Hello from the bit-more-than-halfway point of my call week.
It has been a hard one. Months ago, our nanny asked about time off during this week and — well, she almost never asks for time off at ‘off’ times, and she had a family celebration, so I said yes. But I also knew it would be difficult.
What I didn’t expect was for:
- the dryer to break
(note: this dryer is almost exactly 1 year old)
- Josh’s car to break down while picking up G from school yesterday — the brakes stopped working (thankfully both of them are okay, he was able to stop the car by pushing super hard and pulled into a lot but I mean, that’s not a car part you want to fail while you’re in it!).
(this car is 14 years old . . . so less surprising, but frustrating! He has finally come around to the idea of replacing the car; I think with a RAV4 hybrid).
2011 – 2025 and I think the road may end here . . .
((We have gotten to the point where we start thinking about cars in terms of which will be the kids’ car eventually which is kind of wild but appropriate to consider. In FL you can get a learner’s permit right at 15 and license at 16. 16 is just over 2.5 yrs away . . . gahhhh.))
In some ways we have been lucky: at least the kids aren’t sick! And while my call week has been very busy and emotionally draining (well, that’s on me — but it is what it is) but Josh has had a lighter week and that has helped A TON.
But also. WE NEED A WORKING DRYER. Josh already rented a car.
I am so, so, SOOOOO glad I already covered the ‘weekend portion’ of this call week because I am going to collapse in an exhausted heap on Friday at 5 pm.
Two more days, 1 more night – I CAN DO THIS.
18 Comments
The same thing happened to our 2011 Prius!! The brakes suddenly went out! So glad everyone was safe.
Oy. So scary about the brakes! Our dryer has had issues….and shirt term taking clothes to friend/ neighbor worked well
That is terrifying about the brakes going out! Yikes! I am glad they are ok! We have had a RAV4 hybrid for almost 2 years and have been super happy with it!
Good luck getting through these last couple of days. You can do it!! I am glad the kids are at least back in school so you don’t have to worry about care for them during the day. But the nanny being out + call is a tough combo!!
Our washer broke earlier this summer and due to a variety of circumstances including something that made me swear off buying anything from Home Depot ever again we didn’t get a new one for 1.5 weeks! Fortunately we have lots of family around and a pick up/drop off laundry service that comes to our neighborhood that you can schedule anytime so we leaned on those things, but it was super rough! I hope these last couple of days go by quickly/smoothly! Also, I LOVE how the new RAV4s look!
Well, that sounds like a week! As the wife of an Italian man, I can tell you that drying racks work surprisingly well – it just takes 24 hours or so for most things to dry. So maybe this is a reasonable temporizing measure until you get your dryer fixed/a new one comes? I have also gotten my ass kicked this week. I hope the rest of your call gets better!
PS – In Michigan, they can get their learners permit at 14 years 8 months-ish WHICH IS A YEAR FROM NOW. I am not ready. Initially I was thinking we might have to buy another car, but D is going to be able to walk to HS (or take the city bus if she goes to a different HS), and my husband drives so little I think we will be able to continue to only use two cars – at least hopefully – until she goes to college. I guess that all could change though. I’d really prefer not to spend the money though.
There must be something wrong with me, because when I read this I was so focused on the dryer breaking (nooooo!) and then in the comments everyone talked about the brakes failing… er, yes, I guess that’s a little more scary! Obviously I’m glad everyone is okay, and well, you need a working dryer. Hope that gets fixed SOON.
1 and 1/2 more days… you can do it!
Oh my goodness, Sarah. What a horrible week.
That brake situation is so scary. I would be so glad it was my husband dealing with something like that. I think I would freeze up and not respond safely. Eeks. I will admit I definitely get scared about things related to vehicles. I haven’t had many issues over the years, but it feels inevitable.
And anything to do with breaking home appliances is the worst. New things just…don’t seem to last. We moved into our house and inherited all the old appliances. I swear the dishwasher and fridge are probably from the 1970s and they still work. I dread when we have to replace them because I KNOW they won’t last. We also have a top-loading washer that appears to be at least 20 years old. Ditto. It works like a charm, but I know when it finally dies we will never be able to replace it with something that has nearly the longgevity.
My parents had the same microwave for over 20 years. We’ve gone through…5?…in the last 16.
That all stinks! I did touch wood when you said “at least the kids aren’t sick”! For cars, we recently got a Kia Sportage hybrid and have been very happy with it. I was amazed that it is considerably bigger than our 2015 hybrid (lots of trunk space) and has faster 0-60 time, yet gets significantly better gas mileage. Cars have really advanced over the last 10-15 years so I hope you like whatever you get next. As for the dryer, I live in a very humid place as do you, so I have found that hanging clothes only works well in the winter or with a dehumidfier running nearby. If you have a dehumidifier that could be an option, but I agree with the previous commenters that bringing laundry to a family or friend might work well–most people will be happy to help, especially if you bring some snacks and hang out while the wash is going!
Oh jeez! So glad Josh and G were okay in the car! What about a wash and fold laundry service until the dryer is fixed and/or your nanny is back? I feel like a lot of laundromats/dry cleaners have them and there’s another one I’ve heard advertised where it’s more like laundry Uber.
Definitely look at the rav4 prime – plug in hybrid. Spectacular vehicle. Hang in there.
Love my RAV4 Hybrid (gas/hybrid). I feel so safe in it and it drives so well. I’ve had it for 2 years.
ditto! Hybrid Rav 4 is the best. I suggest going with the leather seats. My cloth ones are already stained.
I hope the rest of the week is better! In summer 2020 we had a massive plumbing issue and could not use our washer for weeks and we had good luck with Tide Dry Cleaner wash and fold! It was a pretty quick turnaround time and it wasn’t nearly as expensive as we thought it might be.
I’m with everyone else on the “they don’t make ’em like they used to” train when it comes to appliances! And when it costs the same to replace them as repair them, it’s easy to just take the upgrade. But then that feels so wasteful! It’s tough. Glad everyone was ok in the car! I had to let go of my Mustang when I got pregnant in 2016, and we bought a very gently used 2014 Durango. In my head, it’s still my “new” car. But the kid is almost 9…. Hoping we can at least make it to 14 years with it, but it won’t be the car the kids drive!
I’m a long time reader but usually only check in every few months. Tis will be weird to say of a stranger and makes me question why this info is in my head, but I remember when you all bought that car. You were maybe both in fellowship…or you were in fellowship and Josh was in residency (forgive me as I do not all the medical education/training stages) and you were a little concerned about your total budget. as you may have also taken on another expense around that time. I’m sorry I have no idea why I remember this 🙂
I have a Civic of similar vintage and am also about to replace it.
Ha!! I’m sure that’s true. I actually think we leased it and then bought it after that. I had totaled my 9 year old VW Golf (which my parents very nicely bought for me) and this was my first adult car purchase. Josh had a civic at the time (I think shortly thereafter replaced by a Hyundai which we traded in for the Highlander in 2017 when Genevieve was on the way)!!!
Oh no what a week! And all while on call. The brakes are so scary! Definitely sounds time for a new car. We recently bought a full electric vehicle, and it is wonderful. Sounds like the RAV4 Hybrid is great too, but EVs are so good and affordable these days that you could consider that option too. I wouldn’t go back now. We also had a dryer die when it was only a few years old. SO annoying. Turns out we had exceeded the weight limit for the drum, which got warped. So now I’m super careful about the loads I put in. But still it should be hardier than that. Hope the rest of the week has gone OK.