Am I being overprotective?

Yes, I know you're all sick of hearing about my new firm... so am I actually. But, one last thing - the picnic was Saturday - I didn't go obviously because HR told me the luxury coaches didn't have seatbelts to accomodate a carseat for a baby. I found out from one of the attorney's today that the coach DID, IN FACT, have seatbelts, but that most of the families just plopped their kids/babies on their lap for the 25 minute shuttle ride. The attorney, a male associate around my age, looked like I was crazy with 6 heads when I told him I didn't go because I thought the coach didn't have seatbelts and I was unwilling to carry Alex on my lap for a 25 minute ride - as if I'm being overly paranoid/protective. When I asked what he did, he said he put his kids on his lap and his wife's lap - one is a baby who is 8 months old, and the other is 4 years old. I asked, you didn't care about a carseat? He just shrugged his shoulders and acted as if I was being a "crazy mom".

Am I wrong here? Should I have bent the rules slightly? I'm sorry but I just don't think it's worth it to sacrifice my child's safety to schmooze, or look good in front of a bunch of co-workers/partners who really, at the end of the day, don't give a damn about me...

Re: Am I being overprotective?

You are not being crazy!! I would not sacrfice......ever since seeing an episode of Oprah where the woman took her child without a seatbelt on a 5 minute ride and the child was killed Nothing is worth the risk

Re: Am I being overprotective?

I don't think you were being overprotective, I would NEVER not have my child in a car seat, even for one minute, so not worth the risk.

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I don't think you're crazy at all but I will say that when we were in Disney the bus ride from the airport and the bus ride to the cruise did not have seat belts and you weren't even allowed to bring a car seat on. We just held her on our lap. Obviously the government feels that buses don't have to have safety restraints for children. I have no idea why when they are so strict about it with cars.
As a parent you have to do what you feel comfortable with and no one should make you feel bad for doing what you think is in the best interest of your child.

Re: Am I being overprotective?

Totally not being overprotective....imagine how you would you have felt if the bus had been in an accident and something had happened to your DD...

that guy must be nuts to have let his kids ride without a car seat...I NEVER take DD out of the car seat even if she is screaming blue murder....its too risky.

Sadly probably other people in your position who wouldn't want to look "bad" on front of their colleagues would have done just what that guy did but thankfully you are a mom first and a colleague / employee second.

good for you.

good luck with your job search.

Re: Am I being overprotective?

Not overprotective at all. Plus I am pretty sure if they got pulled over everyone who had a child not in a car seat would get a ticket.

Re: Am I being overprotective?

Message edited 2/8/2007 3:16:40 PM.

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I dont know, see I know Its better to be safe then sorry, but I would of just held her on my lap if it was just a short ride. If it was going to be a long ride, I probably wouldn't of went also.

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A lot can happen in 25 minutes. I wouldn't have done it, though I tend to be overly anxious about safety related things.

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Not a mom, but I have to ask if this is a NYC firm?? I almost think that NYC people are used to traveling without seatbelts and carseats - taxis, subways, limos, etc - and sometimes don't think twice about it.

Message edited 9/11/2006 4:31:52 PM.

Re: Am I being overprotective?

I think you were 100% right in what you did. I would have done the same. When it comes to child restraints I am very strict about it and I make sure that my DS is in that car seat and strapped in even if we are just moving into a different spot in a parking lot and my dh thinks I am a little nutty for that but their are to many crazy people in this world that don't pay attention and I am not willing to put my son's safety at risk.

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No way Jose! You know I was freaking about the 2 SECOND ride to SP from the hotel! Never for 25 minutes with God-knows-who at the wheel!

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This really has me thinking why Disney which is a family oriented place doesn't even give parents the option of bringing a car seat on the bus We definitely questioned it but I guess not enough. We just held her on our laps on the bus because that was what everyone else was doing and let me just say we had some interesting drivers.

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Thank you everyone... you made me feel better. I was second guessing myself for a while there knowing how many parents at this firm just plopped their children on their laps without a care in the world. But, I"ve had a lot, a LOT of mishaps in my life so I know better... it's one thing if I were driving (but even then I wouldn't allow it), but to place my child's life in the hands of a total stranger... it only takes a split second, and god forbid it was then and there, I would never forgive myself...

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Definately not...Godforbbid that coach got into an accident and the babies were not in car seats...They could be seriously injured or worse! Then they aould have a serious problem on hand!

Remember that story of the limo that got into an accident coming home from that wedding...The flowergirl was killed...So NO...you are not being overprotective and if they give you an issue I would bring up that scenario...they are lawyers, they know what kind of lawsuit that would be.

Re: Am I being overprotective?

You are not being overprotective! Especially not for a 25 minutes ride. I would be terrified sitting there just imagining what *could* happen.