In 2016, our daughter got her first internship at Rockwell Collins as a freshman. It was quite a shock to her AND us, and it also meant she needed transportation. The plan for both daughters, once you enter your junior year of college, you’d get a car. Well, she was ENDING her freshman year, and getting my wife’s car.
#planningneverworkscuzitalwayschanges
The car was a 2010 Nissan Altima with a fairly nice package of goodies. It was a favorite of my wife, but we knew this would happen at some point. Our daughter got her car, my wife got a newer (to her) car, and all worked out.
#Iloveitwhenaplancomestogether
Fast forward to last month, our daughter texts: “Dad, I went out to start my car, and someone had slid into it. They left their information, but do I need to call our insurance agent?” Yes, yes you do.
#profanity
So, we started the whole insurance process and were shocked that the other insurance company wanted to total the car out. Apparently, with it being a 10 years old car with lots of miles, and the fact that the back quarter panel wraps up to the back window, it would take too much to repair. Fine. My daughter actually asked the company to review the pictures to make sure what they were talking about was actually true. In the company’s mind, it certainly made sense. Again, fine.
#really
So, she started looking for cars. She’s her father’s daughter in that she had a journal AND a spreadsheet of information about each car.
#overresearchanyone
But she found one. She called us Thursday night, looking for information for a loan application because my wife was going to be a co-signer. Then she drops this:
Oh, the dealership needs you to there with me. Can you come to Burnsville on Saturday?
#ummmwhat
For those who aren’t from the Midwest, Burnsville is in Minnesota, about a three hour drive from us. It is about the same distance as it would be to drive to Des Moines (about 30 minutes from Ames) where we thought we’d be going. However, Burnsville is about a three hour drive from Ames, so we were scratching our heads, wondering why. Well, our daughter spotted a car on AutoTrader, and it was going to be hers, period.
The problem, it’s an expensive car, a newer car, so we did our best to talk her out of that purchase. She is getting a pretty good down payment from the insurance company for her car, but it was going to be a good chunk of money to be borrowing. Right now, she works in the cafeteria 10 hours a week, so not a huge income. So, we tried the “but I found this for you online” and “this one is x dollars less expensive” to no avail. She’d found her car and she was going to buy it, period.
To my daughter’s credit, she didn’t back down. She stood her ground on this car with us as parents. She’d done her research, she’d done her leg work, and when push came to shove, she negotiated a $300 discount off the car when the salesman said they wouldn’t budget. Not much, but I was proud of her! We went out of a late lunch and as we drove off, she was in her car, with her boyfriend, pairing her phone and getting ready to play with the new tech stuff! We, of course, had to take pictures, so here she with her new car, a 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Sport.
On our way home, my wife was still fuming, but I reminded her, we were able to help our daughter do something she’d not be able to otherwise. She’ll graduate in December with a software engineering degree, no college debt, so this little chunk will only help her with future borrowing. She’s got a long term loan, so lower payments right now, and when she gets that first job, paying this off will be fairly simple for her. Our influence is slowly waning because she continues to grow into a lovely, confident young woman.
But on this day, she needed her mom and she felt comfortable asking her mom for help.
And her mom was there for her.
That’s why we do this. ♥️
March 2, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Sounds like you have done a good job of raising your girls.
March 2, 2020 at 12:15 pm
We keep trying, this is for sure! 🙂
March 2, 2020 at 12:14 pm
Even though she wanted your support, she was well prepared for the situation. Be proud, dad and mom.
March 2, 2020 at 12:16 pm
She was getting a little flack from her mother and I when she pulled out a journal. In it, pages of information. She looks at me and says, “You don’t think I’ve done enough research??” That’s when I knew, the car was hers! LOL! 🙂
March 2, 2020 at 12:37 pm
Congrats to your daughter for researching and persevering to get what she wanted!
March 2, 2020 at 2:26 pm
She got a little bucky with the salesman and HE got red in the face. I giggled. Later, he played it off as “I was drinking Red Bull,” but she had him flustered! 🙂
March 2, 2020 at 12:53 pm
Wow! This is a great story! Be proud of the skills she has because of you both! It sounds like she’ll be a great software engineer too, as she can tackle problems head-on and sort out all the information/research she’s gathered! Good read your post!
March 2, 2020 at 2:25 pm
Yes! The logic part keeps her organized (me) and the sorting out keeps her sane (my wife). It’s amazing how those keep popping up with her! 🙂
March 2, 2020 at 12:59 pm
I love this! It made me a little teary as I realized in just a flash of a moment it will be me with my son. It’s getting closer every day and more real. I can only hope he will be as researched and confident as your daughter. Nice work parenting this one! 🙂
March 2, 2020 at 2:00 pm
It just seemed liked they were just toddling around and now they are making “adulting” decisions. Crazy how it seems so fast. 🙂
March 2, 2020 at 1:43 pm
The hashtags had me smiling! Your daughter sounds like she picked up several traits from her parents. Sometimes that’s a good thing and other times…well not so much.
March 2, 2020 at 2:31 pm
Honestly, she does a lot of great things! One thing I’d love to see her do better: be more flexible. You cannot tell me this is only car of this style within three hours? LOL! 🙂
March 2, 2020 at 2:15 pm
Darin! I’m so happy to see you here!
It sounds like you and my husband–and now your daughter–would all get along great when it comes to buying new-to-you cars. He is a researcher too. After 35+years of marriage, I tell him to let me know when he has it narrowed down to 2 or 3. Then I’ll give him my opinion!
March 2, 2020 at 2:29 pm
Hey Deb!! Good to see you where as well! I would imagine you are dreaming of a cool drink and a seat on the beach! I’m the researcher and my wife is the same way. She’ll give opinions when I have choices narrowed a bit! 🙂
March 2, 2020 at 2:57 pm
I love that she had a journal and spreadsheets! That’s the way to do it!! Organized and ready. 🙂 Happy new car day to your daughter!
March 2, 2020 at 3:23 pm
I love reading stories that remind me of the wonderful things my own parents do for me (their 28 year old daughter). 🙂
March 2, 2020 at 7:27 pm
Love the hashtags! It made me pause at just the points I needed to and it built the anticipation! I admire how you and your wife adjusted your long term plans and in the end supported your daughter!
March 2, 2020 at 8:07 pm
Sigh. Parenting never gets easier.
March 2, 2020 at 9:37 pm
And we wouldn’t want it any other way because we’d have NO stories to tell!! 😂😂
March 2, 2020 at 8:08 pm
She’s well on her way to becoming the independent young lady you and your wife strived to raise. And yes, “That’s why we do this.”
March 2, 2020 at 9:36 pm
We have tried, goodness, we have! 😂😂
March 3, 2020 at 5:10 am
And been successful! 🙂
March 2, 2020 at 9:15 pm
#youreneverdoneparenting 🙂
March 2, 2020 at 9:35 pm
#nopenotever
Thanks for the comment and the giggle! 🙂