Friday 27 March 2009

A petrol station, a carwash and a non magical bottom ...

Yesterday after school we got in the car and I said in my jolliest voice "Who wants to come and get some petrol?" … funnily enough there was silence.

Our local petrol station was rammed and judging by the faces of my passengers they wouldn't take kindly to waiting for 15 minutes on the forecourt.

"It's OK" I said "Let's go to the other one".

"This is boring" said the 4 year old, "I'm hungry" said the 3 year old

Got to 'other one' to find it being demolished.

"Don't worry, let's go to the next one" I said, slightly less jolly.

"This is sooo boooooring" said the 4 year old, "I want crisps" said the 3 year old.

Five miles later and some crying from the 3 year old who was both mortified and mystified that I could not produce a snack out of my arse whilst driving we arrived at the petrol station … which was rammed.

I agreed that if they stop being grumpy I'd purchase a snack from the petrol station and then we'd go through the car wash. A bit of food based bribery never hurt anyone. The carwash was just a bonus in my eyes.

"This is really b …" the 4 year old stopped herself as the word 'snack' registered in her head. "I want big crisps ... please" the 3 year old said with a big smile.

Their only experience of car cleaning has been with the husband, he uses the handwash people who give the personal touch with a chamois leather. They may not have a working Visa but when they've finished you can see your face in the bonnet and that's all that matters.

Petrol pumped, snack purchased and off we went into the carwash tunnel. I tapped in the code, the children ate cookies.

Off it went, I was super excited "Oooooh look at that" I said as foam covered the car, then the big brushes started up, "Wow, look at the big brush rollers" I said .... "Check out the car blow dryer, isn't it good?".

They looked disinterested with a hint of fear. The 3 year old had his fingers in his ears.

When the carwash had finished, I got out to admire the gleam. It was a bit patchy, but still, better than before.

When I got back in the car I turned round and said "Wasn't that fun?!"

The 4 year old handed me her cookie wrapper. The 3 year old didn't respond either, he still had his fingers in his ears

"Can we just go home now and watch TV?" said the 4 year old, "Juice please" said the 3 year old.

The 4 year old turned to her brother and said "Mummy can't magic juice out of her bottom you know!"

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have a 5 year old who still seems to think I can produce a television and DVD player while we are driving home from school, oh and the usual chocolate and crisps. So you have a few more years of it yet although sounds as if your 4 year old is clicking on!

Mum Gone Mad said...

Isn't it funny how the things we think will be exciting and interesting produce such non reactions from the children? No actually it's not funny :( Sigh, I too do not have a mgical bottom lol, very funny and all too familiar.

Katherine said...

My kids hate the carwash but I have to say I love a clean car; just because it so rarely is. Living on a tree lined street, one takes a big risk parking the car, either outside the house were there is an almost 100% certainty that it'll be covered in bird poo withing 2 hours or park at the top of the road and heave shopping, baby and 2 little ones up the road; I always go for the bird poo option; hence my love of a clean car.

Anonymous said...

Your 4 yr old is very clever!! My house thrives on bribery and corruption. My sister made a comment on it not so long ago because Amy usually shifts into gear if I bribe her with something - then I conveniently forget as she usually does too.

CJ xx

Mary T said...

I also have a habit of taking my children to the garage / car wash when we are at a loose end.

Why do we parents assume that this is an acceptable activity to occupy small children? Only to be told by them that it is boring. Lets face it, it is boring.

Metropolitan Mum said...

Magical bottom - I would love that! Let me know when you find out how to do that, I could use some magic as well...

Robert said...

my kids LOVE the car wash! I don't even have to give them treats! Is there something wrong with them?

Paradise Lost In Translation said...

My son was chronically phobiic about teacher wash,so much so that he'd have a mild panic if we ever went past one too slowly (as he thought we might be going in) And I only ever took him through one once...
Is that 'I can't magic xyz out of my bottom' a phrase you often use?? As presumably that's where your son got it from....? Hilarious. I must try it...

Polly said...

I cannot take my son through the carwash without him screaming the car down - seems all that loud noise does not go down too well - perhaps I could use it for punishment!!

Ladybird World Mother said...

Honestly, what sort of mother are you? Can't magic magic juice out of your bottom??! Give it a few more years...

Merrily Down the Stream said...

She's 4 and she knows that? My seven year olds haven't figured that out yet.
xoxox

Unknown said...

For some reason, when my son was a toddler, he was scared to death at the car wash! I had to hold and cuddle him thru it as I was usually going thru on the way home from picking him up at kindergarden while I was at work!

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Amy said...

"can't magic juice out of her bottom" -- so hilarious!

And this part:
They may not have a working Visa but when they've finished you can see your face in the bonnet and that's all that matters."

made me wish we were visiting your country again soon!

Thanks for visiting my blog and for the Follow!

Scope said...

And if you could magic juice out of your bottom, I doubt they'd want to drink it! :-)