My mouth hangeth open.

scoutkate · February 2012

I still can't believe what I saw at daycare this morning.

Our DC has two buildings--a front building for the youngest children, and then a building around back for the preschool. There is a dad that I see every morning--his younger son is a class ahead of Betsy, and his older son is probably 3.5 or 4 years old. He always parks up front to take his youngest inside, and then drives around back to take his older son.

This morning I saw his truck driving around to the back like I normally do. But today he had his older son on his lap, driving the truck.

I mean, my dad let me drive on his lap when I was I was little--down dirt roads. Not through a parking lot full of toddlers. WTF?

KJmashup · February 2012

That does seem like a strange choice of time and place for that.

I mean, in the mornings, I'm usually so rushed and preoccupied that the last thing I'm thinking is, we should go for a leisurely ride through the DC parking lot.

And yeah, the whole safety issue, too.

It's too early for this much headdesking.

Chrissy1019 · February 2012

Um yeah, a crowded parking lot of kids is definitely a poor choice for bonding driving lessons with a toddler. What the heck goes through people's minds??

FrickandFrack · February 2012

I would bring it up to the director. That is a very serious hazard with all the families coming in and children in the parking lot.

and now for something completely different · February 2012

What an idiot. In your own driveway is one thing, but in public? WTF? Is common sense in shortage these days?

[Deleted User] · February 2012

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Court0026 · February 2012

I would talk to the director too. That is too much for me.

thatgirl2478 · February 2012

Well - unless his toddler is REALLY tall - I don't see THAT big of a deal with it. Really he's just letting the kid steer the car - he's controlling the gas and brake. I'm sure he also wasn't going fast - probably not even fast enough to make the speedometer needle move - so I'm sure he probably would have had ample opportunity to brake.

Oh and even 'steering' is probably an over rated description of what was actually happening... I guess he could turn the wheel suddenly, but the car probably wouldn't have gone very far. Even with power assisted steering, you have to be fairly strong to turn a truck (I'm assuming a 4 yr old doesn't have THAT much upper body strength).

jlthompson19 · February 2012

Stupid and dangerous, yes, but I would assume he had his hands on the wheel as well, yes? He was probably 100% in control of the car going 5 mph. How crowded is your daycare at the time? When I drop off, I maybe see another car, never 2.

thatgirl2478 · February 2012

Scout2005:
thatgirl2478:
Well - unless his toddler is REALLY tall - I don't see THAT big of a deal with it. Really he's just letting the kid steer the car - he's controlling the gas and brake. I'm sure he also wasn't going fast - probably not even fast enough to make the speedometer needle move - so I'm sure he probably would have had ample opportunity to brake.
If someone else hit them, that kid would be at serious risk for injury.
It's a totally dumbass move, and it's too bad there wasn't a cop there at the time.

Agreed - if they were even on side streets - but in a parking lot at a daycare it's pretty unlikely that anyone was driving recklessly.

KJmashup · February 2012

thatgirl2478:
Well - unless his toddler is REALLY tall - I don't see THAT big of a deal with it. Really he's just letting the kid steer the car - he's controlling the gas and brake. I'm sure he also wasn't going fast - probably not even fast enough to make the speedometer needle move - so I'm sure he probably would have had ample opportunity to brake.

Oh and even 'steering' is probably an over rated description of what was actually happening... I guess he could turn the wheel suddenly, but the car probably wouldn't have gone very far. Even with power assisted steering, you have to be fairly strong to turn a truck (I'm assuming a 4 yr old doesn't have THAT much upper body strength).

I thought this was all pretty much implied.

I thought wrong.

I thought I was finished headdesking.

[Deleted User] · February 2012

The user and all related content has been deleted.

scoutkate · February 2012

I drop off at the busiest time of the morning. There are always several people walking across the parking lot at that time, some of them holding babies, some holding the hands of toddlers. Or both.

I'm ALWAYS nervous about hitting someone because the lot is small and it can be difficult to see a small child who is passing very close to your vehicle. Toddlers break away from their parents all the time, we all know that.

Granted, the dad had his feet on the breaks and could help his child steer, but why risk it?

thatgirl2478 · February 2012

scoutkate:
I drop off at the busiest time of the morning. There are always several people walking across the parking lot at that time, some of them holding babies, some holding the hands of toddlers. Or both.

I'm ALWAYS nervous about hitting someone because the lot is small and it can be difficult to see a small child who is passing very close to your vehicle. Toddlers break away from their parents all the time, we all know that.

Granted, the dad had his feet on the breaks and could help his child steer, but why risk it?

Ok - well this was all information missing from the original post! Under those circumstances, I agree it probably wasn't the smartest move on that Dad's part.

scoutkate · February 2012

thatgirl2478:
scoutkate:

I drop off at the busiest time of the morning. There are always several people walking across the parking lot at that time, some of them holding babies, some holding the hands of toddlers. Or both.

I'm ALWAYS nervous about hitting someone because the lot is small and it can be difficult to see a small child who is passing very close to your vehicle. Toddlers break away from their parents all the time, we all know that.

Granted, the dad had his feet on the breaks and could help his child steer, but why risk it?

Ok - well this was all information missing from the original post! Under those circumstances, I agree it probably wasn't the smartest move on that Dad's part.

TBH, I don't even really see why that information should be necessary to judge this a dangerous move on the dad's part. But I'm glad you've come to the logical conclusion.

citychicks · February 2012

scoutkate:

I drop off at the busiest time of the morning. There are always several people walking across the parking lot at that time, some of them holding babies, some holding the hands of toddlers. Or both.

I'm ALWAYS nervous about hitting someone because the lot is small and it can be difficult to see a small child who is passing very close to your vehicle. Toddlers break away from their parents all the time, we all know that.

Granted, the dad had his feet on the breaks and could help his child steer, but why risk it?

I would talk to the dad or the child's mum if you can before talking to the DIrector. Chances are the childs mum would be just as shocked and outraged as we all are. At least once a month my DH makes a really stupid 1970's-esq parenting choice or comment and I have to give him the look until he realizes that he's an idiot.

thatgirl2478 · February 2012

scoutkate:
thatgirl2478:
scoutkate:

I drop off at the busiest time of the morning. There are always several people walking across the parking lot at that time, some of them holding babies, some holding the hands of toddlers. Or both.

I'm ALWAYS nervous about hitting someone because the lot is small and it can be difficult to see a small child who is passing very close to your vehicle. Toddlers break away from their parents all the time, we all know that.

Granted, the dad had his feet on the breaks and could help his child steer, but why risk it?

Ok - well this was all information missing from the original post! Under those circumstances, I agree it probably wasn't the smartest move on that Dad's part.

TBH, I don't even really see why that information should be necessary to judge this a dangerous move on the dad's part. But I'm glad you've come to the logical conclusion.

Because, if it was an empty largish parking lot there would be very little chance of actually hitting anything?

Logic and fear are getting to intertwined these days.

[Deleted User] · February 2012

The user and all related content has been deleted.

thatgirl2478 · February 2012

SookieFrackhouse68:
IT IS A DAYCARE PARKING LOT.

No other details are freaking needed.

Christ on a bike.

Taking it to the extreme - but if it was midnight and the same thing was happening then the details would matter.

J+MS · February 2012

thatgirl2478:
scoutkate:
thatgirl2478:
scoutkate:

I drop off at the busiest time of the morning. There are always several people walking across the parking lot at that time, some of them holding babies, some holding the hands of toddlers. Or both.

I'm ALWAYS nervous about hitting someone because the lot is small and it can be difficult to see a small child who is passing very close to your vehicle. Toddlers break away from their parents all the time, we all know that.

Granted, the dad had his feet on the breaks and could help his child steer, but why risk it?

Ok - well this was all information missing from the original post! Under those circumstances, I agree it probably wasn't the smartest move on that Dad's part.

TBH, I don't even really see why that information should be necessary to judge this a dangerous move on the dad's part. But I'm glad you've come to the logical conclusion.
Because, if it was an empty largish parking lot there would be very little chance of actually hitting anything?

Logic and fear are getting to intertwined these days.

Dude, it's fuckings stupid to let your 4 year old steer your vehicle in a parking lot of toddlers. Christ almighty.

KJmashup · February 2012

thatgirl2478:
SookieFrackhouse68:
IT IS A DAYCARE PARKING LOT.

No other details are freaking needed.

Christ on a bike.
Taking it to the extreme - but if it was midnight and the same thing was happening then the details would matter.

I'm not a lawyer, but I'm pretty sure that legal liability rests on the owner of the private property regardless of business hours.

MegGary · February 2012

Dumb move no matter where they where. I saw a mom drive away with her baby out of the carseat once from prek. This was after she left the baby in the car alone to walk her older kid into the school. It's a good distance & no visibility. Street parking no less. I say baby because the girl couldn't of been more than 12-18 months old. I was really upset.

One of DD's friends moms at prek doesn't put her 4 yr old into any kind of booster & allows her to sit in the front seat. DD saw this & now wants to copy her friend. It's a constant battle but DD is not not sitting in her 5 point harness carseat. Sorry kid ain't gonna happen. You will sit in that thing as long as possible I don't care what so & so's mom allows.

[Deleted User] · February 2012

The user and all related content has been deleted.

thatgirl2478 · February 2012

J+MS:
thatgirl2478:
scoutkate:
thatgirl2478:
scoutkate:

I drop off at the busiest time of the morning. There are always several people walking across the parking lot at that time, some of them holding babies, some holding the hands of toddlers. Or both.

I'm ALWAYS nervous about hitting someone because the lot is small and it can be difficult to see a small child who is passing very close to your vehicle. Toddlers break away from their parents all the time, we all know that.

Granted, the dad had his feet on the breaks and could help his child steer, but why risk it?

Ok - well this was all information missing from the original post! Under those circumstances, I agree it probably wasn't the smartest move on that Dad's part.

TBH, I don't even really see why that information should be necessary to judge this a dangerous move on the dad's part. But I'm glad you've come to the logical conclusion.
Because, if it was an empty largish parking lot there would be very little chance of actually hitting anything?

Logic and fear are getting to intertwined these days.
Dude, it's fuckings stupid to let your 4 year old steer your vehicle in a parking lot of toddlers. Christ almighty.

Yes - but as I said before that was missing from the original post. Without that information it's just a parking lot that may or may not have had children/parents in it.

[Deleted User] · February 2012

The user and all related content has been deleted.

J+MS · February 2012

thatgirl2478:
J+MS:
thatgirl2478:
scoutkate:
thatgirl2478:
scoutkate:

I drop off at the busiest time of the morning. There are always several people walking across the parking lot at that time, some of them holding babies, some holding the hands of toddlers. Or both.

I'm ALWAYS nervous about hitting someone because the lot is small and it can be difficult to see a small child who is passing very close to your vehicle. Toddlers break away from their parents all the time, we all know that.

Granted, the dad had his feet on the breaks and could help his child steer, but why risk it?

Ok - well this was all information missing from the original post! Under those circumstances, I agree it probably wasn't the smartest move on that Dad's part.

TBH, I don't even really see why that information should be necessary to judge this a dangerous move on the dad's part. But I'm glad you've come to the logical conclusion.
Because, if it was an empty largish parking lot there would be very little chance of actually hitting anything?

Logic and fear are getting to intertwined these days.
Dude, it's fuckings stupid to let your 4 year old steer your vehicle in a parking lot of toddlers. Christ almighty.
Yes - but as I said before that was missing from the original post. Without that information it's just a parking lot that may or may not have had children/parents in it.

Ok, let me rephrase, it's fuckings stupid to let your 4 year old steer your car, period.

scoutkate · February 2012

It's a daycare at 7:45am on a Wednesday morning.

Did I really need to spell it out that there were other cars and children in the parking lot?

[Deleted User] · February 2012

The user and all related content has been deleted.

and now for something completely different · February 2012

I don't understand how anyone could find this remotely acceptable.

Daycare parking during business hours = chance there are children walking through the parking lot and cars pulling in

It's just a chance not worth taking. How the hell can anyone argue with that?

[Deleted User] · February 2012

SookieFrackhouse68:
scoutkate:

It's a daycare at 7:45am on a Wednesday morning.

Did I really need to spell it out that there were other cars and children in the parking lot?

Apparently you do for Matlock over here.

Matlock was busy getting a hot dog, so....

KJmashup · February 2012

SookieFrackhouse68:
scoutkate:

It's a daycare at 7:45am on a Wednesday morning.

Did I really need to spell it out that there were other cars and children in the parking lot?

Apparently you do for Matlock over here.

*pees a little*

and now for something completely different · February 2012

sofamonkey:
SookieFrackhouse68:
scoutkate:

It's a daycare at 7:45am on a Wednesday morning.

Did I really need to spell it out that there were other cars and children in the parking lot?

Apparently you do for Matlock over here.

Matlock was busy getting a hot dog, so....

Yeah, but Columbo though

[Deleted User] · February 2012

The user and all related content has been deleted.

rach7883 · February 2012

and now for something completely different:
What an idiot. In your own driveway is one thing, but in public? WTF? Is common sense in shortage these days?

This, but keep in mind "Common Sense" isnt Common!! At least not in this day and age, very unfortunate fact!

thatgirl2478 · February 2012

SookieFrackhouse68:
What was NOT missing in the OP was that is was clearly during business hours. Business hours = children coming in and out.

You are being deliberately obtuse and obstinate.

Probably. If I had a dollar every time I heard this I'd have a lot of dollars...

I guess I see a difference between a relatively empty lot and a full lot. There's no way I'd let my kid drive around a Wal Mart parking lot and I probably wouldn't let he drive around a relatively empty lot with the possibility of children running around. But would I let my kid sit on my lap and 'steer' under the right circumstances - yep without a seconds hesitation.

All I was doing was pointing out that in all likelyhood it probably wasn't as dangerous as it was made out to be. There are a lot more dangerous activities that I would be much more worried about. Driving without seatbelts, driving without your kid in a car seat, etc.

[Deleted User] · February 2012

The user and all related content has been deleted.

J+MS · February 2012

thatgirl2478:
SookieFrackhouse68:
What was NOT missing in the OP was that is was clearly during business hours. Business hours = children coming in and out.

You are being deliberately obtuse and obstinate.
Probably. If I had a dollar every time I heard this I'd have a lot of dollars...
I guess I see a difference between a relatively empty lot and a full lot. There's no way I'd let my kid drive around a Wal Mart parking lot and I probably wouldn't let he drive around a relatively empty lot with the possibility of children running around. But would I let my kid sit on my lap and 'steer' under the right circumstances - yep without a seconds hesitation.
All I was doing was pointing out that in all likelyhood it probably wasn't as dangerous as it was made out to be. There are a lot more dangerous activities that I would be much more worried about. Driving without seatbelts, driving without your kid in a car seat, etc.

You do realize that when you let your kid steer, you are, in fact, doing all those things in bold?

J+MS · February 2012

Good Lord, when did we get this winner?

thatgirl2478 · February 2012

J+MS:
thatgirl2478:
SookieFrackhouse68:
What was NOT missing in the OP was that is was clearly during business hours. Business hours = children coming in and out.

You are being deliberately obtuse and obstinate.
Probably. If I had a dollar every time I heard this I'd have a lot of dollars...
I guess I see a difference between a relatively empty lot and a full lot. There's no way I'd let my kid drive around a Wal Mart parking lot and I probably wouldn't let he drive around a relatively empty lot with the possibility of children running around. But would I let my kid sit on my lap and 'steer' under the right circumstances - yep without a seconds hesitation.
All I was doing was pointing out that in all likelyhood it probably wasn't as dangerous as it was made out to be. There are a lot more dangerous activities that I would be much more worried about. Driving without seatbelts, driving without your kid in a car seat, etc.
You do realize that when you let your kid steer, you are, in fact, doing all those things in bold?

Ah you're right, should have put in my post that I was specifically referring to speeds over 20 mph... Confused

Seriously, everything is a judgement call and every judgement call is situational. Believe it or not I actually trust my judgement.

thatgirl2478 · February 2012

J+MS:
Good Lord, when did we get this winner?

I've been around - I don't post much.

nice to meet you too...

KJmashup · February 2012

t watley:
Man, that girl is annoying.

On a positive note, I have that Stevie Wonder song stuck in my head now. It's one of my favs of his.

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My mouth hangeth open.

Re: My mouth hangeth open.

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