Dear JoeI think it is wonderful that you are helping to expose people for not securing their children properly. This is an issue that is near and dear to my heart. Here is my own personal experience with this.
Three years and two months ago, my mother-in-law was driving back from Wal-Mart to our house, which is 2 miles away. For some reason, she decided not to put my three year old in a car seat, one that we had provided for them to keep in their car. She placed in the rear seat of her sedan and put a simple lap belt on her. During the ride home, she blacked out at the wheel, striking a telephone pole. The police estimate her speed at 40mph. The impact killed my mother-in-law instantly, along with my precious daughter, Annabelle. Annabelle was ejected through the front window and died minutes later.
Please have your readers make sure their children are secured properly so this doesn't ever happen again! You cannot imagine the pain this causes to write this, but I want to help others out there.
Anna Stanson
Although this is a tragic story and I can't imagine how you deal with that everyday, I can't help but to think of how times have changed since I was a child. I'm only 28, but it seems as though not we protect every aspect of our childrens' lives. I don't recall being in a child's seat or booster seat until I was upwards of 8 years old, I never wore a helmet while riding a bicycle, I could play freely without fear of danger, my toys were metal and not plastic, playgrounds were covered with hard dirt and not soft mulch. What happened? I don't mean to sound condescending but the times are so different, why? I know we have new technologies and new dangers, but to me it doesn't seem like half of the things we hear about today happened 25 years ago. I didn't have half of the safety precautions as a child that we do today and I survived and turned out ok (maybe 'ok' could be debatable). I don't disagree with all of our safety 'gear' that we have today, just wondering why its like that now and not then. I think that this could make a interesting open thread.
ReplyDeleteWHile I am sure this was difficult for you, I appreciate that you shared the experience of your personal tragedy. It could save a life. I saw a news story this morning about a babysitter who left a child unattended in a car seat to go back into the house for something. When she returned, the child had become entangled in one of the straps and had died of strangulation. Folks, once these tragic things happen they can't be taken back. Children are a precious gift and we all need to be reminded from time to time what that extra minute devoted to something a little inconvenient (taking the child with you into the store, getting that car seat just right and the child safely buckled before putting the car in motion, letting the phone ring instead of leaving a child unattended in the tub) could make the difference. Now, go hug your children and be greatful.
ReplyDeleteJoe, it is egregious that readers are creating false information for you to post for the benefit of others. You will hear about this. They have all gone mad.
ReplyDeleteFor one thing, 30 years ago there was not NEAR the amount of traffic on the roads as there is now.
ReplyDeleteFor another thing, IMO, cars were made tougher than they are now. They didn't used to be made "to be wrecked" like they are now.
A lot of cars don't even have frames anymore, they have uni-bodies.
So I can see where the environment has changed and therefore the steps we need to take to be safe have also changed.
Growing up, I don't remember ever wearing a seat belt, nor did my parents but with the traffic on the roads nowadays and the sizes of some of the vehicles, I wouldn't dare not buckle up!
Just like kids playing outside (which I must admit I don't see much of anymore). When I was growing up, once school was out, my parents saw me go out the door after breakfast (if I ate one) and wouldn't see me again till dinner time. They didn't worry, they didn't need to! Now, if I was late for dinner, they knew there was a possibility something was wrong and would drive around the areas I frequented looking for me.
There was no way of CALLING me, heck, we didn't even have a phone in our house, much less such a thing as a cell phone!
Now, there are more people! Now there is more crime! And crimes are different now or atleast seem to be but IMO I think while there may be more crime, it's probably just enhanced by the instant news via the internet and people being able to text and call each other instantaneously, so we are all more aware of what is really going on when it is going on.
Now, I'm only talking about the 70's here, which is really not that long ago.
I know I got a little wordy here, sorry, but I felt it was connected.
I'm sorry for you loss.... She was a beautiful child.
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell is going on? People are e-mailing false information, and all for what?
ReplyDeleteAnother blog admits this was false info to set you up. Why the obsession with you?
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your tragic story. Hopefully this will open some eyes. Our hearts go out to you and yours. May peace be with you.
ReplyDeleteWhy aren't taxi cabs required to have child safety seats?
ReplyDeleteAnna, this is such a tragedy and I can not imagine what you go through every day missing your precious angel. And bless you for trying to help warn others to the dangers of not securing children in car seats. I know your little angel is watching over you...
ReplyDeleteBoni
What amazes me is that you can get a car whose roof folds into the trunk and a mini van whose seats fold into the floor. Why in the world can't they invent a child's seating system that's not a major ordeal to install and remove?
ReplyDeleteSo Anna, what kind of credibility do you have now that you have been exposed as a liar?
ReplyDeleteIs that really your name, or is that made up as well?
No remorse for the mother in law whom you can not blame for a medical issue? No soap box to stand on and back Joe for the child safty seats for children? This has got to be a set up for Joe
ReplyDelete