I Still Call My Dad With Car Trouble – Much To The Annoyance Of My Husband

I am a daddy’s girl. I have no problem admitting it. I talk to my dad almost every day. We have lunch at least every other week. My dad and I don’t just look alike, we have similar interests and attitudes. My father is an important and special part of my life.

So I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I sometimes call my dad for help before I ever dial my husband’s number. It shouldn’t surprise anyone, but it does annoy the heck out of my husband.

A couple months before my wedding, I was driving my daughter to daycare at around 6:30 in the morning, when I suddenly blew out a tire. Who did I call? My dad, of course.

I literally worked at the same company as my husband. He was on his way in to work. I knew he was awake. And I was driving my husband’s car. But I called my dad to come help me put on the spare while my 2-year-old waited in the backseat.

When I showed up to work a little late, my husband asked what was up. “I blew out a tire on the car. I’ll go buy a new one during my lunch break,” I explained. My husband looked skeptical. He’s well aware that for years, my dad put gas in my car for me because the smell gave me a headache. I am not a car girl. “You changed a flat on your own?” he asked surprised.

“No,” I responded, “I called my dad. He was driving right past me anyways.” It was true, my dad and I literally waved to each other in the morning when we passed on the street. He was on his way to work and I was headed to daycare drop-off. My excuse was not completely acceptable to my husband. I mean, it was his car.

After that, I tried to be more thoughtful about asking my husband for help first. After all, he’s the man in my life now. He’s my partner. He’s the one I should call about an odd noise in the engine or directions during a detour.

But old habits die hard. And my dad is so smart! My husband is smart too, of course. Ugh, this is frustrating.

I guess the hardest part over the “Who do you call” controversy is that I don’t feel like it’s a competition. I am lucky to have both an amazing husband and a wonderful father in my life. I love them both, though obviously in very different ways. What does it matter if I call one for car repairs, but talk to another when I’m stressed or angry?

This weekend is Father’s Day. And the two men in my life will be equally important. My dad, who raised  me to be a confident and thoughtful person, will be on the receiving end of a big hug and maybe a little something wrapped with a bow. No, I won’t spoil the surprise here, he reads the site. My husband, the stepdad of our daughter, will get a smooch and his own special gift. Both of them have my gratitude, respect and my love.

Instead of worrying about which one I call first, I think we can just be thankful for our wonderfully supportive family whose there no matter what the emergency is. And next time there’s car problems, I’m calling AAA first to end the whole debate before it starts.