I saw a 2-3 yo DRIVING today!

[CEDmom]

For me it's about controlling what can be controlled. There are so many unknowns and what ifs that are out of my hands I feel I owe it to my DD to make her world as safe as possible. It doesn't diminish her fun to wear her bike helmet everytime she rides instead of just sometimes; it doesn't diminish her fun to sit in the drivers seat of a parked car and pretend to drive rather than actually drive; it doesn't diminish her fun to always have to be buckled in her carseat whenever the car is moving instead of just when she wants to.

There are so many fun and safe ways for me to let my DD be a kid. Staying up late and catching fireflies, having ice pops for lunch, going in the sprinkler instead of the tub, wearing pjs all day.

 

[MHopkins2]

CEDmom, I don't disagree with any of that. My "oy vey meter" just starts pinging like crazy when people start screaming about child endangerment for someone not controlling a risk that's infintessimal (sp?).

 

[WDSearcher]

And then there's always the one odd story that makes you think.

Several years ago, there was a bad pile-up during the winter in Northern Wisconsin. Semi truck slammed into the back of a pick-up, who spun and hit the cars in front of him, and so on. Even though dozens of cars were involved and lots of people injured, only one person died. The reason? He was wearing a seatbelt. At the moment of impact, his first reaction was to dive to the other side of the seat, but he couldn't. He was restricted by the belt. If he'd have been able to move, he'd have come away with injuries, but he'd be alive. He died when part of the car door jacknifed in on him and punctured his lung. His friend in the passenger seat was fine.

Just goes to show you ... when it's your time, it's your time. You can follow all the rules and do all the stuff that is supposed to keep you safe, but it ultimately doesn't really matter.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by MHopkins2
CEDmom, I don't disagree with any of that. My "oy vey meter" just starts pinging like crazy when people start screaming about child endangerment for someone not controlling a risk that's infintessimal (sp?).

ITA.

 

[MHopkins2]

Originally posted by WDSearcher
Just goes to show you ... when it's your time, it's your time. You can follow all the rules and do all the stuff that is supposed to keep you safe, but it ultimately doesn't really matter.

Exactly.