Yesterday we were making dinner when the garbage disposal stopped working. It just hummed a little hum, not a care in the world.
I looked at my daughter and I think she saw the absolute “no effing way,” in my face.
“Is it bad if we say this is an after spring break problem?” she asked.
“Nope. That’s what it is,” I said, “an after spring break problem.“
But I fiddled with it anyway, tried the little reset button on the bottom. But, it still just hummed its little hum.
So after checking multiple times that the switch was off, I stuck my hand in there and quickly realized the problem. There was a glass wedged in, unmovable.
She stuck her hand in too. (After checking that the switch was off. Why are garbage disposals so scary?)
“How are we going to get this out?” She said.
There was no way to get that glass out. It was perfectly stuck.
“Not to be misogynistic or anything…” she started saying, “but isn’t this where we maybe…”
I started wondering who you call and what they would do.
“I guess we pay someone to fix it.” I said with absolute disdain. I mean, what would they do? Take the whole thing apart? Hundreds of dollars later they would have the glass and my disposal would work again?
“Or…” I said as I picked up the nearby ruler that I had finally brought inside from when it was measuring our latest snowfall.
I stabbed the ruler into the disposal a few times, broke that glass, and took out all the pieces.
I made sure all the glass was out, rinsed out the sink and turned on the disposal and heard the tell tale working whirr.
Fixed!
“No men needed!” My daughter said.
“No men and no money!” I agreed. “That’s a life lesson I want you to remember. You don’t need men or money.”
Then we laughed and finished making dinner.
**Yes, next time I’ll turn the actual power to the kitchen off. Yikes.”
On a Thought 
Wow! That was brave — glass and electricity. My mom was raised by a single mom after her dad died when she was two. They learned to be very resourceful about many things, including fixing and making do.
Oh, that was incredibly brave for both of you! Sometimes, necessity begets bravery. So glad you crushed it – pun fully intended – in the end. You are women, hear you roar – and save a few bucks.
I want to know how the glass got IN the disposal…. Good job figuring out a way to take care of it yourself!! I like the “little hum” – it gave me an idea of what it must have sounded like.
Right? I don’t know how it got in there … but It slipped perfectly in and over!
I love this! Garbage disposals are scary… why is the immediate fear that you’re going to have a mangled hand? Even after checking it’s off a million times. I felt like I was in the kitchen with you, listening to your banter, and cheering you on at the end. Bravo! Add handy woman to your many hats!
Yes, I agree those disposals are very scary things even though I have never personally had one. Your ingenuity and perseverance are proof that we women who live without men can get it done!
I adore the female empowerment in this post! EXCELLENT problem solving!
Ha! I love this! And despite the nervous-making images of messing around with the circuits and broken glass, I applaud your resourcefulness. I’m also guessing this is a moment your daughter will remember, one way or another, for a LONG time.