The Safety Police
Jill SaysSometimes I’m reluctant to leave the kids alone in Eric’s care. It’s not that he’s an inattentive parent. Well, not COMPLETELY inattentive, that is. Just mostly inattentive. Like, hypothetically speaking, he’s the kind of dad who might hypothetically let his baby daughter fall off a chair and hit her head when he was supposed to be watching her, but instead was busy filling out his NCAA brackets. . . . That’s just a hypothetical, mind you.
When I’m away, I often have visions of what might be going on at home. I picture the two little kids having a picnic of Comet cleanser in the kitchen, while the teenagers crank the “Dazed and Confused” soundtrack and light up in the basement. And Eric? In my imagination he would probably be reading the sports page in the bathroom. Realistically I know that would never happen, but I can’t help but worry. Wouldn’t you?
Now I know what Eric will say to all this. That I’m the safety police. It bugs him that I ALWAYS wear my seatbelt. It annoys him when I insist on jackets and hats in cold weather. Or helmets for bicycle riding. He also thinks it’s unnecessary that I still have our five-year-old riding in his Britax car seat. Although. . . here’s a little Public Service Announcement for the readers: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration strongly recommends a car seat or booster for all children under age eight. So there, Eric.
Eric Says
Wait a minute . . . our five-year old needs to be in a car seat? That sounds totally bogus to me. Next thing you know they’re going to tell me I can’t smoke around kids anymore. Or that the kids can’t play "kick the can" at the landfill. Well I, for one, am sick of the safety police telling me what I can and cannot do. I don't feel the need to follow any of these so-called "safety rules" to keep kids safe. I can just keep 'em safe by instinct. I go by my own experiences. I mean,when I was a kid, they hadn’t even invented car seats yet (at least that's what mom told me) and I don’t remember suffering too much auto-related head trauma (except for that time that I fell out of grandma’s car, but that was only one time, and she wasn’t even going that fast). So what I'm saying is that I’m pretty sure our five-year old will be just fine sitting up front with me in the car. And don’t even get me started on bike helmets. Can a bike helmet stop a bullet? I think not. So how are you gonna tell me my kid will be safe just because he’s wearing a bike helmet? I rest my case.
Anyway, Jill, since you asked by starting this blog post, let me just say, trust me, you DO NOT want to know what goes on around here when you are not around. The lesson, as always . . . never put me in charge of anything.
So who’s on safety patrol at your house?
Labels: Jill and Eric
posted by Jill at 8:05 PM
8 Say it:
Wow! I can't believe I'm actually the very first to comment - this is completely unprecedented! It usually takes me until the weekend (at least to show up!!!). Anway...
It must really be a 'mommy-thing' because as much as I starve for time away from the kids I'm always giving Hubby last minute safety to-dos as I'm walking out the door. I remind him where the Tylenol is, and that I'll have my cell phone on me in case he sees blood. Of course, when I return he's held down the fort perfectly which (you'd think) would keep from worrying the next time I step out; but, nah, not a chance. I go through the same thing each and every time.
I'd have to say that in our casa it'd be me doing safety patrol always (ie: beanies and jackets at the slightest breeze, all hands on the van/stroller while Mama gets situated, etc.)
It becomes a little consuming but it's better than the insanity I go through if I do otherwise.
Eric, I'll be coming by for a safety inspection soon! Hehehe! Happy Friday you guys!
I fear I am more like Eric in this area. And personally I think car seat laws are getting out of hand. Pretty soon we'll all be wearing those harnesses like they have on the thrill rides at the amusement park. Safety is an illusion.
That said, Touchstone is worse than I am on safety. It's a guy thing for sure, and it's a miracle we've survived thus far.
My wife and I are a mix of both of you. I am one to not put a hat on my daughter if I'm just running 15 feet to the car, but my wife always does. Then there's times when Jenn gets involved in things and doesn't realize what's going on around her and I hear every thing.
As far as the bike helmet type thing, all that crap is because of the few people in the world that make lots of noise and complain about things that just happen. I fell of my bike a million times and I'm still here. As far as the car seat thing, I agree with it up to a certain age/weight. Eight years old seems a bit old to me for a booster seat. I'd only have my daughter use one at that age if she was very short and needed it for comfort purposes. Certain things should be left up to the parents.
Hmm, interesting. I'm probably more attentive. But I guess the good thing is my husband is the better First Aid giver.
Our oldest child graduated from the booster seat when she was eight. I really don't think it's a big deal--you have it anyway so why not use it if it will keep them safer?
Of course, we haven't been in a car accident at all, so I'm always half thinking that all this time we could have just let them climb around loose or sit on our laps and they would have been just fine. You never know what will happen next time though...
saftey is over fucking rated. hense the reason that modern kids are total pussies.
falling off the high chair= learning not to
90% of most peoples life lessons are from MAKING mistakes....
I thought falling down and hitting themselves on the heads fell in the CHARACTER BUILDING category. No?
People should read this.
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