I often encounter things in my life that make me go "hmmmm...really?" I'm certain that after sharing my experiences, you will either agree, or have more of your own hilarity to add.
Seeing as how this weather has been just awesome the last week or so, I am reminded about last summer, and some of the crazy things that I saw on TV. If you remember, last summer there was a stint where it was incredibly hot in the midwest (and really across the whole country). Every night there was a piece on the news on how to "Beat the Heat." There was the usual, stay indoors and do arts and crafts, go to the pool, etc. But then there was the out of the ordinary activities that the news would broadcast. For example, they would show images of kids busting open fire hydrants and flooding the streets, followed immediately by a "this is not recommended." So why, then, do the show it in a segment about beating the heat? That makes no sense to me.
Also on the news, again during this heat wave, there was a segment on remembering to take your child with you when you got some where. I wish I was kidding when I tell you this, but there are actually people who forget that their kids are in the car seat when they arrive some where and they just leave them in the boiling hot car. This actually happens!! So the news, being as proactive and helpful as they are, provided the general public with some great ways to remember your child in the back seat (besides of course remembering that you are a parent and your child is in the car with you). One of their suggestions quite literally made me stop what I was doing and scream at the TV. They suggested leaving your cell phone in the back seat of the car, so that you remember to grab your baby. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? They are implying, with this, that there are people out there that covet their cell phone more than their own child! I am sorry but I find this incredibly unbelievable. And the fact that they have to even provide this as suggestion on the nightly news almost makes me sick. People are amazing!
And since we are focusing on summer and warm weather, one more thing that really grinds my gears is the cost of bathing suits. An average men's swimming suit probably costs anywhere from $60-$75 (and in my opinion that is still a lot for a pair of shorts that you wear in the water). But a woman's bikini, which is literally two little tiny pieces of fabric costs $60-$75 PER PIECE, making the bathing suit cost about $150.00!!! Can you believe that?? How does that make any sense? I can buy an entire sweat suit that would cover my whole body for that price. But a teeny little piece of fabric that barely covers my lady parts is going to run me the same price? It's crazy. And the thing is - we pay it!!
So here's to another summer filled with hydrant flooding, cell phones in the back seat, and over-priced bikinis.
People leaving their kids in the car in the car happens a lot. In fact I saw a segment the other day talking about a pink bear that you placed in the car seat when empty, but hooked on your rear view mirror, or on your key chain when the baby was in the car with you as a reminder. I know it seems impossible to imagine, but moms have rediculous amounts of info on their minds and unfortunately it's easy to forget stuff. Last year there was a story from some small town about a woman who forgot her baby was in her car seat and went into work. She was a teacher. Her and her husband would take turns taking the baby, and she had so much on her mind that it wasn't till hours later they discovered her dead baby in her car. Imagine living with that. Thankfully this never happened to me. But I rarely just had one sleeping baby in the car!
ReplyDeleteI could only imagine having that hanging over my head. I know what you mean about mom's having a lot on their mind, but I just can't imagine being so busy that you forget your child in the car! Even with Finn in the car, he doesn't understand, he doesn't talk back, but I talk to him the whole way! I engage with him. If I do that with a puppy, imagine what kinds of conversations I am going to have with a baby in the car. HAHA! Also, I drive completely differenly with Finn in the car. I need to get one of those "Baby on Board" suction cups, and change it to "Puppy on Board" because I am so cautious with that dog in the car with me. I know I sound righteous, and until I have a child I am really in no position to judge, but leaving a child in the car seems so far-fetched for me.
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