Papa’s Ranting

Dearest Little One,

Papa cannot take it anymore! Papa needs to rant and vent about other Papas and Mamas!

Papa cannot understand why other Papas and Mamas do not seem to care about the safety of their little ones, Baby Girl. Papa sees so many parents driving around with their kids either on their laps if they are really small like you instead of putting them safely in a child restraint (child seat). Or letting them fool around in the back seat without making them sit down properly with seatbelts on.

The one that Papa really really really cannot understand is the first one where a baby is placed on the lap of an adult in the car while it’s moving! What do they think will happen if their vehicle is involved in a collision? Why do they think that they can hold onto the baby then? Don’t they know that the physics of the situation always results in the baby being thrown forward – usually with disastrous effect? Or the baby will be the adult’s “airbag” cushioning the adult in a collision? Either way, it’s not going to be good for the little ones.

Another thing that gets Papa’s goat is where adults bring their children out and walk along the streets without watching out for traffic. It is bad enough that they don’t watch out for their own safety but must they endanger their little ones as well by moving around dangerously? Why are they totally oblivious to traffic? Papa saw a pair of parents pushing their little ones in strollers right in the middle of the road while walking back to their block of flats with cars right behind them!

Skyler, you are not going to be let loose in the car, understand? You will always have to sit in your car seat because Papa and Mama love you a lot and never ever want anything bad to happen to you. Just because we are careful when we drive, it doesn’t mean that other drivers on the road are as careful. We know that it may be uncomfortable for you and you want the freedom to move around and play but this is totally non-negotiable!

We love you very very much, Little One,

Mama and Papa