.” 

 

I was in the process of paying with the interactive video screen, and I could see that her tears were in the process of welling up in her eyes.  Despite my efforts to come up with a good distraction to keep her mind from what was about to happen, the sweet, gentle tears started to flow down her face. 

 

Just as we were about to enter into the spooky tunnel, my little princess said, “I think I might be ok if I could come sit with my daddy.”  I told her to undo her seat belt and climb up into my lap.  She took my arms and put them around her and in we went.  I told her to pretend that is was like big pieces of red and black spaghetti.  I encouraged her as I began to try to grab and eat it because it was almost lunch time and I was hungry.  Then came the water spraying to rinse off the soap, she decided this was just a big shower for cars and trucks, but almost too loud.  At this point, the “big air” began to dry us off.  I thought, “Oh well, here we go, because it was really loud.  As the air started to hit the truck, she said. “It is a big hair dryer, like when mommy dries mine.”

 

As we made our way out she said, “Dad, I am glad you let me sit up here with you. I know I am safe when I am with you.”