Comments on: Getting involved vs. MYOB

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:16:12 +0000

I agree with you completely. I think more of us should speak up when we see such obviously dangerous behavior. BTW, besides being a “seatbelt Nazi” another pet peeve – children who are obviously too young riding in the front seat.

By: mama of two

mama of two — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:26:12 +0000

Once I was in the drive-thru lane beside a woman with 6 preschoolers and no carseats, probably unlicensed daycare. I convinced myself that calling the police would cost the woman her livelihood and force parents to miss work or lose a job. I regret not calling because the level of childcare was obviously substandard, illegal, and dangerous. I am learning that when I argue with myself about an action, I am trying to talk myself out of doing what I know is the right thing.

By: Tran

Tran — Wed, 28 May 2008 07:52:01 +0000

Thank you for having the courage to say something! So often we just turn the other way. Unfortunately she’s more upset with you for honking at her than with herself for putting her child’s life in danger.

By: Christie

Christie — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:06:34 +0000

No Ma’am you did not over react. Good for you for honking and making her aware since she was not paying attention. I would have done the same thing. That is scary to think what might have happened to this child.

By: Tanya/Israel

Tanya/Israel — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:11:05 +0000

I have a special-needs kid who used to be a “seatbelt nazi” himself
Everyday in Israel I see parents driving their kids to school/preschool God knows how – riding shotgun jumping up and down, on their heads in the back – you name it. I think it’s a crime! I ask my Kid to buckle up even if it’s a 100 meter drive! So your reaction is completely justified.
(on another topic – my kid is totally “normal” looking too so I know what your friend has to go through everytime someone looks at them funny…)

By: Allie

Allie — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:16:59 +0000

Yep, call the police non-emergency number on your cellphone and give them the lady’s license plate number and location.

Look, this isn’t an issue of your personal opinion on parenting versus this other woman’s personal opinion; it’s THE LAW that a child that young must be in a car seat. Paying a ticket and maybe having to talk to child protective services might sharpen her up a bit.

I have a problem with the phrase “seatbelt Nazi” too. It’s one thing to insist that adults have the right to risk their own lives, but a completely different matter when adults risk the lives of children. The rule should be that the car doesn’t move until the belts are on and if they come off for some reason the car stops until they’re back on.

When I was seven years old, I was in an accident with my grandmother which sharply brought home to me the need for seatbelts. We were stopped at a stoplight, minding our own business, when a fast-moving car plowed into the back of someone two cars behind us and threw their car into the back of our car. Our big old-fashioned 70′s car was totalled. The man in the car behind ours had to be taken to the hospital because his head went through the windshield – he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. But my grandmother and I were wearing seatbelts, and we were fine, not a scratch on us.

By: margaret

margaret — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:48:31 +0000

What good is a carseat if the belts aren’t latched??? As a mom with three carseats in my car, there is NO freakin way a kid can even get near the window if his carseat belts are latched. Should call in her license tag to the cops; and or child services.

By: Kaleigh

Kaleigh — Mon, 26 May 2008 16:19:27 +0000

I would’ve called the police’s non-emergency line. Actually, I have. Many times. The reason our country has such a high rate of childhood accidental deaths? Is because of parents like that.

By: Todd W.

Todd W. — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:50:30 +0000

You did exactly what I would have.

By: Stephanie Klein

Stephanie Klein — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:22:20 +0000

Not a seatbely Nazi at all. And fyi- whenever I call anyone a nazi on my blog I get 100 hate emails. Last time I called someone a weight nazi…

Stephanie