Parents let their kids sit on their laps and "drive" all the time, right? So it shouldn't be a big deal that a father in North Carolina hoisted his 2-year-old onto his lap and let the little boy "steer" them home, right? Well, hmm, that's up for debate.
When my dad let me sit on his lap and drive when I was 3 or 4, it was from the driveway into the garage. This couple thought it'd be cool if they let their son take the wheel on a two-lane highway, in the rain. They also thought it'd be tops if they took video of it all and posted it on Facebook.
That was not some stellar decision making. Besides the fact that they put their son in danger by letting him ride outside of his car-seat, they shared a video of their bold choice on social media. That's what gets me.
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Parents have to weigh a lot of options. Do they want to listen to a hissy fit for an hour, or give in and let the kid have a second cookie? Do they want to let them cry it out, or let Junior sleep with mommy and daddy? Do they want to share a cool experience "driving" together, or play it safe and keep everyone buckled up?
Moms and dads balance (what seems like) hundreds of these options every minute. Sometimes they make good choices, sometimes they make terrible ones, but if there are more positives than negatives, they're doing a pretty OK job.
However, it gets tricky when you expose, or brag about, one of those weak parenting moments. This N.C. couple, although they supposedly now regret their choice to let their toddler drive, took to Facebook to boast that their boy's a great driver, lol, and, well, that's not good.
You're allowed to make bad decisions as a parent (for the most part), but common sense should stop you from sharing those not-awesome decisions with the world. Because once someone starts taking pride in their poor choices, that's when you have to begin to worry.
What do you think?
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Comments 42
I have allowed my daughters to drive several times, BUT NEVER ON THE ROAD! We lived in an apartment complex with a huge field beside it. I would drive into the field and put them in my lap and let them go for it. I controlled the speed, never letting it get above 15 MPH, and I helped with the steering wheel when making turns. I would never put my child in harm's way like this! My 14 year old now has enough driving experience that she drives the back streets through our neighborhood to her school on a regular basis. Before we get to the highway, she has to pull over and let me drive the rest of the way, only because it is illegal for her to drive on public streets at this point. I still don't let her drive in the rain or at night. She'll be ready for her permit in a few months and then we can practice safety in the rain and at night only on the roads in our neighborhood. It's a skill all children need to learn, but parents must use common sense when teaching their children to drive!
yea but not at 2 years old. u get into a damn accident or someone skids out of control and you've killed your baby on contact. very irresponsible.
that was a response to the girl who didnt see a problem with it
Jeez-who cares? That's the problem of thoday- we 're too damn anal. I remember things I did as a child. (I'm 36 now) We had a station wagon and my mom would just put a fitted sheet in the back with all of my toys and bottle and I survived. I never wore helmets. Shit- people need to chill out. The mom/dad was right there with him. And whose to say that if they got in an accident the car seat would have protected him anyways? Kids do die in car seats.
if they were in a closed, empty parking lot it would be a different story. but their child is in the front seat, without a seatbelt, not to mention the airbag going off would kill or disfigure him, AND its raining. how dare they. their child should be taken away from these irresponsible parents.
What has this site turned into!? CafeJudge??? This is another reason Facebook should be as private as possible. Its none of your business what other parents do. Most parents make mistakes. And most parents were raised so different.
How about focus on your kids and leave others alone. Yes, its dangerous, and its a scary thought, but who said you were the post about it, and then have all these people being complete jerks and talk so badly of these parents. You cannot sit here and say that you havent done something you regret before.
Smh. What awful people you all are.
You can have all the cool driving experiences you together that you want, when he's old enough to actually drive!! What is wrong with these people?? And in the rain no less? Let's face it, it's more dangerous to drive in the rain. Oil comes up out of the roads making them slippery, vision is blurred, people are slamming on their brakes right and left. What if they had crashed and he wasn't in his car seat? I have let my son steer in my lap from the front of the driveway to the end of our long driveway. That's it! But on the street, in the rain, and not being in his car seat? Unacceptable! And just because the parent's hand is on the steering wheel doesn't mean that kid can't grab the wheel and give it a good yank!
Never Never in the rain! Never Never on a highway! Wtf is wrong with the people who think this is ok? I aloowed my 3 yr old to sit on my lap and steer, IN AN EMPTY PARKING LOT! This was obviously an ignorant decision. That decision couldve been fatal for the child, regardless of whether or not there was an adult helping with the wheel.