I had the pleasure of being chauffeured by my sons last weekend to pick out wedding gifts for their cousin’s upcoming wedding. Son#1 drove in the morning. His car is “new to him” and he is very particular about keeping it pretty. He has realized that eating and drinking in the car can result in spills and a mess he’d like to avoid. His car is pristine inside and out. He was describing his altered behavior. Instead of getting a beverage refill and taking it in the car, he drinks his fill and disposes of the remainder. His reasoning is that he won’t become so thirsty that he can’t wait to get home/to work and get a beverage.
That same evening I went with Son#2 on the same mission to purchase a gift. His car is older, having purchased it from his grandmother about 3 years ago. It is a very nice car. However his approach to car ownership is somewhat altered from that of his brother. I opened the passenger door to get in but I hesitated. There were literally a hand full of potato chip crumbs coating the seat. I scooped most of them out and had to use a discarded granola cardboard to scrape out the remainder before sitting. As it was the seat was stained and altogether icky. I was thankful that I had changed out of my white pants!
This is a quick photo of the floor AFTER I threw away the accumulated trash and empty food bags and recycled all the pop cans and plastic bottles. I’m really hoping he takes my suggestion to vacuum out the car and use some upholstery cleaner on the seats. It is a shame that it has been so abused… But then he didn’t keep his last car very clean either. I ask myself, “Where did I fail?”
A Different Perspective 
That question no doubt begs, but the fact is, once a child becomes “mature”, he or she becomes their own and is thus, on their own. I am a neat freak, who was married to a far more casual soul, for a blissful 29 years. I’m still getting rid of accumulated stuff- but what a pleasure it was to have a house with a “lived-in” look.
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Hehe! Yes they are on their own but this wasn’t about the house but the car seat which was disgusting. If I hadn’t been wearing dark jeans I would have insisted that he park and I would drive! It was that bad.
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I think we have an innate reaction to clutter/neatness that overcomes basic training! Taking care of one’s “things” falls into this trap — it sounds like son #2 doesn’t mind clutter!
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Yes, clutter I understand but this was filth. I’m surprised that there weren’t cockroaches running about… but then again maybe there were and I just didn’t see them!
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The floor of my van looks messy most of the time. Usually, though, it’s grass and dirt from my hiking boots deposited there after a fun day of geocaching… and the occasional dropped french fry. I probably should vacuum it out more often than I do.
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Your van is spotless compared to son#2’s car. It wasn’t just a little bit of crumb – it was the equivalent of several bags of crushed potato chips and a couple orders of large fries dumped on the seat and then ground in!! What was on the floor was just a small portion of the mess. He is going to have to do more than vacuum – looks like a full shampoo of the seats!
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Several years ago I was in Kansas for my aunt’s funeral and my cousin took me somewhere in her car. There were dozens of empty pop cans rolling around on the floor in the back. Aside from just being appalled by the thought of how many cans of pop she’d drunk and then tossed over her shoulder while driving, I was struck that nobody in Michigan would do that. Those cans are worth a dime apiece here; they would be carefully retrieved and placed in a bag or bin to keep from being crushed until they could be taken to a recycling machine to be redeemed.
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Yep. Those pop can are worth some serious cash! I always think that the sweet residue will attract bugs. And bugs in my car are the last thing I want. Nearly had an accident once when I found a tick as we were driving in New Jersey….
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I can relate but our daughter’s ‘clutter’ continues into her house. 🙂 Many a time I say “what did we do wrong?”
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I hear you! I think as they get older the need for order may enter their consciousness. As it stands now, cleanliness is not a priority – except for personal hygiene (thank goodness)!
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Son #2 of mine has the same issue with his car. It is awful to put it mildly. Unless, I absolutely have to, I refuse to ride in it. 😉
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Yeah. I doubt I’ll ride in it again until he cleans it out.
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I liked keeping my Malibu nice and clean.Tell him G’ma is disappointed t o hear how he is abusing the her l!ate car. It really will cut way down on the resale value too! Also it will leave a very BAD impression on any girl he might date!
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Hehe! Yes I’m guessing the prospect of picking up a girl for a date would be just the incentive he will need. I’m going to see if he will clean it up – if not for his own self maybe for me or you!
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Tell him I will haunt him after I shuffle off this mortal coil, if he doesn’t clean up the Malibu I sold him for such a good low price! Maybe that is the reason why he doesn’t feel it’s worth being more careful with it!
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Son #1 reminds me of Sayeed. His cars/truck are always spic and span. He does not allow his children, wife or any one else eat or drink in his car. Saadia on the other hand, will offer food to the dog if she could, while driving! They are so different.
Having said that, I have to say though, that while growing up, Sayeed thought my car was the breakfast room, and the dining room. He would chomp at food, pizza, burgers, chips French fries, any thing and everything. My beautiful expensive cars smelled like a smorgasbord of food. Now, he washes his hands of food or any other smelly thing before he gets inside his car!!
Oh how they change!!
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I can only hope mine will outgrow his messy phase. I can see Saadia sharing with the dog! I bet the dog loves her best! So happy you are visiting around WP – you must be feeling much better!!
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Maybe he is saving the crumbs for dessert….?
I need to wash my seat covers! Lol! My living quarters are MUCH cleaner than my car! Thanks for the reminder!
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There was enough to make a snack for sure but I suspect they would have been very stale! I’d be happy if he got seat covers to protect the car from his mess!
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