My kid called me out for letting the car idle while I checked my phone

He said, 'Dad, you're just making the air dirty for no reason.' I felt pretty dumb and now I turn the engine off even for a quick stop. Anyone else get a simple comment that made them change a habit?

2 comments

2 Comments

bethwhite1d ago

My friend's daughter, maybe seven years old, saw him toss a banana peel out the car window. She just asked, "Daddy, why did you make the road messy?" He said it hit him that he was teaching her littering was okay. He hasn't thrown a single thing out the window since, not even an apple core.

miabennett1d ago

Yeah, kids notice everything. My nephew saw me flick a cigarette butt once and asked why I didn't put it in the trash like he has to. Felt pretty bad. Now I keep a little bag in the car cup holder for any trash, even gum wrappers. He checks it sometimes, so I have to keep it clean. It's a good system.