Grandparents driving kids around

How do you deal with your grandparent(s) driving around your kid(s)??? In our situation my mom, AKA Grandma, will have to drive the kids around 1 time per week since Caiden is now in preschool and I need to be at work before he gets out. How do you handle that if you're not comfortable with them driving them? I am so worried and nervous about my mom driving them. She doesn't have the best history of driving and she can be a nut on the road. I'm not saying I'm perfect but I'm their mom. No one ever drives my kids other than me or DH which I don't like too much either. It's usually me. She also smoke A LOT, not around the kids of course, but her car smells like cigarettes so it's gross. Anyway, what would you do? I don't really have much of a choice but I'm concerned about their safety like any mom! Thanks!

Re: Grandparents driving kids around

Well, if you are worried about the smell, I'd offer to have her car washed and cleaned by a professional and pay for it, so that isn't an issue.

I don't worry about my parents driving DS around, and if you don't have a choice, you are going to deal with it. Just make sure she has the proper carseat, etc.

Re: Grandparents driving kids around

I'll be watching my grandchildren on a regular basis starting in November when my daughter goes back to work. I have had my grandson with me regularly this past year and when I have to go somewhere, he goes with me. The same will happen when his sister joins him. I can't sit home all the time and when I have things to do, they will come along. I have the proper carseats and make sure I have everything with me that I need.

It seems to me that you don't really have a choice with this. You need someone to help you and she may be your only option. I see only two problems with this. One, the smoking. If I were you, I would not want that around my children. Even if she doesn't smoke in the car, smoke can linger and the smell in atrocious. I would make sure that she understands that there is no smoking around the children under any circumstances. Even if you offered to have the inside of her car cleaned, she will still be smoking when she is in it. I don't know if there is anything you can do to stop that.

The second problem is that you indicate that you are not comfortable with anyone driving your chidlren, not even your husband. This is going to create anxiety for you unless you can let go a little. You need help and she is there to help you. She may not drive the way you think she should, but, I am sure you don't drive the way she thinks you should. As long as she isn't getting into negilgent accidents, I, really, don't see why this would be a concern.

I know it's hard to let go at times. We've all been there, but, you have to at certain points. This is one of those times. Yes, you'll worry, but, they'll be fine. Everything will work out. It always does.

Re: Grandparents driving kids around

Message edited 11/24/2007 4:41:46 PM.

Re: Grandparents driving kids around

The smoke thing bugs me. DD's father smokes in his car, and he isn't allowed to pic her up in it (although he breaks that rule every now and then :eyeroll:). I did a lot of reading online about toxins from cig. smoke on fabric, etc. and it's just not healthy for babies, or anyone for that matter. Of course you can't tell your mother to stop smoking her car so you just have to deal with it I suppose.

Re: Grandparents driving kids around

I don't feel comfortable with my Mom ever driving DD around and thankfully I don't think I will really have to worry about it. I think if I knew they were going from a certain point to another certain point (home to daycare - daycare to home) I would probably be okay. Anything other than that I don't know what I would do. And the smoke thing would be a HUGE thing for me, even being an ex-smoker