Replies to '12/27 Extreme Parenting'

When Dr. Phil asked Mom, "lose the money or lose the money & scar the child", she had a pause.   

Let's pose a simple question: 

"Mom, if he got injured for the remainder of the season, would you lose the money?" 

Of course. 

Then what's the difference between losing the money because it's the right thing to do or because he gets injured? 

There are things worse than losing the money. 

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Kid driving fast. 

"We weren't being reckless, we were just driving fast." 

Talk about sophistry. 

Driving fast isn't being reckless? 

I've got news for him.  When (not if) they get stopped by the cops, a speeding ticket isn't the only thing thing the driver will get.  Reckless driving will be included and probably any number of other things.  The driver will likely find himself arrested as well - particularly if he is a teen and needs a "scared straight" situation. 

When I was his age, I was volunteering on the back of the ambulance and not long after, sought permission to get a license as an EMT before I was 18 (the standard age).  I had no problems following the rules & laws of the road when I was his age, particularly because I saw the aftereffects of people driving like idiots. 

Dear Dad: 

Congrats!  He should drive the same, regardless of whether the chip was there [or not or whether he knew it was there [or not.   

Now, we just have to find out if they had seatbelts on.  Any time you hear, "was ejected from the vehicle", odds are, the seatbelt wasn't on.  Yes, there are exceptions someone will cite when wearing a seatbelt might cause harm, but if you're looking at the "Lottery of Life", you'll have more wins than losses if you wear that belt. 

"ClickIt or Ticket"?  I think it's wrong.  Make it a business decision.  Encourage the insurance companies to add one clause to the policies:  we will not cover anyone who didn't have their seatbelts on. 

Here in Indiana, one father (of an adult woman - later twenties, not teens) pled the Legislature to enact a law for pickup trucks to have a seatbelt law as well because his daughter would be alive if there was a law.  I thought, "What an idiot!"  You can't wear a seatbelt unless there's a law?"  She chose not to wear a seatbelt, regardless of whether there's a law [or not. 

I'm comfortable in a seatbelt, and even when I drop someone off who will, let's say, be in a store for a little while, then come back out, I generally don't take the seatbelt off. It's not for a safety reason, it's just comfortable and it doesn't bother me to wear it. 

Revoke the laws of mandatory wearing and let Darwin take over.