Last Friday afternoon I was having one of those days. We were wrapping up a crazy week of cub scout bake sales, Halloween festivities and Box Top submissions(I am the BoxTop coordinator). I was glad that the craziness was over. Looking forward to a relaxing weekend.
While I was picking the boys up from school, Madalynn hopped in the front seat and was pretending to drive. I was standing outside the driver-side door talking to a friend for about 10 minutes. Of course, she flipped every light on and had the turn signal and windshield wipers on, too. I went to leave the parking lot and my van wouldn't start. This has happened a couple of times, so it is probably time for a new battery... ugh!
I saw a school staff memeber's husband waiting to pick her up, so I walked over to his truck and asked him for a jump. He said no! I have never encountered anyone who said no to helping someone with a jump start, unless they didn't have cables. I told him I had a set in the van and he said he really didn't want to mess up his truck. That was news to me... I had no idea giving someone a jump start could cause problems for the other vehicle. He said he didn't know what it might do, but he didn't want to risk it.
I don't know why it upset me, but I felt really hurt by this. I wouldn't think twice about helping someone, even a complete stranger, and certainly a mom with 4 kids waiting in the car, and I couldn't imagine anyone who wouldn't help out someone in need. The guy didn't even roll his window down more than a crack!
I ended up going into the office, tears in my eyes, and the kids' principal came to our rescue. I came home and Googled jump starting and the damage it can do. There are varying opinions, but theoretically it could do damage, so I shouldn't be too upset. Though, in my opinion, people are much more important than your car. I have yet to see a car damaged by giving a jump start, and I have done it myself more than 10 times in the past couple of years. So I will continue to help a person in need and hope that my generosity outweighs the risk of damaging my car.
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