I took my kids to the skate park this morning. I sat under the pavillion with my copy of Don’t Look Down and settled in to read.
Only one other kid was wearing a helmet. I make my kids wear their helmets when they’re skating. But apparently I’m only one of a few.
Another mother was sitting near me and we struck up a conversation. She commented on how amazed she was that both of my boys wore their helmets. She said she would NEVER make hers wear a helmet unless the park required it.
“Why not?”
“I wouldn’t want to embarrass them in front of the other kids.”
“Embarrass them? What do you mean?”
“Well, if nobody else is wearing a helmet, I can’t make my kids feel uncomfortable because they have to wear a helmet.”
“So you’d rather pay for the hospital visit and possibly the long-term care of an incapicitated child due to a head injury than make your kid wear a helmet?”
“We have good insurance.”
I swear, I don’t understand people. My kids will wear a helmet as long as I can make them. I’m the parent. If they don’t wear their helmet, they don’t go to the skate park.
And you know what? The other kids could care less if my kid has a helmet on or not.
Sigh.
I really, truly don’t understand people.
Bitchin' Fiction: Musings by author Melissa McKenzie / Melissa Francis 
“We have good INSURANCE?” Wow. I bet she gets to vote, too.
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DItto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
And now a word about car seats. I was driving to physical therapy this morning when I saw a women walk out INTO THE STREET with her small daughter in tow…open the STREET SIDE door to the backseat and let the kid in–close the door, then get into the front and drive off.
Yes, there was a car seat in the back but I’ve never known a kid be able to fasten themselves into one. And that’s not even counting having the kid in the street to get into the car…
Everyday I see at least one instance of a child unsecured in a car–many times more than once. And it just kills me.
I was going to blog about it but your rant led to mine and now I feel much better.
Thanks.
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It’s ok Mel. Just remember the kid probably inherited her brain so there is nothing much there to scramble anyway.
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they should allow roving gangs of sterilizers who would descend upon those hapless saps who don’t have the sense god gave them, remove their ability to procreate, then beat them senseless in an act of mercy.
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stupid fuckers. this is me screaming!
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Some people should not be allowed to have kids. That’s just ridiculous. Good for you Mel, for having your kids wear the appropriate gear.
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I’m constantly amazed how adults these days somehow believe that the smallest thing will damage damage the wee one’s psyches. God forbid they should act like the adult, ya know. What if their kid gets mad at them? *gasp*
Come on people! Get a grip here! This is the kind of stuff that makes me gnash my teeth and has turned Dr. Phil into a gozillionaire. Stupid, stupid adults. Some people should not be allowed to breed.
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yeah. I know. I’m still amazed by the conversation.
Sadly, she’s not the first parent I’ve heard express very similar opinions.
One of the dad’s couldn’t believe that we grounded our kid from the skate park because we caught him skating without his helmet.
“How can you do that to them?”
“Um. I’m the parent. It’s not my job to make sure they like me. It’s my job to keep them safe and make sure they are responsible.”
Sigh
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Geez louise. Why are people so ignorant? I think you should have to take some sort of test before you’re allowed to procreate. Seriously.
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{:0
I’m with you, Mel.
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More power to you, Mel. I bike from home to work and to the gym almost daily. The law says I have to wear a helmet, and so I do. It also makes perfect sense. On occasion, I’ve left the house for the gym without my helmet. The feeling of freedom was amazing, but I also knew the risks. Wearing a helmet is the only smart and safe action. That people don’t want to enforce that smart decision blows me away.
Good on you.
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Holy fark. I just can’t believe it.
And you know, she’s the kind of person who’s going to be hollering bloody murder and looking for someone to sue when her kid gets hurt. (And he probably will.)
We’re talking about potentially life-threatening damage, here. Why don’t people get it?? Good insurance. Pah!!!
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anyone wanna sign-up for my roving gang?
it’ll be fung!
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That’s amazing Mel…you know what though it doesn’t really surprise in a town like this. I mean so many of the parents actually give their kids alcohol to drink with their friends. Blows my mind. You should write a letter or start a petition to the mayor that says all people in the skate park HAVE to wear a helmet.
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