On Jul 21, 10:26 am, Chris <chrissype...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> That's sort of the point....so many things can happen. I don't even
> know at what age my grandmother started going downhill, but first it
> was her knees going, so she avoided walking-style outings, then she
> had some heart issues, then she wound up on dialysis, and from there
> random debilitating-to-her-in-her-condition illnesses occasionally
> popped up until she finally died as a result of a bout of pneumonia.
>
> I would stop by on my lunch hour, snag her up, watch her struggle to
> get into my s****ts car, which would crack us both up, and take her out
> to eat. She loved to get out of the house - hated feeling like she was
> stuck in it and hated that she had become dependent on my grandfather.
> She NEVER complained, always had a smile on her face, etc. She would
> have rather died than to complain to you. So my whole thought was
> about where any given grandma may be in 5 to 10 years.
>
> Either someone possesses the ability to look at potential situations
> objectively, or they do not. You can either be practical and just KNOW
> that anything can happen at any given time - the question would be as
> to whether or not grandma or DIL could live with the "what if" without
> placing blame or carrying guilt - sounds to me like the DIL wouldn't
> be able to at this point in time, as unfortunate as that is, but in
> her defense she is probably only making what she perceives as a
> legitimate decision based on her own experiences. If you live on a
> lake, which my parents do, you'll have nightmares for eons about your
> child drowning and slipping just out of your reach as you try to save
> them to the point where you can't enjoy a boat ride with your 3 kids
> -- I think, "How on earth can I save all 3 should something bad happen
> out here?" (but we go!)
>
> I still get worried every time my children ride in a car with friends
> to a birthday party outing with kids that live on our street or in our
> neighborhood and I still get worried about them riding with anyone in
> our family - BECAUSE anything can happen at any time, but I do know
> that I would never blame the driver barring some serious issues such
> as drinking and driving, speeding excessively, driving wrecklessly,
> failing to belt the children in, etc. -- all things I know my family
> would not do, and I know the neighbors well enough that they would not
> either. There is always the possibility that they will be hit by
> another driver regardless of their conscientousness and ability -
> that's what I'm talking about. Heck, I can't even tell you how many
> times I've taken a moment to thank God that I wasn't in a particular
> area a few moments earlier as I have driven past mangled minivans
> where the passenger compartments (where my children would have been
> placed) were smashed in toward the middle of the car. Gives me chills
> every time and I KNOW I am a conscientous driver.
>
> And to Grandma, as baby enters into this first year and learns to talk
> and become a pro at walking, etc., I hope mom lightens up a little (if
> you are in fact a good driver - lol!).
I don't know...I think I would have dealt better with someone driving
my infant than my now 2-yr old who can unbuckle her car seat but does
not quite understand the consequences. I *think* I've managed to
convince her never to do it again, but like not subjecting another
driver to a screaming child (she was not one to fall asleep in the
car), I don't want to subject another driver to that possibility
either.....
When DD is 5, I'll feel a lot easier about it. Fortunately, she now
waits til we stop to unbuckle her seat belt, but I'm always holding my
breath....
|
