I stepped out the garage door in time to see her twisting lug nuts off the rear left tire. “I’m helping Daddy!” she announced proudly.
At first I wasn’t real sure that her daddy knew the 6 year-old was “helping,” but he soon appeared from the other side of the truck and told her she was doing a good job.
As she struggled to pull the tire off by herself, I stepped over to help her.
I guess my technique wasn’t up to par, because she was soon telling me to get a better hold of it. “Don’t worry, Mommy, it’s just grease. It will wash off,” she assured me. When the little girl who dresses in tutus to rake leaves and has to have her clothes match just so tells you that, you just have to roll up your sleeves and get the job done right.
Once the tire was off she started rolling it over to its new position, proud as she could be.
My favorite moment was when her little brother came out and wanted to help roll it. Somehow it got away from them and started racing down the little hill next to our driveway, crashing into the tree line, while they both ran as fast as they could to try to catch it. The 3 of us rolled it back up the hill, and I found myself wishing I had the video camera out.
Back to work, my princess, with her grease-covered hands, took her job very seriously as she finger-tightened each and every lug nut for all four tires.
She was right, the grease did wash off. But the memory of my daughter helping Daddy rotate the tires, THAT is going to be something her daddy and I remember for a long, long time.
Do you have a recent parenting moment you want to remember? I’d love to hear about it!
Michelle says
Thats soo awesome!! I wish I knew how to rotate a tire! 🙂 This post is great this reminds of a similiar story about my daughter, that I forgot about till now, you made my day! 🙂 Michelle
OneMommy says
They seem to grow up so fast sometimes! Can’t believe she was actually helping rotate tires!
Chris Carter says
Oh that is just TOO cute!! Love that story… 🙂
OneMommy says
Some days they just make you smile. 🙂
Hope you are getting a few smiles this week!
Shell says
What a sweet moment!
Donna DM Yates says
Just so sweet. She is quite the perfectionist.
lee aldrich says
Fabulous! Get that girl her own little tool box with a few real tools – it’s never to soon to start encouraging talent, whatever form that takes. Speaking as a woman who has learned to fix many things on my own, it’s a huge sense of accomplishment to fix/build it and it works. Great story and what a wonderful bonding time with daddy and daughter! (BTW – found you on Sharefest!)
OneMommy says
I was just thinking of the real tools the other day when I saw a little pink set. 🙂 They may wind up under the tree from Daddy!
Embracing The Good Life says
That is a very precious family memory. I love to capture as much as I can in pictures and video but sometimes it’s nice to just be in the moment.
Ama Runs says
“It’s just grease, mommy.” Too cute! So great that she is willing to tackle changing a tire. I know many women who would cower at the prospect, me included!
We recently had friends over, and my 3-year-old son insisted on setting the table, pouring the milk, cutting the strawberries and serving the pasta for himself and his buddy. It was as if there were no parents present and they were having their own dinner party. I could imagine the same scene in 20 years when their sharing a tiny apartment in NYC, having plain pasta for dinner (because what 20-yr old can afford strawberries in NYC?)
Stopping by from the SITS linkfest. Looks like a fun place you’ve got here! 🙂
OneMommy says
Love that he served his friend! They are so cute when they do those grown up things! Thanks for stopping in — off to check out your latest post!
corlie says
Love it, there is so much happiness in your story it made me smile from ear to ear as I read it. Beauty and happy memories wander across our paths often, we must just remember to stop and savour them 🙂 I’m visiting from SITS 🙂 Hope you have a great weekend. Corlie
Mo at Mocadeaux says
Life is in the littlest moments, right? This is just precious. Visiting from Sharefest.