So......... :p

[BEG]

My son left yesterday morning to go back to college.  He was going to drive all the way to Cleveland all by himself until I threw and absolute fit.  My husband went with him and is flying back thursday.  So I get a call this morning.  My son's car died about 100 miles outside of Cleveland.  Completely DEAD.  We had the oil changed and it checked over about a week before he left.  This was at around 3 am in the morning.  Odd because I woke up at 3:20 on the dot and couldn't get back to sleep.  NO ONE was on the highway when the car died.  They got it to the side of the road and a cop just happened to drive by.  My husband called a tow truck and the guy is like, "do you know how much this is going to cost you?!?".  Ummmm like he has a choice. 

The cop happened to know of a european sports car garage (it's a VW GTI that has been messed with and is no longer stock) not too far away so they towed it to there and had to wait until the shop opened.  Apparently it is some timing belt or something that is suppose to be changed every 70k miles or something.  Said something about pistons or something and it wont be ready for a few days (and I'm sure will cost us an arm and a leg).  A college friend of my son came and picked them up.  They haven't slept since they left yesterday.   

It makes me sick to think that this would have happened to my son all by himself if I hadn't bullied my husband to go with him.  He told me at first he suggested they didn't tell me about it......he forgets I pay all the bills.  I would have found out about it sooner or later. 

[Wretched Excess]

sorry they had a mishap, but glad they are okay. 

umm, what mile marker did they break down at?

[debk]

BEG.....I'm glad your husband was with him and they are both ok.  <<<hugs>>>


I think we mothers get a 6th sense about our kids when we have them. I know it sounds weird....but I think it has to do with them growing in our bodies for 9 months....we can tune in to them....particularly when something is wrong.

[Miss Mia]

Timing belt, that sucks.  I hope it didn't screw up any of the heads too when it broke.

Mother's instinct won with your bullying. 

[BEG]

sorry they had a mishap, but glad they are okay. 

umm, what mile marker did they break down at?

 

[Splashdown]

Chalk one up for mother's intuituon!

[DumbAss Tanker]

The timing belt itself is not a terribly expensive repair on most vehicles, and nobody really changes them at 70K.  The complication is that, depending on the engine design, if it breaks the valve movement is no longer synched with the piston movement, and so the pistons and valves can beat each other up which pretty much totals out the engine.

[BEG]

Shrugs, perhaps it's a guy thing, but I honestly haven't a clue why you'd be furious of him driving alone.  Or even of it being a traumatic event that, gasp, a tow truck had to be called?

The reason I didn't want him driving alone (this is from Dallas to Cleveland) is that he has never done anything like this before by himself and I was afraid of something like what just happened would happened.  He is still MY baby at 19.  You can call me what ever you want but I'm not ready to kick him out the door and have him drive 1200 miles by himself with out ever having to call a tow truck, the police or even rent a hotel room before in his life time.  After experiencing this he will be able to handle it himself after seeing how my husband handled it I'm sure.  Just as you need to teach your kid how to change the oil in the car you need to also  teach them how to handle events like what happened.

For some reason your post pissed me off and it could be because I'm pissed off about finding out my brother didn't die from what we thought he did or that you are making light of what could have happened.  This was 100 miles outside of Cleveland in a shitty area of town.  You throw your kid out in a ghetto and tell him to fend for himself at 19, I'm not ready to do that just yet.

[BEG]

The timing belt itself is not a terribly expensive repair on most vehicles, and nobody really changes them at 70K.  The complication is that, depending on the engine design, if it breaks the valve movement is no longer synched with the piston movement, and so the pistons and valves can beat each other up which pretty much totals out the engine.

Yeah what yuo said sounded something like what my husband said.  I hope the engine isn't screwed. 

[Tantal]

Shrugs, perhaps it's a guy thing, but I honestly haven't a clue why you'd be furious of him driving alone.  Or even of it being a traumatic event that, gasp, a tow truck had to be called?

The reason I didn't want him driving alone (this is from Dallas to Cleveland) is that he has never done anything like this before by himself and I was afraid of something like what just happened would happened.  He is still MY baby at 19.  You can call me what ever you want but I'm not ready to kick him out the door and have him drive 1200 miles by himself with out ever having to call a tow truck, the police or even rent a hotel room before in his life time.  After experiencing this he will be able to handle it himself after seeing how my husband handled it I'm sure.  Just as you need to teach your kid how to change the oil in the car you need to also  teach them how to handle events like what happened.

For some reason your post pissed me off and it could be because I'm pissed off about finding out my brother didn't die from what we thought he did or that you are making light of what could have happened.  This was 100 miles outside of Cleveland in a shitty area of town.  You throw your kid out in a ghetto and tell him to fend for himself at 19, I'm not ready to do that just yet.

I used to drive back and forth between home and school on the weekends. My grandad once walked out to my car and slid an old revolver under the seat. He said "here boy, you just never know." I've never been without one since.

[MrsSmith]

Shrugs, perhaps it's a guy thing, but I honestly haven't a clue why you'd be furious of him driving alone.  Or even of it being a traumatic event that, gasp, a tow truck had to be called?

The reason I didn't want him driving alone (this is from Dallas to Cleveland) is that he has never done anything like this before by himself and I was afraid of something like what just happened would happened.  He is still MY baby at 19.  You can call me what ever you want but I'm not ready to kick him out the door and have him drive 1200 miles by himself with out ever having to call a tow truck, the police or even rent a hotel room before in his life time.  After experiencing this he will be able to handle it himself after seeing how my husband handled it I'm sure.  Just as you need to teach your kid how to change the oil in the car you need to also  teach them how to handle events like what happened.

For some reason your post pissed me off and it could be because I'm pissed off about finding out my brother didn't die from what we thought he did or that you are making light of what could have happened.  This was 100 miles outside of Cleveland in a shitty area of town.  You throw your kid out in a ghetto and tell him to fend for himself at 19, I'm not ready to do that just yet.

Even worse, at 19, he probably couldn't have gotten a room.  My son was 20, coming home for leave from the Army, driving from Seattle to Nebraska...couldn't get a hotel room anywhere he tried.  Even with a credit card, they wouldn't rent to anyone under 21.     He finally gave up, slept a couple hours in his Mustang at a truck stop, and drove the rest of the way.  It's a good thing you did what you did! 

[JohnnyReb]

Times have changed. At 17 I was driving a semi-truck over the road, just pull over anywhere and lay down in the seat to sleep. ....and yes, even back then Momma's worried.

You know, as a teenager, I went a lot of places all alone with no problems. We had an advantage though. Back then you could sort of tell what was wrong with a car and fix it beside the road or at least get it to go enough to get into a town. Now a days they just quit, like you switched'em off, and there's no way you going to get it going again, damn electronics.

[BEG]

Times have changed. At 17 I was driving a semi-truck over the road, just pull over anywhere and lay down in the seat to sleep. ....and yes, even back then Momma's worried.

You know, as a teenager, I went a lot of places all alone with no problems. We had an advantage though. Back then you could sort of tell what was wrong with a car and fix it beside the road or at least get it to go enough to get into a town. Now a days they just quit, like you switched'em off, and there's no way you going to get it going again, damn electronics.

I'm sure the same things happened back then that happened today but it just wasn't so publicized.  Heck I remember being a latch key kid at an age that if my Mom had done it today we probably would have gotten taken away by CPS. 

I just had a bad feeling about him driving all that way by himself and it looks like my instincts were right.

[BEG]

Shrugs, perhaps it's a guy thing, but I honestly haven't a clue why you'd be furious of him driving alone.  Or even of it being a traumatic event that, gasp, a tow truck had to be called?

The reason I didn't want him driving alone (this is from Dallas to Cleveland) is that he has never done anything like this before by himself and I was afraid of something like what just happened would happened.  He is still MY baby at 19.  You can call me what ever you want but I'm not ready to kick him out the door and have him drive 1200 miles by himself with out ever having to call a tow truck, the police or even rent a hotel room before in his life time.  After experiencing this he will be able to handle it himself after seeing how my husband handled it I'm sure.  Just as you need to teach your kid how to change the oil in the car you need to also  teach them how to handle events like what happened.

For some reason your post pissed me off and it could be because I'm pissed off about finding out my brother didn't die from what we thought he did or that you are making light of what could have happened.  This was 100 miles outside of Cleveland in a shitty area of town.  You throw your kid out in a ghetto and tell him to fend for himself at 19, I'm not ready to do that just yet.

Even worse, at 19, he probably couldn't have gotten a room.  My son was 20, coming home for leave from the Army, driving from Seattle to Nebraska...couldn't get a hotel room anywhere he tried.  Even with a credit card, they wouldn't rent to anyone under 21.     He finally gave up, slept a couple hours in his Mustang at a truck stop, and drove the rest of the way.  It's a good thing you did what you did! 

You know what Mrs. Smith, I used that very reason on why he couldn't drive by himself.  I said there was no way he could drive 1200 miles in one day and he wasn't old enough to rent a room to stop and spend the night.     They thought they could drive straight through with both of them driving, when the car died my husband was driving. 

[MrsSmith]

Shrugs, perhaps it's a guy thing, but I honestly haven't a clue why you'd be furious of him driving alone.  Or even of it being a traumatic event that, gasp, a tow truck had to be called?

The reason I didn't want him driving alone (this is from Dallas to Cleveland) is that he has never done anything like this before by himself and I was afraid of something like what just happened would happened.  He is still MY baby at 19.  You can call me what ever you want but I'm not ready to kick him out the door and have him drive 1200 miles by himself with out ever having to call a tow truck, the police or even rent a hotel room before in his life time.  After experiencing this he will be able to handle it himself after seeing how my husband handled it I'm sure.  Just as you need to teach your kid how to change the oil in the car you need to also  teach them how to handle events like what happened.

For some reason your post pissed me off and it could be because I'm pissed off about finding out my brother didn't die from what we thought he did or that you are making light of what could have happened.  This was 100 miles outside of Cleveland in a shitty area of town.  You throw your kid out in a ghetto and tell him to fend for himself at 19, I'm not ready to do that just yet.

Even worse, at 19, he probably couldn't have gotten a room.  My son was 20, coming home for leave from the Army, driving from Seattle to Nebraska...couldn't get a hotel room anywhere he tried.  Even with a credit card, they wouldn't rent to anyone under 21.     He finally gave up, slept a couple hours in his Mustang at a truck stop, and drove the rest of the way.  It's a good thing you did what you did! 

You know what Mrs. Smith, I used that very reason on why he couldn't drive by himself.  I said there was no way he could drive 1200 miles in one day and he wasn't old enough to rent a room to stop and spend the night.     They thought they could drive straight through with both of them driving, when the car died my husband was driving. 

It's an excellent reason, too.  I've seen a lot of people drive that kind of distance straight through...but you can make some really big mistakes if you get too tired.  I think your son and hubby owe you big time!! 

[debk]

Shrugs, perhaps it's a guy thing, but I honestly haven't a clue why you'd be furious of him driving alone.  Or even of it being a traumatic event that, gasp, a tow truck had to be called?

You would have to be a mother to understand.

In our hearts and minds.....we worry about our children's health, safety and well-being their entire lives. It doesn't stop at a certain age.

I would venture ....at your age.....your mother still worries about you too.

[BEG]

Shrugs, perhaps it's a guy thing, but I honestly haven't a clue why you'd be furious of him driving alone.  Or even of it being a traumatic event that, gasp, a tow truck had to be called?

You would have to be a mother to understand.

In our hearts and minds.....we worry about our children's health, safety and well-being their entire lives. It doesn't stop at a certain age.

I would venture ....at your age.....your mother still worries about you too.

Maybe he was hatched........

Just kidding Vonne

[BEG]

Shrugs, perhaps it's a guy thing, but I honestly haven't a clue why you'd be furious of him driving alone.  Or even of it being a traumatic event that, gasp, a tow truck had to be called?

For some reason your post pissed me off and it could be because I'm pissed off about finding out my brother didn't die from what we thought he did or that you are making light of what could have happened.  This was 100 miles outside of Cleveland in a shitty area of town.  You throw your kid out in a ghetto and tell him to fend for himself at 19, I'm not ready to do that just yet.

BEG my sincerest apologies if I offended you, that surely wasn't my intention.  Nor was it to question your parenting.  I sincerely apologize if you felt pissed off from that post, regardless of whether it was stress from something else, I'm just sorry you felt irked 

I'll just leave things as this... again perhaps it's a guy thing... but as your husband didn't bat an eye over it, few guys would.  Not making light of the what-if's or anything of the sort, perhaps we're defective, or too often distracted by that cute girl jogging outside, wow... she is a cutie too!  So please be gentle on your old man, he's simply a guy, was thinking like a guy!   

Don't worry about it Vonne.  I suspect it has a lot to do with my brother.  I am on constant edge right now.  We found out his "widow" was lying to us about the way he died from the coroner herself so I apologize if I took it out on you. 

[Lord Undies]

I'm glad I was married and living my own life at 19.  No bubble wrap for me.   

[Miss Mia]

Shrugs, perhaps it's a guy thing, but I honestly haven't a clue why you'd be furious of him driving alone.  Or even of it being a traumatic event that, gasp, a tow truck had to be called?

For some reason your post pissed me off and it could be because I'm pissed off about finding out my brother didn't die from what we thought he did or that you are making light of what could have happened.  This was 100 miles outside of Cleveland in a shitty area of town.  You throw your kid out in a ghetto and tell him to fend for himself at 19, I'm not ready to do that just yet.

BEG my sincerest apologies if I offended you, that surely wasn't my intention.  Nor was it to question your parenting.  I sincerely apologize if you felt pissed off from that post, regardless of whether it was stress from something else, I'm just sorry you felt irked 

I'll just leave things as this... again perhaps it's a guy thing... but as your husband didn't bat an eye over it, few guys would.  Not making light of the what-if's or anything of the sort, perhaps we're defective, or too often distracted by that cute girl jogging outside, wow... she is a cutie too!  So please be gentle on your old man, he's simply a guy, was thinking like a guy!   

Don't worry about it Vonne.  I suspect it has a lot to do with my brother.  I am on constant edge right now.  We found out his "widow" was lying to us about the way he died from the coroner herself so I apologize if I took it out on you. 

Don't apologize BEG.  Vonne's a man.  He needs to be yelled at so he remember his place.      

[BEG]

I'm glad I was married and living my own life at 19.  No bubble wrap for me.   

Funny, I was married at 20 and look how I'm treating my son who is only a year younger than I was when I got married.   

....and I might add, a whole hell of a lot smarter than I ever was.  Heck he is smarter than I am now.

[DixieBelle]

Moms are always clued in. You made the right call. Heck, I'm a grown woman with a pre-teen and I don't like driving by myself long distances. It stinks to be on the road by yourself.

And yes, it is funny how most of us did things at that age that we can't imagine letting our own kids do. My mom and dad were married at 18 with a house and me on the way. I shake my head at the thought of doing that when I was young.

[Chris_]

It makes me sick to think that this would have happened to my son all by himself if I hadn't bullied my husband to go with him.  He told me at first he suggested they didn't tell me about it......he forgets I pay all the bills.  I would have found out about it sooner or later.

BEG, honey, this is SO not a big deal.  When I was 17 I was on my own (by my choice) and over the next 10 years from then my various vehicles died at places undesired.  It is part of growing up that a guy take responsibility for his driving and deal with problems on the road.

To this day I treasure my memories of having a problem and using my wits to take care of the problem (up to and including sleeping the night in my car for the night -- not comfortable but character-building).  What it did NOT include was calling Mommy.

But what blows me away is that you have a college age kid.  Wow, you must have been 4 when you gave birth!!!!

(Seriously -- men need challenges to grow up).

[BEG]

It makes me sick to think that this would have happened to my son all by himself if I hadn't bullied my husband to go with him.  He told me at first he suggested they didn't tell me about it......he forgets I pay all the bills.  I would have found out about it sooner or later.

BEG, honey, this is SO not a big deal.  When I was 17 I was on my own (by my choice) and over the next 10 years from then my various vehicles died at places undesired.  It is part of growing up that a guy take responsibility for his driving and deal with problems on the road.

To this day I treasure my memories of having a problem and using my wits to take care of the problem (up to and including sleeping the night in my car for the night -- not comfortable but character-building).  What it did NOT include was calling Mommy.

But what blows me away is that you have a college age kid.  Wow, you must have been 4 when you gave birth!!!!

(Seriously -- men need challenges to grow up).

I had him when I was 22 (yes I am 42 now *sniffle*). 

Other peoples kids need to grow up, mine doesn't.   

[MrsSmith]

I'm glad I was married and living my own life at 19.  No bubble wrap for me.   

I was married and raising my oldest kid at 19.  However, my mother was still calling me about severe storms in my area 20 years later...when I was a single mom with 5 kids, 4 dogs, 2 cars and a house.     She didn't stop until I remarried Mr Smith.    

Now, when my kids complain about me, I just hold Nana's record up to them, and they  and shut-up.