We, as car enthusiasts on a car enthusiast website, love our cars. Maybe a little too much, sometimes. But it’s worth remembering that cars are things, objects that can be broken and replaced in a way that people can’t be — especially your own infant kid. Yet, the husband of a Dear Prudence reader seems to have those priorities a bit mixed up.
Recently, a reader wrote in to Dear Prudence asking for advice around their husband’s poor prioritization after he nearly killed their 10-month-old daughter by leaving her in a hot car. The couple’s 13-year-old neighbor happened to see the baby baking in the 95 degree heat, and — after frantically trying to get the couple’s attention with no success — broke into the car to pull the baby out. Yet, despite that girl’s miracle rescue, the reader’s husband is apparently only concerned with one thing: Who will pay to fix his beloved car? In the reader’s words:
Lance’s car is customized and he treasures it. The car was a gift from his parents for his birthday. When Aubrey was breaking out the window, she put some dents in the frame and a big scratch in the paint on the door. We have insurance and only ended up with our deductible out of pocket plus around $1,000. Lance is insisting we have Aubrey’s parents reimburse us for it. I cannot believe this. Their daughter saved my baby’s life (she even cut her arm in the process and needed stitches!) after my husband forgot about her and he wants Aubrey’s parents to cover the damn deductible! I have told him this is disgusting and that if there is anyone to blame for the damage to his precious car, it’s him for putting our daughter in this situation. His response is that Aubrey’s dad makes a lot of money so they can easily afford it. He said he is willing to give Aubrey’s parents a chance to pay us before he takes them to court. I am sickened by the prospect and have told him so, but he won’t budge. What can I do to make him see reason?
Now, of course, this is a Dear Prudence letter — not a verified report or news story with confirmations from the people involved. For all anyone knows, it’s a bit of creative writing with no basis in reality. But, we all know how much some people love their cars. The story reads as incredible, but not implausible.
I’ve loved some cars deeply in my time, but I cannot fathom taking the parents of the girl who saved your daughter’s life to court over damage. Your child almost died! Who gives a shit about the glass? Men will literally take their daughter’s savior’s parents to court instead of going to therapy.
Therapy, of course, being the actual advice-giver’s recommendation here. That, or divorce — both are presented as reasonable options here. I, for my part, recommend the former under threat of the latter. And, to you all out there, I recommend caring about your car a little less. It’s just a thing.