Fearless
6:16 PM Posted by Mommy Is Green
Over the weekend, I saw two teenagers being reckless during my ride home. The first one I saw was on a skateboard. He was crossing the street in front of a car. He didn't feel like stopping so he continued into the road with no regard to his life or the life of others.
The next kid I saw was playing the guitar while riding his bike. He had no hands on his bike and he was on a street with traffic. I wish I could have taken a picture of this kid but I was driving so that wasn't possible unless I wanted to be reckless myself.
Okay...so I admit I was fearless and a bit reckless when I was younger too. But that has changed. I started to become extra careful when I became pregnant with my son and it has stayed the same since. I drive the speed limit, I don't always go right on red, and I make sure not to put myself in certain situations.
Right after I had my son I was driving alone to the store while my husband stayed with the baby. I realized that even though my son wasn't in the car that I was now somebody's mother. I had an innocent child at home that needed his parents to protect him and we needed to protect ourselves in order to protect him. Before that, I probably would've taken more chances in traffic.
For the person who is on my bumper to turn right on red when my son is in the car:
I'm not going to turn right on red. You can forget about it! I'm not risking our lives because you can't wait!
You won't see me on a skateboard in front of moving cars either. Or playing guitar on my bike.
Stay Safe!
June 6, 2010 9:30 PM
OMG! I think it is the schools out syndrome!! Last night at 11:00 PM I saw a little guy on his bike crossing a major intersection. Poor guy wasn't fast enough to make it across the 6 lanes before the light turned. I was gasping when it turned red to hope that the driver on the other side of the road won't be the type to be in a hurry. I was with my daughter and said I hope you never did that when you were little... She told right like I would get in so much trouble!!
June 7, 2010 7:48 AM
I annoy people all the time by driving cautiously but what really burns me up is when my daughter is trying to learn to drive safely and she has people riding her tail and honking at her to pull out into fast traffic.
We also have an intersection near my house where at least 3 cars blow through the red light every morning while I'm driving my kids. It takes everything I have in me not to chase them down and give them an earful about endangering our lives. But then I would be being irresponsible: )
June 7, 2010 8:13 AM
I dare say I annoy a lot of folks too with my cautious. I'm always careful when I have kids in the car, and I've had them in the car with me for so long it's become a habit for me now. It disgusts me how some parents speed past the school gate and park indiscriminately when school lets out!
June 7, 2010 9:25 PM
Just this past weekend our whole family was heading out and we got to an intersection near our house where we turn from a small street onto a big one... I paused and waited a while for a car to go by and my husband completely started to make fun of me. I told him he was being rude and that I didn't care about the 10 seconds wasted, I cared about our lives!
I know exactly what you mean, once you have kids you just care so much more about being safe!
June 8, 2010 2:19 PM
Ugh, those kids! I was once fearless but not that fearless! You're right though, when you're pg or have kids of your own all those risks you might have once taken are lost in the wind somewhere. Priorities shift. No doubt I drive people insane because I can almost be grandma like in my driving (okay, not dangerous granny but you know what I mean). In fact, the other day I was driving through our neighborhood park, which is quite large and busy that they have speedbumps. Well, this twit behind me kept throwing his arms up every time I slowed for a speedbump (I also had a small trailer like extension on the back that bounces if you go over bumps too fast or can scrape the ground if too low). Um, dude, I have my son in the car! Finally, after about 5 speedbumps of this I yelled at him to back off because I have my baby in the car. I mean really dude? What's your hurry? You have to drive slow anyway and you're getting mad at me?! Ticked me off. I'm still ticked off apparently. lol! But you know, I don't care. I have to be safe and now, it's just natural to go the speed limit, keep plenty of distance and just not be careless, reckless, or risky. Too much on the line. And yeah, now that school's out watch out for all those kiddies out there, whether they're being fearless or not. Thanks for this post!
July 15, 2010 7:02 PM
I live right by a Junior High and I really have to watch out for those teens every day after school when I'm driving my kids home from school. They will walk right out in front of my car without even stopping at the curb or looking out for cars. Some times I'm sure they do it on purpose. Others times I think they are just in a world of their own.