Tuesday, July 22, 2008

What Bugs Me

When I take my kids in the car, I put them in carseats. True, Abby is so small that she will possibly still need a carseat when she's about 12. I doubt I'll still put her in one at that age, no matter what the carseat manufacturer's recommend, but for now my kids all use a carseat or booster seat.

Sometimes they fight being put in the carseats, and sometimes they cry. Sometimes they even cry for a while after I have them strapped in, and we're on the road. So what do I do? I keep driving, keep putting them in the carseats so they're safe. Always it takes me a couple extra minutes to strap in all these kids. I do it anyway.

Well, lately I've been driving past a lot of cars full of kids without carseats or even seatbelts. They stand up in the cars, sticking their heads out the sunroof, changing the radio station at leisure. The parents don't seem to mind that their children could be killed at any moment. It's not how safe you've been in the past that counts - it's what could happen in the future. You just never know when an accident will occur - so why risk losing a kid because you don't want to fight them or take an extra minute to strap them in?

I remember seeing parents safely strapped in with their seatbelts, while their 4 year old walks around the car as they drive. I've also seen a lady put her 3 year old in the booster seat, but not bother to strap her in. I guess for her the idea is to just let her daughter see out the window, but not to keep her safe.

If you're too lazy to fasten a carseat, then please don't have kids. Having kids will force you to do things that are a heck of a lot harder than fastening a carseat belt. You'll also be forced to do things that are a lot less pleasant, and take so much more time. As a parent, I rarely get to be lazy.

If you just don't want to fight with your kids, and don't want to deal with the "lift-up-the-pelvis-so-the-seatbelt-doesn't-fit trick," then get over it! (Daniel, you know what I wanted to say there) Kids argue with their parents and don't like to do what they're told. Do yourself a favor and exert your authority now, while the kids are still small enough to be strapped down.

It just really bugs me when people don't think about what could happen. Safety is about the future, but unfortunately a lot of people can't see past their child's temper tantrum. After all, if your child threw a fit every time you fed them or changed their diaper, would you stop doing it?

3 comments:

mommagurl32 said...

I also get really stressed out when I see smaill children unstrapped. Its very frustrating because there is nothing you can do about it!
Oh, by the way...I'm Brooke, I read and enjoy your blog! Not sure how I came upon it though...

Anonymous said...

That drives me crazy! Ty hated the fact that he was in a booster until he was 5, so and so didnt ride in a booster...well good for them. Rori well at the rate she is going will be in her booster until 12 also...Chrissie

Brooke said...

Hey! I'm Brooke too! That is one thing that infuriates me. They just passed a law here this month that children must be in a booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4’9” tall.

You wouldn't believe all the whining and complaining. The thing is this is what has been recommended all along, it just hasn't been a law.

The main complainers are the parents of 5-8 year olds who haven't had their kids in anything who are saying how their kids are going to freak out if they have to sit in a booster.

Wouldn't you just do what is the safest for your kid whether it is a law or not.

My 5 yr old has been in the booster for about 1-2 years because of his height and he just accepts that is the rule.

I watch a family sit their 2-3 year old on the floor in the backseat to avoid the trouble of buckling her in....and they even had a carseat back there....my mom and I just had our jaws hitting the floor.

Okay....so if you haven't noticed this is a big pet peeve of mine too.

 
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