When she’s not working as an OnStar Emergency Advisor, Robin Cho is all about her family. She has a grown son and daughter and three grandchildren, who, she readily admits, are the light of her life.

But when Robin is on duty as an Emergency Advisor, she’s all business. She likes helping people and finds her job very satisfying. Here, she shares one of her most compelling calls with Connections.

A subscriber in Colorado pushed the red emergency button when she found herself stuck in a self-service car wash with her two young children.

Because it was wintertime, she pushed the button that closed the bay door and proceeded to wash her car. But when she was finished and pushed the button to open the door, it only went up a couple feet. She repeatedly tried the button, and nothing happened. Looking for someone to help her, she pushed her OnStar emergency button and was relieved when the OnStar signal worked in the closed bay.

While she was talking to me, her 8-year-old daughter crawled out under the door, and the mom really panicked. She was screaming for her to come back inside, but she was also terrified the door might close on the little girl while she was crawling back under it or even lock her outside of the bay. By the time the little girl crawled safely back in the bay, the mom was pretty upset.

I called the police right away and also tried to contact the car wash owner. It took about 20 minutes for the police to arrive and another 10 minutes for them to get the door up. I stayed with the woman the whole time and tried to keep her calm.

When the door was finally opened, the woman was so relieved. She told me, pretty emphatically, “Every mother needs OnStar.”

Unusual situations can become emergencies when there are kids involved. What kinds of situations would you handle differently if your kids were with you? Flat tire? Becoming lost? Let us know in the comments below.

Mother’s Day is almost here. It’s never too early to start thinking about the perfect gift for your mom. Something that shows her how special she is — without breaking the bank.

If you need a few ideas, check out these 10 suggestions for $100 or less:

1. Brunch or dinner at her favorite restaurant
2. A bouquet of flowers, hanging basket or plants for her yard
3. Chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate mousse or anything chocolate
4. A necklace, earrings or charm bracelet to match her favorite outfit
5. A massage or pedicure
6. Theater or concert tickets
7. Her favorite perfume
8. An ebook reader
9. A gift card to her favorite store
10. The peace of mind of OnStar: For a gift that could help your mom feel more safe and secure, get her OnStar FMV. From May 6 to June 16, you can purchase the OnStar FMV mirror, including basic installation, at Best Buy stores for $99.99.(1)

OnStar FMV offers access to OnStar’s key safety and security features, including Automatic Crash Response, Turn-by-Turn Navigation and Stolen Vehicle Assistance, as well as one-button access for Emergency Services, Roadside Assistance and Hands-Free Calling.

Read more about OnStar FMV.

What’s the nicest thing you’ve ever done for your mom on Mother’s Day? Or what’s the greatest thing someone’s done for you? Tell us in the comments below.

1 MSRP less offer. Tax and OnStar subscription extra. Visit onstar.com for availability, limitations and details.

Now’s the time to give your car a good cleaning, inside and out — and do a little maintenance while you’re at it. But everybody’s so busy these days, it’s tough to add yet another task to your “to do” list.

Instead of tackling the job all at once, try freshening up your ride in these 10-minute-or-less increments.

• Take a garbage bag next time you get in your car and throw out anything you don’t need. Take the garbage bag with you as you exit the vehicle (est. time: 5 minutes).
• When you get home, grab your car mats. Give them a quick wash, hang them outside to dry and put them back in the car when you leave the next morning (est. time: 10 minutes).
• Keep a microfiber cloth in your glove box to wipe your dashboard when it’s dusty (est. time: 1 minute).
• Keep a small spray bottle filled with a squirt of dish soap and a 2-to-1 ratio of water and white vinegar in your car along with a few newspaper pages to wash the inside windows when they get cloudy (est. time: 4 minutes).
• To get rid of road salt and mud, go to a car wash and ask for the wash that includes your car’s undercarriage (est. time: 10 minutes).
• Stop at the do-it-yourself or drive-through car wash and use the high-powered vacuum (est. time: 10 minutes).
• Check your windshield wipers. If they are streaking or missing parts of the window, it’s time to replace them (est time: 7 minutes).
• Make sure tires are properly inflated and check for tread wear (est. time: 5 minutes).
• Check the weather stripping around windows and doors for cracking or wear (est. time: 2-3 minutes).
• If you manually open the car door with a key, clean the door locks with graphite powder (est. time: 4 minutes).

And, if you need help finding the nearest car wash or auto supply store, just push your blue OnStar button.

Do you have a favorite car-cleaning tip to share? Tell us in the comments below.

Janice Fitzsimmons bought her Honda in 2007 and says she was never really comfortable in it until last year — when she purchased an OnStar FMV(1).

“It’s made all the difference in the world for me,” Janice says. “I have a nephew in Maine and I make the eight-hour drive from New Jersey to visit him several times a year — often alone or with Riley, my Westie. OnStar makes me feel secure on the highway. I know I’ll always have help if I need it. And, when I drive through rural parts of Maine, I often can’t get cell phone reception but I can always get a connection with Hands-Free Calling. That’s really a comfort for me.”

Janice had OnStar on her two previous vehicles. “I loved it and I used it for everything, ” she says. “At first I thought I would only need it in case of an emergency. However, I found that I used Remote Door Unlock, OnDemand Diagnostics, Lights and Horn for finding my car, Roadside Assistance and so much more. I even pushed the button as a Good Samaritan a few times.”

And Janice did need it for an emergency, too: “One snowy day, I was broadsided by a truck that ran though a stop sign. My car spun around and landed in a snow bank on the side of the road. I started to become anxious when I realized I couldn’t open my door and was trapped in the car but then I heard a reassuring voice calling me by name asking if I was OK. I said I had been in a crash and the Advisor said not to worry, that help was on the way. And sure enough, within minutes the police had arrived with an ambulance right behind.”

That’s why Janice says she was never at ease with her Honda until she got her FMV mirror. “I really missed the comfort of OnStar. Then last year I heard an advertisement about OnStar FMV mirror and got one right away. I believe that if you don’t have factory-installed OnStar, you should have OnStar FMV. It’s worth every penny for the security it gives me.”

Do you feel more comfortable knowing that your vehicle has OnStar? Tell us about your favorite feature in the comments below.

1 Visit onstar.com for compatible vehicles, coverage maps, detail and system limitations. OnStar acts as a link to existing emergency service providers. Services vary with conditions. OnStar Hands-Free Calling requires existing OnStar service contract and prepaid minutes.