Another lesson learned the hard way– do not let your 11 year old pump gas for the first time while wearing a brand new outfit ! We were somewhere in Illinois on our way to South Dakota. I used my Next Exit book (love it) to find a gas station in a populated area. We found an area with a Walmart, restaurants and a large gas station. We had lunch in the parking lot and then moved over to the gas station to fill up.
Cassie (my sweet middle daughter) asked if she could help pump the gas and my husband didn’t realize she had never done it before. So one thing led to another and I opened the door to find my daughter dripping with gasoline.
I pushed aside my panic and we sprang into action. Looking back I am quite impressed with how we all just starting pitching in without even talking about it. I took Cassie to the gas station bathroom (outside access) to get as much of it off as possible. My older daughter and husband moved the motorhome back over to the parking lot, put the slide out and got the shower ready. We disposed of everything Cassie was wearing (including some really cute, brand new shoes) and she had to really scrub to get that gasoline smell off of her.
Thank goodness for Walmart !! My older daughter and I headed for the store to get some new shoes/accessories. We quickly found what we needed, and a couple of replacement towels too. By the time we got back to the motorhome, everyone was ready to roll again.
We were on the road again about 45 minutes and 2 showers later. We thought about how much trouble we would’ve been in had we been traveling in a car and didn’t have our shower available. I have no idea what we would’ve done being so far away from home !
This is just one of the many reasons why traveling with kids in an RV is such a great thing. RV’s are not just for camping, they are great for day trips too. I will be talking more about that in future blogs, so check back soon.
Until next time,
Shannone
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Gary Smith, Jr.
And if you never teach a kid when they are allowed to do it on their own, they will just magically know how to do it? You have to learn somewhere, sometime. My Grandfather started teaching us to drive a truck when I was 12 years old. When I turned 16 I had my license in 2 weeks of driving. Four years of driving in parking lots, moving the truck, driving in fields and forests and I was ready, I had the basics. If you never learn how to pump gas and you get your license and go for a drive you need gas, that is not the time to learn. We teach kids now days about predators and what to worry about … why not teach them to be self sufficient?
Just my comments,
Gary Smith,Jr.
Lil'Darlin1972
I appreciate your concern. She was not pumping the gas all by herself, she was just “helping”. My husband was standing next to her. She was simply holding the handle and didn’t realize you have to let it go before you pull it out of the tank !
Lee
This is illegal in most states. You must be at least 16 to pump gas.
Helen West
Kids should not be pumping gasoline at all. They do not understand the hazardous of gasoline and what it can do to you.
There are a few cities that I know that only have full-serve gas stations and you cannot fill your own gas. In the working world, specialized training and certificates/tickets are required for handling hazardous chemicals for a reason.
I am glad your daughter is safe and apparently no harm came to her. A good lesson learned here.